Community Foundation of Greater New Britain Awards More Than $100,000 in First-Quarter Grants and Scholarships
(May 12, 2008) The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain has awarded $102,107 in first-quarter 2008 grants serving its four-town service area of Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington from discretionary, donor advised and scholarship funds.
The Foundation has four fund categories: discretionary, donor advised, designated and scholarship. Discretionary funds are awarded at the discretion of the Foundation’s board of directors; donor advised funds are established by an individual, family, company or organization with that party playing an active role in the grant-awarding process; scholarship funds are also established by an individual party and tailored to that party’s personal wishes; designated funds, too, are established by an individual party and benefit one or more specific charities.
The Foundation awards grants on a quarterly basis and each year distributes upwards of $1 million or more to nonprofit agencies and organizations in its service area. Funding traditionally supports a wide variety of Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and/or Southington-based programs and initiatives in arts and humanities, community and economic development, early childhood development, education and health and human services.
First-quarter 2008 grants by category include:
Discretionary Grants ($85,961)
• Trinity-On-Main (area wide), $25,000. For support of Trinity-On-Main’s executive director position in order to continue the progress and efforts made to create a regional cultural and performing arts center in Downtown New Britain.
• Municipal Economic Development Agency (New Britain), $15,000. To develop an economic development website for the City of New Britain featuring economic development tools and information that will promote business in New Britain.
• Greater New Britain Arts Alliance (area wide), $13,000. For operating support aimed at strengthening the Alliance and enhancing its usefulness and support to artists and arts organizations.
• Southington-Cheshire Community YMCA (Southington), $10,000. To increase physical activity among children and adolescents by establishing a “virtual gym,” featuring interactive fitness equipment.
• Community Mental Health Affiliates (New Britain), $8,461. To pilot intensive parent training of children ages 4 and 5 who have been referred to CMHA due to severe behavioral problems, or suspension or expulsion from pre-school or kindergarten.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (area wide), $7,500. For second-year support of the Children’s Investment Partnership. CIP provides assistance and training to early childhood centers on how to renovate and construct their centers in order to expand the supply and improve the quality of early care and education for low-income families.
• Berlin UpBeat (Berlin), $2,500. For program support, as designated by 2008 Celebrate Berlin! community service award recipient John Tedesco and approved by the Community Foundation’s board of directors.
• Plainville Historical Society (Plainville), $2,500. For general support, as designated by 2008 Celebrate Plainville! community service award recipient Ruth Hummel and approved by the Community Foundation’s board of directors.
• Main Street Singers (area wide), $2,000. To support the start-up of a junior choir for 3rd- and 4th-graders.
Donor Advised Grants ($12,146)
• Connecticut Community Care, Inc., Bristol. From the Gilrain Family Fund to support the agency’s work with families and dementia patients.
• Covenant to Care for Children. From the Schaller Auto World Fund for purchase of beds and bedding for New Britain children.
• First Church of Christ Congregational, West Hartford. From the Stanley and Bernice Shepard Fund.
• Foundation of Special Care. From the Susie and Charles Gustin Memorial and Stanley and Bernice Shepard Funds.
• The Hospital of Central Connecticut. From the Frank and Ernestine Fraprie, Susie and Charles Gustin Memorial and Stanley and Bernice Shepard Funds.
• Metropolitan Opera Guild, New York City. From the Stanley and Bernice Shepard Fund.
• New Britain Public Library. From the Leonard W. and Jeannette C. Varkal Fund, for purchase of history books.
• New Britain-Berlin Rotary Club Fund. From the Schaller Auto World Fund, in support of charitable activities.
• Rebuilding Together. From the Schaller Auto World Fund.
• Salvation Army of New Britain. From the Frank and Ernestine Fraprie Fund.
• United Way of New Britain and Berlin. From the Stanley and Bernice Shepard Fund.
• University of Hartford, Barney School of Business. From the Stanley and Bernice Shepard Fund.
• YMCA of New Britain-Berlin. From the Stanley and Bernice Shepard Fund.
Scholarships ($4,000)
• Nicholas Nicholson, Jr., Wallingford. From the Dr. Lorraine G. Spranzo Scholarship Fund. Nicholas attends Yale University School of Nursing.
• Jessica Grogan, Orchard Park, NY. From the Kim Miller Synchronized Swimming Fund. Jessica will attend Canisius College this fall.
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 the Foundation, please call (860) 229-6018 or visit www.cfgnb.org.
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