Community Foundation Awards First-Quarter Grants Totaling $115,000
Funding Focused on Community Needs, Early Childhood Development
Local nonprofit agencies and programs in the Greater New Britain area were awarded $115,000 in grants for the first quarter of 2006 by the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, with more than 75 percent of the funding going to programs meeting community development or early childhood development needs.
The first-quarter Foundation grants were awarded to eight different programs in Berlin, New Britain and Southington, and ranged in size from $2,000 to $40,000. The Foundation awards grants on a quarterly basis and each year distributes upwards of $1 million to nonprofit agencies and organizations in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington.
First-quarter grant recipients and awards approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors include:
- New Britain Discovery Initiative, $40,000. Since June 2001, New Britain has participated in the Discovery Initiative of the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund to improve outcomes for young children. The Discovery Initiative has brought together a solid collaborative of educators, parents, community leaders, funders and other interested parties to improve preschool and early childhood education in New Britain and increase access to preschool for more children. In 2006, the Initiative’s goals are to engage business and community leaders in promoting early childhood development; increase parent advocacy; improve pre-kindergarten education rates; and improve the quality of existing preschool care.
- YWCA of New Britain, $15,000. The YWCA serves some 200 children in its multiple childcare programs. Funding will be used to help the YWCA make necessary adjustments and improvements to its early childhood program to meet new accreditation criteria of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
- Neighborhood Housing Services of New Britain, $20,000. For the past 27 years, Neighborhood Housing Services of New Britain has provided financial assistance, technical support and housing-related services to low- and moderate-income neighborhoods in New Britain and Central Connecticut. The funding will support Post Purchase Homeownership Education, a new training program designed to help low- and moderate-income families preserve and keep their homes.
- ReCONNstruction Center, $20,000. The ReCONNstruction Center is a start-up organization that promotes environmental and social responsibility by acquiring and salvaging good used building materials for resale and use. The program leased space on South Main Street in New Britain in July, 2005 following a three-year effort by volunteers to get the project off the ground. The grant will provide operating and marketing funds to support the program.
- Berlin Upbeat, $5,000. The Berlin Upbeat program is a comprehensive school- and community-based character development and leadership training program. The program works to give youth the skills and support they heed to avoid the dangers of drugs and alcohol, to develop sound decision-making skills and to become involved in the community. The grant will help fund the program’s “Great Escape” leadership training weekend for students, teachers, police officers and parents.
- Greater New Britain Arts Alliance, $10,000. The Greater New Britain Arts Alliance started as a volunteer effort in 1994 to stimulate, promote and coordinate public interest in the creative, performing and visual arts in New Britain, to promote New Britain as a center for the arts, and to facilitate collaborative activities among arts organizations. Funding will provide general operating support for the organization.
- Friends of Panthorn Park, $3,000. The Friends of Panthorn Park is a volunteer organization dedicated to the development and maintenance of nature and walking trails in Southington’s Panthorn Park. The grant will provide funding for enrichment and educational activities for Southington children and families.
- Music Series at South Church, $2,000. The mission of the Music Series at South Church in New Britain is to bring a diverse music program to the community at no or very reasonable cost. Music Series concerts, now in their 30th year, usually require no tickets. The funds support the Series’ 2005-2006 concert seasons.
In addition to the above-referenced grants, the Foundation’s Board of Directors also approved nearly $43,000 in first-quarter grants from its pool of donor-advised funds. These funds are established by donors with a specific charitable intent.
For more information on the Foundation, please call (860) 229-6018.
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