2023 Winnie Belle Learned Fund Recipients

The Winnie Belle Learned Fund was created in 2007 by Dr. Burnett Rawson to honor Winnie Belle Learned, a Vermont educator and his benefactress. Born in 1863 in Westford, Vermont, Ms. Learned worked through many personal hardships to earn her teaching certificate.

Ms. Learned was a teacher and school principal in Massachusetts for many years before returning in 1911 to her native Vermont. Together with a relative, Jennie Burnett, she operated Cherry Hill Farm in Williston. The farm was renowned for its beautiful flower gardens and, until her death in 1941, Ms. Learned was well-known in the greater Burlington area for making deliveries of flowers using her Model-T automobile called "Jack." All the profits from her flower business were used for charity and the Williston farm became a haven for many adults and children. Neither Ms. Learned nor Ms. Burnett ever married or had children. In 1932, during the Depression, Ms. Learned took notice of Burnett Rawson, a distant relative, and asked his mother’s permission to take him from the family farm in Underhill so that he could study. Her generosity and vision allowed him to attend the University of Vermont and the UVM medical school. After completing military service and further medical studies, Dr. Rawson practiced urology in New York for many years before retiring to his native Vermont.

Dr. Rawson contributed generously to the Winnie Belle Learned Fund during his lifetime. Upon his passing in 2014, the Rawson Family Fund was established at the Vermont Community Foundation. Annual distributions from the Rawson Family Fund support continued grants to Vermont's public libraries from the Winnie Belle Learned Fund.

The purpose of the Winnie Belle Learned Fund is to make modest (in the range of $2,500) grants to libraries in Vermont, with a preference for smaller libraries and for programs and projects that support children and diversity. Consistent with Dr. Rawson’s wishes, these grants help public libraries in Vermont foster in their local communities: literacy, a love of learning, skills and opportunities for critical analysis, and intellectual exploration. Dr. Rawson particularly wanted libraries to develop these programs and services to support these goals for children and their families, including library programs and services for pre-school children. Dr. Rawson valued the key role libraries can play in the development of young readers and appreciated that early experiences in libraries can foster a life-long love of books and learning. 

2023 Grants for the Winnie Belle Learned Fund have been awarded. The following 119 libraries have received $500 grants:

Abbott Memorial Library

Ainsworth Public LIbrary

Albany Public Library

Alburgh Public Library

Alden Balch Memorial Library

Alice M. Ward Memorial Library

Arvin A Brown Public Library

Baldwin Memorial Library

Barton Public Library

Baxter Memorial Library

Bennington Free Library

Bent Northrop Memorial Library

Bent Northrop Memorial Library

Bixby Memorial Library

Blake Memorial Library

Bradford Public Library

Brandon Free Public Library

Brownell Library

Burnham Memorial Library

Cabot Public Library

Carpenter-Carse Library

Castleton Free Library

Cavendish Fletcher Community Library

Charlotte Library

Chittenden Public Library

Cobleigh Library

Craftsbury Public Library

Cutler Memorial Library

Dailey Memorial Library

Davies Memorial Library

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library

Dorset Village Public Library

Emily Mandeville-Houle

Enosburgh Public Library

Fair Haven Free Library

Fairlee Public Library

Fletcher Free Library

Fletcher Memorial Library

Franklin Grand Isle Bookmobile

George Peabody Library

Georgia Public Library

Gilbert Hart Library

Goodrich Memorial Library

Greensboro Free Library

Groton Free Public Library

Hartford Library, Inc.

Hartland Public Library

Haston Library

HF Brigham Library

Highgate Library and Community Center

Ilsley Public Library

Island Pond Public Library

Jamaica Memorial Library

Jeudevine Memorial Library

John G. McCullough Free Library

John Woodruff Simpson Memorial Library

Johnson Public Library

Jones Memorial Library

Kellogg-Hubbard Library

Kimball Public Library

Lanpher Memorial Library

Latham Memorial Library

Lawrence Memorial Library

Leach Public Library

Lincoln Library

Maclure Library

Martha Canfield Library

Middletown Springs Public Library

Moretown Memorial Library

Morristown Centennial Library

New Haven Community Library

Norman Williams Public Library

North Hero Public Library

Norwich Public Library

Orwell Free Library

Peacham Library

Pettee Memorial Library

Platt Memorial Library

Pope Memorial Library

Poultney Public Library

Putney Public Library

Quechee Library

R K Kittay Public Library

Readsboro Community Library

Rochester Public Library

Rockingham Free Public Library

Roger Clark Memorial Library

Roxbury Free Library

Russell Memorial Library

Rutland Free Library

Salisbury Free Public Library

Sherburne Memorial Library

Solomon Wright Public Library

South Burlington Public Library

South Londonderry Free Library

St. Johnsbury Athenaeum

Stamford Community Library

Starksboro Public Library

Stowe Free Library

Swanton Public Library

Tenney Memorial Library

The Brown Public Library

The Jaquith Public Library

Townshend Public Library

Varnum Memorial Library

Walden Community Library

Warren Public Library

Waterville town public library

West Hartford Library

West Rutland Free Library

Westford Public Library

Westminster West Public Library

Whiting Library

Wilder Memorial Library

William H. & Lucy F. Rand Memorial Library

Windsor Public Library

Winhall Memorial Library

Winooski Memorial Library

Woodbury Community Library

Worthen Library

Recipients are asked to report on their grant by 10/31/2023. 

Minor Photo Release Form Template Download (you may use your own as well)

Questions? Contact grants@vermontpubliclibraryfoundation.org