In 1998, as in 1999, the Foundation solicited proposals for programs that focused on "Investing in the Next Generation." Thirty-two proposals were received from communities, community groups, and others throughout Massachusetts. The Foundation's Board of Trustees has made seven grants totaling $33,945. The grants are summarized here and include the names and telephone numbers of the individuals to call in each case for additional details:

Wachusett Regional School District — $6,445 to support public forums for citizen interaction in the five towns of the Wachusett Regional District in an effort to make young people aware of how community facilities reflect and affect individuals' lives and cultures. (Adele Firshein, 978-464-2130)

Gretchen Schneider— $4,000 to support the development and creation of a public art piece that will use Boston's City Hall Plaza 1999 as the canvas on which to draw (in chalk at full scale) a map of this area in 1899. (Gretchen Schneider, 606-252-2167)

Paige Academy--$4,000 to support the efforts of elementary-school students learning to design, maintain, and update their Website related to tools of major construction/expansion of historic sites in Roxbury. (Cornell Coley, 617-442-5419)

Nueva Esperanza--$6,500 to support the continued development of a manual on the process and principles of neighborhood/public space planning, design, and implementation focusing now on public space design and case studies; the manual also will be produced on a CD-ROM. (Imre Kepes, 413-532-2360)

Historic Neighborhoods Foundation--$5,000 to support City/Build, a program that introduces culturally diverse and economically disadvantaged Boston high-school students to careers in design, development and construction with the role of creating a young citizenry able to participate fully in the planning of tomorrow's Boston. (Nina Meyer, 617-426-1885)

Boston Schoolyard Initiative--$5,000 to support a series of workshops weaving together the expertise of educators and design professionals relative to schoolyard development; publication of design guidelines for use by local schoolyard groups throughout the city will follow. (Kirk Meyer, 617-426-1885)

Boston By Foot--$3,000 to support the creation of a slide program for elementary-school children available for on-site presentation tracing the history of Boston's great buildings and spaces. (Polly Flansburgh, 617-367-2345)