The Bayside YMCA in Barrington has been awarded $625,000 from the Champlin Foundations of Rhode Island.

A half-million dollars of that grant will be used for upcoming renovations to the facility, according to the YMCA. The rest will be used for "camperships" for underprivileged children.

See the Patch story on the YMCA expansion here. Work on the renovations, including the construction of a new aquatics center, is expected to start in about a month.

The Champlin Foundations have been making direct grants to Rhode Island organizations for 79 years. Most go toward capital improvements for non-profit organizations.

Keith H. Lang, Champlin executive director, said that the total of this year's grants is almost $19 million -- or an 11 percent boost from last year.

Grants are going to 209 tax-exempt organizations. Every community in Rhode Island is receiving at least one grant. More than 900 charities have received Champlin grants over the years.