Pathways/Senderos Center Teen Pregnancy Program Awarded $10,000 Catalyst Grant by Community Foundation

Funding will be Used to Enhance Services to Teens through Technology Upgrades

New Britain, Conn. (December 16, 2014) – The Pathways/Senderos Center, a program of Greater New Britain Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Inc. which works to eliminate teen pregnancy through programs that increase graduation rates and elevate self-sufficiency, has been awarded a $10,000 grant by members of the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain’s Catalyst Fund.

The funding will be used to upgrade the Center’s technological capabilities through the purchase of new computers, tablets and related equipment.

“Throughout our existence we have used second-hand technology relying on older equipment with limited capacity and capabilities,” said Pathways/Senderos Center Co-Executive Director Nick Jakubowski. “This wonderful grant will allow for new equipment and capabilities, keeping students more engaged with their homework and school projects and better preparing them for success in life.

“We are grateful to the Community Foundation and Catalyst Fund members for their support.”

Greater New Britain Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Inc., presently serves 60 students. Its model is comprised of seven integrated components, including academic support, career preparation, family life and sex education, violence prevention, recreation/lifetime sports, health care referrals and self-esteem enhancement. In the past three years, 100 percent of participants have remained pregnancy-free and 78 percent of program graduates have gone on to college. The majority of student participants have seen improvements in their grades as well as fewer incidences of engaging in risky behavior.

The Catalyst Fund is a giving circle of donors interested in improving the quality of life in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington. Three times per year, members gather to learn about a member-chosen issue facing their community, and to consider funding requests from charitable organizations addressing the issue. The group awards an annual grant of $10,000.

This year’s member-chosen funding focus was strengthening and improving the quality of existing after-school and out-of-school programs serving teens in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington.

For more information about membership in the Catalyst Fund, contact Cheryl Farmer at cfarmer@cfgnb.org or (860) 229-6018, ext. 305.

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, visit www.cfgnb.org.