First Community Foundation Grants of 2017 Total Nearly $100,000

Funding Includes More than $50,000 in Grants for Summer Education Programs

New Britain, Conn., April 20, 2017 – Paced by more than $50,000 in grants to support education programs combatting summer learning loss and promoting math skills, the Community foundation of Greater New Britain has kicked off its 2017 grantmaking year with nearly $100,000 in community grants and awards.

The Community Foundation’s board of directors this week approved $95,660 in grant awards benefitting non-profit organizations and programs serving Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington. Included were $3,250 in Community Sponsorship Awards to support local community events.

Following is a complete list of April Community Foundation grants:

Education and First Years First

Consolidated School District of New Britain. Two grants helping to combat summer learning loss:

  • A $36,000 grant to support the start-up of a new program called Excellence Through Real-World Experiences and Maximizing Energy (XTREME). The program will help combat summer learning loss by integrating math and science into a full-day program that brings together students who have completed grades 6-8 with professionals from the school district and local community-based organizations.
  • A $20,000 grant from the First Years First Fund to support the 2017 Summer Enrichment Experience (SEE) program for students in grades 1 through 4.

Linden Street School. A $5,800 grant to create a useable learning space including an outdoor classroom and reading courtyard.

Arts, Culture and Heritage

Southington Community Cultural Arts. A $25,000 grant to expand the All-Access program, which provides arts classes for people with disabilities from Southington.

Community Sponsorship Awards

Arc of Southington. A $500 sponsorship to support the annual Variety Show, an evening of talent featuring developmentally disabled performers, on June 4.

Berlin High School Band Parents Association. A $500 sponsorship to support “Jazz with Pizzazz”, an evening filled with music and entertainment on June 3.

CMHA. A $500 sponsorship to support the annual Run for Recovery, a 5k on June 10 to benefit vital mental health care.

Greater New Britain Teen Pregnancy Prevention. A $250 sponsorship of the annual Pathways Walkathon on September 24.

New Britain High School PTO. A $500 sponsorship to support the All Night Graduation party for the Class of 2017 on June 16.

Polish American Foundation. A $1,000 sponsorship to fund the annual Little Poland Festival on April 30.

Additional Grants (Donor-Advised)

Bombaci Family Fund. A $1,000 grant to New Britain Youth Football and Cheer.

Lasher Fund in Memory of Douglas S. Lasher. A $760 grant to the Community Foundation’s First Years First Initiative.

Mayor’s Trophy Charitable Fund. A total of $2,600 in grants to programs and causes including Grace C.M.E. Church’s 2nd Annual CWC Scholarship Gala; the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative’s 2017 Connecticut Race in the Park; New Britain Legacies’ Youth Development and Basketball Program; the Polonia Business Association’s 6th Annual Little Poland Festival; New Britain High School’s boys tennis program to help purchase new equipment and instruction; Coram Deo in support of the program’s 10th anniversary; and the Polish Language School to support the school’s 2017 trip to Poland.

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