At its annual meeting last month, the Edey Foundation awarded $82,250 in grants for 2008 to organizations working for conservation on the Vineyard.

Recipients included the Farm Institute for educational programs; the Felix Neck Wildlife Trust to study bird population trends; the Massachusetts Audubon Society for its school-based natural history program run by the Felix Neck Sanctuary and for its program for protecting coastal waterbirds; the Martha’s Vineyard Commission for Island Plan activities related to mapping and water quality; the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group to distribute videos in local libraries; the Nature Conservancy for pond shore protection; the Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation for its ecological restoration program; The Trustees of Reservations for phragmites control; and the Vineyard Energy Project for heating analysis and solar panels for the West Tisbury town hall, pending approval by the historic district commission.

The Edey Foundation was created in 1988 by the late Maitland Edey to provide funds for conservation on the Vineyard including advocacy, organizational growth and stability, monitoring projects, education and research. Awards are made on an annual basis to non-profit organizations and are to be used for work on the Island.

More information is available by calling Beatrice Phear at 508-693-3791.