The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain connects donors who care with causes that matter in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington. If you'd like to make a difference in your community, please contact us for more information.

Hardware City Bicycle and STRIVE Youth Development Programs among New Grants from The Community Chest of New Britain and Berlin


New Britain, Conn. (January 9, 2012) – The Community Chest of New Britain and Berlin, Inc., recently awarded $74,100 to six local non profits in its final round of 2011 grants. A supporting organization of the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, the Community Chest funds programs and initiatives in the health and human service areas by providing program grants, general operating support and seed funding for new projects.

The Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) will receive $20,000 to support the Hardware City Bicycle program; a program designed to prepare youth for the world of work by learning career competencies and the mechanics of bike repair, safety, racing and teamwork. OIC has operated the Hardware City Bicycle Program for the last three years, transitioning it from a loosely run drop-in program to a structured, pre-vocational youth training program with measurable outcomes. OIC now incorporates an entrepreneurial training component for high school students several days per week using the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship curriculum. And middle-school students are trained as bike mechanics three days per week by the high school youth and a part-time Bike Repair Associate. They receive career competency instruction, academic support and hands-on bike repair opportunities.

The YWCA of New Britain will receive $10,000 to support STRIVE, the only after school youth initiative completely developed to meet the needs of girls. Program activities encourage positive character development and discourage teen pregnancy; enhance academic performance; provide skill training and positive adult female role models, and encourage healthy recreational outlets. Developed in 1991, STRIVE has been recognized by local and national groups for its effective work with New Britain girls.

“We are always so impressed with the caliber of programs our local non-profits offer to both the young and old in our communities. The Community Chest is pleased to support these six programs during our latest round of grants, and we always invite and encourage our neighbors to find out more about these great organizations and possibly play a role as a volunteer or donor.” shares Cindy Antonacci, Chair of the Community Chest’s Board of Directors.

Other grants awarded in this past round of Community Chest grant-making were:
The Boys and Girls Club of New Britain will receive $14,100 to continue “Triple Play”; a program designed to promote health and wellness for young people (ages 6 to 13) through three main components: Healthy Habits (focusing on healthy living); Get Fit (focusing on sports and fitness activities) and Play for Life (focusing on character building).

Central CT Association for Retarded Citizens (CCARC) will receive $15,000 to support the PEERS (Personal Education and Enrichment through Respite Services) program.

Central CT Senior Health Services will receive $5,000 for scholarships to CCSHS’s Good Life Fitness program for senior citizens who cannot afford to pay.

Community Mental Health Affiliates will receive $10,000 to support the launch of a school-based behavior health treatment model to serve New Britain children and families.


About the Community Chest of New Britain and Berlin, Inc.

Known as the Community Chest since its founding in 1919, and most recently as the United Way of New Britain and Berlin, the Community Chest of New Britain and Berlin is now a supporting organization of the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain. A local and independent Board of Directors identifies and invests resources in programs and initiatives that benefit the New Britain and Berlin communities.


About The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain

Established in 1941, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain connects donors who care with causes that matter in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington. It does this by raising resources and developing partnerships that make a measurable improvement in the quality of life in each of these communities.

For more information on Community Chest grants contact:
Joeline Wruck, Director of Program, Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, 860.229.6018 x 307, jwruck@cfgnb.org

Media Contact:
Mary Engvall, Andrea Obston Marketing Communications
m.e.marketing@comcast.net
860.205.3519

For more information and resources, please visit our online newsroom at http://aomcnewsroom.com/


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