We are incredibly excited to announce that Victory Programs has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 Tufts Community Grants (TCG) program! At a beautiful recent reception—where members of our own development team were thrilled to accept the award on behalf of our community—Victory Programs was honored alongside 40 non-profits from Tufts’ host communities of Boston, Grafton, Medford, and Somerville.
Our team’s celebration at the event was wonderfully captured by photographer Mike Ritter for Tufts University, highlighting the joy of a partnership that continues to grow. Each organization received a $5,000 grant funded through the generous donations of Tufts students, faculty, and staff, alongside a phenomenal $150,000 matching gift from the Cummings Foundation.
A Partnership Rooted in Service
This grant is a beautiful extension of a long, heartwarming partnership between Victory Programs and volunteers from across the Tufts University ecosystem. Over the past year, Tufts students and staff have dedicated their time and talents to directly enrich the lives of our members and residents.
Tufts volunteers have led weekly art therapy workshops and bi-weekly crochet circles at the Boston Living Center (BLC), creating warm spaces for connection and stress reduction. Students also coordinated a beautiful “Day of Beauty” featuring relaxing hand massages and self-care tips for our woman-identifying members.
From the kitchen to our community spaces, teams of dedicated Tufts students have regularly jumped in to serve fresh lunch to our BLC community. In our seasonal efforts, volunteers from the Health Sciences Tisch College of Civic Life stepped up to wrap nearly 400 winter gear kits for our annual Hope for the Holidays drive. Additionally, a large team of physician assistant students mobilized to build vital health, safety, and prevention kits at the Victory Connector.
Erasing Barriers and Expanding Creative Outlets
Creative expression is a uniquely powerful tool in recovery and healing. Engaging in art-based activities supports emotional regulation, builds self-confidence, and provides a safe, constructive path to process trauma. While our community members have deeply loved our recent creative workshops, limited funding for bulk supplies has previously restricted our ability to offer these outlets consistently.
Thanks to this $5,000 grant, that barrier is being erased. We are purchasing high-quality creative tools in bulk from Blick Art Materials to fund therapeutic art workshops across our programs, meeting our neighbors exactly where they are with dignity and unconditional love. This funding will bring the therapeutic, stress-reducing power of creative expression directly to four of our vital program sites:
At The Boston Living Center (BLC), which supports over 900 members annually living with chronic illnesses (like HIV/AIDS), food insecurity, or housing insecurity, the funds will supply reusable paint trays, brushes, canvases, and liquid acrylics. These tools will expand our creative, peer-led community-building groups.
At Portis House, which provides supportive residential shelter for pregnant or parenting women and their young children navigating homelessness and recovery, the grant will fund family-friendly art mediums and craft kits. These projects will foster deep parent-child bonding, emotional regulation, and a true sense of home during times of difficult transition.
At New Joelyn’s Home, a comprehensive residential recovery program for cisgender women and members of the LGBTQ+ community navigating substance use disorders, chronic health conditions, and mental health concerns, residents will gain access to high-quality oil pastels, acrylics, and modeling clay to assist in emotional regulation and long-term stabilization.
Finally, at Women’s Hope, a specialized program supporting women experiencing co-occurring substance use disorders and severe, persistent mental illness, the funding will supply diverse creative mediums like modeling clay and canvases. These tools offer safe, non-verbal outlets for reflection, integrated behavioral health, and processing complex trauma.
When other systems can’t or won’t take people in, Victory Programs does. By acting as a safety net below the safety net, we ensure our community remains strong, vibrant, and well-funded for anyone who needs it next. We are so deeply grateful to the entire Tufts community for standing with Victory, investing in our mission, and helping us spread hope, light, and healing through the power of art. Click here to find out how you can get involved and support our mission