The A.D. Makepeace Company has prospered greatly from the cranberry bogs it operates across the South Coast, and since 2005 it has been giving back to the communities in which it operates through the A.D Makepeace Neighborhood Fund.

"There are a lot of people who talk about 'directed giving,'" President and CEO of A.D. Makepeace, Michael Hogan, said during a ceremony for the awarded organizations on May 9. "We look at this not as directed giving, but directed investing."

This year, the fund awarded $120,000 in grants to 23 southcoast organizations, including $20,000 for Wareham Public Schools.

"The board decided to reserve $20,000 for the next superintendent," Hogan explained, noting that the fund had gotten numerous applications from teachers and staff from the school system. But with a new superintendent on the way, the company instead decided to reserve funding that could be used for projects that represent the vision of the new school chief.

"We're very excited about supporting Wareham Public Schools," Hogan continued. "We kind of see this as a welcome present for the new Superintendent."

A number of Wareham projects and organizations were awarded much-needed grant money during the ceremony, held at the Box Mill Hall in Makepeace's Tihonet Village.

The Wareham Free Library Reading Partners — a free tutoring program — received $5,000.

"It's for adults and kids who have dropped out of school, or are studying English as a second language," explained Library Director Denise Medeiros. "It's very individualized."

Another recipient was Baby Point Resource Center, which provides diapers and other essential items to new families who are struggling to get on their feet .

"So many of the clients are single-mother homes [where mothers] are working two or three jobs," said Hogan.

Baby Point Coordinator Lisa Dankers was thrilled with the $7,618 grant. "I can do so much with this," she said.

"We're desperately in need of diapers," added grant-writer Patricia Reynolds.

The Wareham Harbormaster Department was awarded $8,000 for its oyster restoration project.

"Oysters are a great way to clean the water, and to restore the balance of the waterways," said Hogan.

The Wareham Fire Department was awarded a $5,300 grant for propane gas meters. Each of the department's five engines will be outfitted with one of the portable handheld units.

"The meters we have don't register propane," Assistant Fire Chief Patrick Haskell explained, which can create a safety issue if firefighters don't know it's in the air.

Other Wareham recipients included the Church of the Good Shepherd Food Pantry ($2,975), the Gleason Family YMCA Livestrong program ($5,000), and the Cape Cod Child Development "Exploring Nature in Our Classroom and Beyond" program ($5,000).