Nonprofit Agencies Unveil Proposals
for Catalyst Fund’s $10K Award

(September 27, 2009) Three of the area’s nonprofits that serve the region’s older adult population recently shared with members of the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain’s Catalyst Fund their unique vision for how they would spend the Fund’s annual $10,000 award if selected to receive the funding.

Some 65 members and guests gathered at the Hospital of Central Connecticut listened attentively as representatives from Catholic Charities in New Britain, the Center for Healthy Aging, and Connecticut Community Care unveiled their proposals for using the Catalyst Fund’s $10,000 grant, which will be awarded to one of the agencies in November.

Each proposal sets out to meet an unmet need the agency has identified in the Community Foundation’s four-town service area of Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington:

• Catholic Charities would use the award to expand their community outreach support group to seniors in the Hispanic population who do not speak English. “There are many monolingual older adults in our region who are isolated and this program encourages them to join together as a community,” explained Dolores Griffin, Program Supervisor in New Britain.

•  The Center for Healthy Aging, based in Southington, plans to combine the grant with funding from other sources to launch a new mobile van, which will enable the Center to serve seniors and those who care about them who might otherwise fall through the cracks. Marc Levesque, Senior Resource Care Manager with the Center, said the professionally-staffed van will visit grocery stores, food pantries, senior centers and other public sites in the four towns, offering critical information and free assessments. “Our staff will ask questions such as ‘How are things going at home?’ in order to establish relationships that will open doors for people in times of need.”

• Marlene Kurban, Director of Care Management Associates with Connecticut Community Care, said her agency would use the funding to respond to an “incredible need out there” to help seniors who can no longer live independently but don’t know where to turn for help. The agency proposes an expansion of comprehensive in-home assessments and access to resources designed to help people remain at home as long as possible. While assessments cost between $600-800, a stay in a nursing home averages $10,000 annually, making this service both cost-effective and an enormous help for seniors who will be able to remain at home with additional support.

In June, Catalyst Fund members were told that foundations and philanthropic groups such as theirs can make a critical impact right now to help offset the cuts in government funding to programs for older adults.  Catalyst Fund members will meet again November 18th to choose a final recipient for the award.

Catalyst Fund members contribute a modest annual investment of $250 per individual or couple. Members pool their resources to learn about important issues facing our communities and jointly choose and award an annual grant to a nonprofit that is tackling that issue. To learn more about Catalyst Fund membership, please call (860) 229-6018 or visit www.cfgnb.org.