TORRINGTON, CT -- The Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation has awarded grants to 21 area nonprofit organizations, totaling $103,950 during its first grant cycle of 2018. The Community Foundation awards discretionary grants to Northwest Connecticut charities three times a year: early spring, late June and late fall.
Noteworthy among the recent include:
- $10,000 to Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness to support flexible emergency funding that will prevent families in the Community Foundation’s service area from having to enter a homeless shelter
“Northwestern Connecticut itself does not have an alternate source of diversion dollars so the fund has become a vital source of emergency assistance for families facing shelter,” said Lisa Tepper Bates, Executive Director. “The fund serves as a resource to providers within the region.”
- $4,000 to Connecticut Credit Union Charitable Foundation to support the cost of a financial reality fair in Torrington to improve financial literacy skills in high school students
“Our foundation goal with the financial reality fairs is to make students aware of their current and future financial picture so that they understand the challenges they will face after high school/college,” said David Hinchey, Director of Community Impact. “We're looking to provide a lasting experience that allows them to make mistakes in a classroom setting so that they don't make them in the real world.”
- $1,500 to McCall Center for Behavioral Health to support SMART Recovery program services for youth and young adults in Winsted and Torrington
“SMART stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training and empowers youth to overcome challenges, reduce substance use and dependence, build positive coping and life skills, and move forward.,” said Sara Osborne, Director of Prevention Services.
- $1,000 to Casting For Recovery to support the cost of attendance at a weekend retreat for breast cancer survivors
“The gentle motion of fly casting is of particular benefit to the post-surgical changes in the arm and chest,” said Sharon O’Connell, Program Coordinator. “…the retreat allows survivors to connect with and learn from their fellow survivors.”
The following is a comprehensive list of 2018 First Cycle Grants:
After School Arts Program - $4,400 to support transportation costs and teacher fees for 38 Torrington students to attend a two-week summer arts program (from the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund)
Casting For Recovery - $1,000 to support the cost of attendance at a weekend retreat for breast cancer survivors (from the Robert Venn Carr, Jr. Fund)
Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness - $10,000 to support flexible emergency funding that will prevent families in the Community Foundation’s service area from having to enter a homeless shelter (from the Edward W. Diskavich Fund)
Connecticut Credit Union Charitable Foundation - $4,000 to support the cost of a financial reality fair in Torrington to improve financial literacy skills in high school students (from the Keroden Endowed Fund)
Douglas Library - $1,500 to support the cost of upgrading the library’s website (from the Robert Venn Carr, Jr. Fund)
Family & Children’s Aid - $5,000 to support renovation of the Torrington site to improve the amount of usable space for staff and programs (from the Edwin M. Stone and Edith H. Stone Fund)
First Congregational Church of Barkhamsted - $18,000 to support the cost of roof repairs so that the church can be reopened to the public (from the Eva M. Coty Fund)
Food Rescue US - $7,500 to support Food Rescue US in Northwest CT, an innovative platform for food rescue and delivery to organizations serving the food-insecure population (from the Robert V. Carr Fund)
Friends of the Litchfield Community Greenway, Inc. - $10,000 to support Phase Three construction costs of the non-motorized route from Litchfield to Bantam for walkers, runners and bikers (from the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)
Litchfield Performing Arts - $7,000 to support the Student Stage at the 2018 Litchfield Jazz Festival (from the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)
Little Britches Therapeutic Riding - $1,500 to subsidize one full session of therapeutic riding lessons for three riders from the Community Foundation’s service area (from the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund)
McCall Center for Behavioral Health - $1,500 to support SMART Recovery program services for youth and young adults in Winsted and Torrington (from the Ruth and Robert Cron Endowment Fund)
Northwestern Connecticut Community College - $6,000 to support the Student Emergency Fund (from the Keroden Endowed Fund)
Pipers’ Gathering, Inc. - $1,500 to support the cost of an annual weekend gathering of traditional musicians for instruction and concerts open to the public (from the Robert Venn Carr, Jr. Fund)
Prime Time House - $3,000 to support the Clubhouse Wellness Program, including access to the food pantry, health and nutrition training, and a weekly wellness dinner (from the Miriam Mason Cable Trust Fund)
Torrington Historical Society - $3,250 to support the cost of shelving, dehumidifiers and archival supplies (from the Ruth and Robert Cron Endowment Fund)
Torrington Public Schools - $8,700 to support the cost of attendance for all Torrington students in Grades 2 through 5 at a special performance of the Nutcracker at the Warner Theatre (from the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund)
Town of Barkhamsted - $1,300 to support the speaker fee and additional seating for the 5th annual Barkhamsted Earth Day Festival (from the Pierpont Chapter #49 Order of Eastern Star Fund)
Washington Environmental Council - $2,400 to support the cost of 12 TerraCycle Zero Waste boxes throughout the Town of Washington CT (from the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)
Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust - $2,500 to support the cost of one firesafe cabinet to store original land records (from the Ruth and Robert Cron Endowment Fund)
Winsted Senior Center and Senior Enrichment Program - $3,900 to support the cost of trained instructors to offer free fitness classes for older adults and people with disabilities (from the Margaret C. Tupper Fund)
Established in 1969, the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation serves 20 towns in Northwest Connecticut. Its total endowment, comprised of more than 250 funds, has grown from initial assets of $15,000 to more than $100 million. Last year, combined grants and scholarships totaled more than $3 million.
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Contacts:
Nicole Carlson Easley
Communications Director
Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation
860-626-1245
neasley@northwestcf.org
Christina Tranquillo
Program and Communications Associate
Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation
860-626-1245
ctranquillo@northwestcf.org
Website: www.northwestcf.org