Peter Bates Receives Grant from Puffin Foundation

Today I received a notification that the New England Bodega Project had just been awarded a grant. Here are their words:
“Dear Peter Bates,
We are pleased to advise you that your request for a grant toward your project:
THE NEW ENGLAND BODEGA PROJECT
has been found to meet the criteria of the Puffin Foundation Ltd. Our Board was truly impressed with the nature of your proposal and the commitment you have made to fulfill the objectives outlined in your request.”
Needless to say (but I’ll say it anyway), I am riding a serious high with this grant award. Along with the successes of recent exhibitions, favorable publicity, and a future exhibition planned at Mass General Hospital, the project is feeling more validated day by day. Just last Saturday I interviewed Francisco Peralta, the owner of the Tropicana Market in Salem. He probably thought I was a bit odd photographing his building at twilight and to talking to him. But I think he believed what I told him about my goals for the project. (I’ll be posting my interview with him soon.)
Now, on to more bodegas!