Hailed by the Council on Foundations as part of a "leading edge trend" among nonprofits, the Foundation has replaced its traditional printed Annual Report with a new feature on its Web site - the "Quarterly Snapshot." Besides realizing significant cost savings, the "Snapshot" enhances the Foundation's commitment to transparency and accountability in all its year round activities. Read more.

This is a particularly refreshing time of year for the Community Foundation, as the Annual Celebrate Our Communities Awards honor those among us whose dedicated and selfless volunteer service have made such a difference in the lives of others. This month we Celebrate Honorees. Read more about the Plainville Honorees and the Southington Honorees.

Headlines remind us daily that our economy remains in a slump and although some gains have been made, the outlook for many families continues to be uncertain at best. While Connecticut struggles with a budget deficit that threatens to test the limits of local social service agencies, the Foundation acts to find answers both short term and long term. Read more.

The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain has awarded $196,910 in first-round grants serving its four-town service area of Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington from discretionary, donor advised, and scholarship funds. Significant in this round of grants is a $125,000 grant to the YWCA of New Britain for their Capital Campaign. Read more.