Funding for Early Childhood Development, Arts Headline Community Foundation’s First Grants of 2016

More than $180,000 in Local Grant Awards Authorized

New Britain, Conn., May 11, 2016 – Up to $45,000 in grant funding for early childhood development programs serving young children and families in New Britain and Southington, and a $60,000 grant to the New Britain Museum of American Art, headline more than $180,000 in community funding recently authorized by the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain.

The funding marks the Foundation’s first round of community grants in 2016. Last year, the Foundation awarded more than $1.5 million in grants throughout its four-town service area of Berlin, Plainville, New Britain and Southington.

The early childhood development grants are part of the Community Foundation’s signature First Years First early childhood development initiative. Grants included $20,000 to the Consolidated School District of New Britain to support the District’s 2016 Summer Enrichment Experience (SEE) program, which helps New Britain students in grades 1 through 4 avoid summer learning loss; up to $20,000 to the Family Resource Center of Southington to offset an operating budget shortfall; and up to $5,000 to the Coalition for New Britain’s Youth to integrate Vroom tools and resources into the community. Vroom materials help parents and caregivers of pre-school children make a positive impact on their child’s brain development. The grant matches funds for this initiative provided by the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading.

Additional grant awards included:

Arts, Culture & Heritage

  • New Britain Museum of American Art. A $60,000 grant to support the museum’s education and outreach programs.

Education

  • New Britain High School Academy of Finance. A $17,000 grant for creation of financial skills labs for students.
  • ParaDYM Academy (New Britain). A $15,000 grant to expand the Academy’s afterschool program to include music and coding modules.

Health and Human Services

  • Hartford Healthcare Senior Services. A $7,500 grant to increase the Good Life Fitness Program’s community outreach and evaluation efforts.
  • Plainville Senior Center. A $15,808 grant to hire a part-time office assistant.

Community Sponsorship Awards

  • The Arc of Southington. A $750 sponsorship of the program’s Annual Variety Show June 5.
  • Autism Families CONNECTicut. A $500 sponsorship to support “A Sparkling Celebration” event honoring Lynn Ricci, which took place on April 2, 2016.
  • CMHA. A $500 sponsorship to support the Annual Run for Recovery, a 5k to benefit vital mental health care on June 18.
  • Light of Hope. A $500 sponsorship to fund the Women of Hope Conference that took place April 30 at CCSU.
  • Plainville Wings and Wheels. A $500 sponsorship of the 5th Annual Plainville Wings and Wheels Fly-In and Classic Car Show June 11.
  • Polish American Foundation. A $500 sponsorship of the Little Poland Festival in New Britain, which took place on April 24.

Summer Arts Showcase

For the fourth year in a row, the Community Foundation’s Summer Arts Showcase is providing grants to local libraries to promote youth art programming during the summer months. A “Summer Arts Showcase” public event will take place August 18 at the New Britain Museum of American Art. This year’s grants include:

  • Berlin-Peck Memorial Library. A $1,620 grant to conduct three 90-minute Family Dance Mob classes.
  • New Britain Public Library. A $550 grant for two five-session hip-hop dance workshops with Justin “JuS” Hues. One workshop is for 10 teen artists and the other for 10 child artists.
  • Plainville Public Library. A $1,500 grant for an eight-class “On Your Mark, Get Set, De-Stress” program for 20 children ages 6-11. The class includes yoga, meditation, art and gardening/engaging with nature.

Additional Grants (Donor-Advised)

  • Ericson, Scalise & Mangan Fund. A $100 grant to the New Britain High School PTO for the 2016 All-Night Graduation Party.
  • Gilrain Family Fund. A $500 grant to North Central Area on Again, and a $500 grant to the Cove Center for Grieving Children.
  • Kindelan Family Fund. A $500 grant to the 2016 Hoops for the Homeless event.
  • Mayor’s Trophy Charitable Fund. A $1,000 grant to Cover with Love, Inc., to support a community block party, and a $500 grant to the Polonia Business Association to support the Little Poland Festival which took place on April 24.
  • Schaller Auto World Fund. A total of $8,300 in grants to the Boys and Girls Club of New Britain in memory of Angelo Tomasso; the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain in memory of Dr. John Pescosolido; the Miracle League of Connecticut; the Center for Children’s Advocacy; and the New Britain High School Academy of Finance for uniform purchases.

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, manage permanent charitable assets effectively, and partner to address key community issues through strategic leadership.  For more information, visit www.cfgnb.org