New Britain, Conn., September 8, 2023 – The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain (CFGNB) is proud to announce three recipients from the Southington area for its Champion Awards in 2023. The CFGNB established their Champion Awards in 2019 in order to celebrate and recognize individuals, businesses, organizations, civic groups, and others who have supported the activities of the Foundation in a manner that allowed it to fulfill its mission even more effectively and efficiently.

This year, the Foundation has named Gary Brummett, a Realtor with Realty3CT, Paul Gregory’s Bistro, Café & Market, and Fancy Bagels as three of their 2023 recipients.

Gary Brummett is being honored for the exceptional recruitment of new Catalyst Giving Circle members and for bringing the Plate It Forward program and fund to the Foundation for support in the Southington community. Paul Gregory’s and Fancy Bagels restaurants in Southington are being recognized for their being the first establishments to commit, without hesitation, to being part of the Plate It Forward Program.

Plate it Forward Southington is a food sharing project developed and initially funded by the “Friday Morning Breakfast Club” (FMBC), and the FMBC is a business-networking group founded by Realtor Gary Brummett in early 2022 where members meet bi-monthly for breakfast and business discussions.

The Plate it Forward Southington program is based upon the pay it forward model of giving. When you buy a meal for yourself in a participating restaurant, you may also make a second purchase for someone else. The paid but “yet-to-be-prepared” meal’s receipt is posted on the Plate it Forward Southington board inside the restaurant where food insecure folks that live among us as neighbors can come to the restaurant and get that pre-paid meal served to them.

The project has support from The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, Bread for Life, and the Southington Community Services. The Community Foundation maintains a charitable fund that anyone can contribute to providing financial resources to Bread for Life and the FMBC to support the program. To learn more about Plate It Forward go to https://www.facebook.com/PlateItForwardCT

Established in 1941, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain is “Where Good Begins” in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington. The Foundation works to inspire philanthropy, responsibly manage permanent charitable assets, and partner to address key community issues through strategic leadership. For more information, visit www.cfgnb.org.

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Any questions, contact Dave Obedzinski, President/CEO at (860) 229-6018, ext. 306 or David@cfgnb.org