New Britain High School Foundation Engages
Community Foundation of Greater New Britain

(June 16, 2009) With nearly 159 years of school history behind it and a half million dollars in assets, the New Britain High School Foundation has engaged the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain to help manage its financial resources. 

 “As an all-volunteer Board and busy school staff, we saw value in having a formal, professional way of handling our funds given our own limited time and expertise,” explained Paul Salina, retired New Britain High School principal who serves as president of the New Britain High School Foundation.  “We chose to work with the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain because we want to be responsible stewards of the money that has been entrusted to us.”

 Salina said the New Britain High School Foundation’s 14-member Board of Directors will remain intact and will have discretion to oversee the use of the funds. Officially formed 10 years ago, the High School Foundation manages 28 named scholarships for graduating seniors – including one scholarship which dates back to 1920 – and provides funding for enrichment programs at the high school. Last year, in an effort to raise test scores, they funded the Celebrate Excellence program to encourage students to strive for success.

 “We have one of the oldest high schools and largest public school foundations in Connecticut and it’s really important to us that we ensure these assets for the future,” he explained.

The decision to engage the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain was really a “win-win” said Salina. The Community Foundation’s professional staff will track the High School Foundation’s funds and make it easier for donors who want to make contributions or even set up new named funds of their own.

 “We’ve never had the expertise or manpower to go out and solicit donations, nor did we have the technology to enable people to make donations online,” explained Salina who has also been a member of the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors for several years. “I have seen firsthand the expertise and trustworthiness of the Community Foundation and I simply thought it was a good union because they will help us go beyond anything we’ve been able to do in the past.”

 Community Foundation President Jim Williamson said the Community Foundation is very grateful to be partnering with the High School Foundation. “Our city takes real pride in the accomplishments of New Britain High School graduates. We are deeply honored and grateful to be entrusted by the New Britain High School Foundation to help make this fund grow and prosper so as to benefit and encourage future graduates,” he said.

 Donations to the New Britain High School Foundation may be made by directing the check to the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain and noting the ‘NBHS Foundation Fund’ on the memo line or by making a gift directly on the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain website’s “Donate Now” page at www.cfgnb.org .