• Abilities Without Boundaries (Cheshire): Sustainable Art Program – $5,000 to underwrite the annual cost for an outside instructor to teach Sustainable Art classes, expanding the menu of Day Support program offerings. 

• Afro-Caribbean Cultural Center (Waterbury): Waterbury Puerto Rican Parade & Festival – $10,000 to support a vibrant celebration of Puerto Rican culture, heritage, and pride. Held annually in Waterbury, the parade features colorful floats, traditional music, dance performances, and community leaders.  

• After School Arts Program / ASAP! (Washington): ASAP! Programs at Children’s Community School  – $12,000 to offer programs that blend the arts with nature studies, mindfulness, social justice, play, field trips, and professional development for pre-k through 8th graders and teachers at Children’s Community School. 

• Arts for Learning Connecticut: “Express Yourself”: After School Arts at Kingsbury  – $10,000 to continue a 10-week after school arts learning program, Express Yourself, for 40 elementary students at FJ Kingsbury in Waterbury, implemented by Teaching Artists. 

• Ball & Socket Arts (Cheshire): Ball & Socket Arts Free Outdoor 2025 Summer Concert Series: Live @ the Factory – $7,500 to support Ball & Socket Arts’ summer series, Live @ the Factory: 5 free outdoor public concerts from June-September, including Grammy Award winning Dan Pugach Big Band featuring Nicole Zuraitis.  

• Building Legacy & Community (fiscal sponsor: NEST) – 6th Annual Juneteenth Celebration – $10,000 to support the Annual Juneteenth Celebration of black artists, entertainers, businesses, and community members in the Waterbury area in honor of the oldest African American holiday in America.  

• cARTie (Shelton): Art Museum Enrichment in Waterbury & Naugatuck – $5,150 to provide critical art museum enrichment for young students who lack access to art and museums, as well as their educators and emerging student-artists.  This is possible through a mobile art museum bus. 

• City Youth Theater (Waterbury): Summer with CYT & Fall Class 2025 – $12,500 to provide a transformative arts experience for youth, featuring theater workshops, performances, and a trip to the Goodspeed Opera House for a behind-the-scenes tour to inspire arts appreciation.  

• Find Your Light Foundation (Fiscal Sponsor: NEST) : Find Your Light Dance & Black History – $12,000 to offer free, high-quality dance instruction with historical context for the youth of Waterbury.   

• (The) Gathering Festival, Inc. (Waterbury): The Gathering 2025 – $10,000 to support and expand the most culturally diverse festival in New England, held in Waterbury. In 2024 The Gathering had elements of 110 different cultures celebrating music, food and dance from around the world.  

• Mattatuck Museum (Waterbury): Children’s Community School Art Program – $15,520 to continue arts programming at Waterbury’s Children’s Community School (CCS) for more than 100 K-6th grade students. Classes in basic art skills, art journaling, and photography are led by museum staff and guest artists. 

• Newbury Musical Theatre Company (Southbury): The Sound of Music – $5,000 to support a production of Sound of Music .   

• Palace Theater Group (Waterbury): CommUNITY Series at the Palace Theater – $7,500 to offer three interactive events designed to gather diverse presenters and audiences, many of whom have not been involved in the theater’s prior activities, with the goal of fostering greater understanding and creating a stronger community.  

• Park Central (AKA Girls Inc., Waterbury): Works of Art – Take 2 Recycling – $5,000 to support Park Central’s growing creative arts programs, specifically focused on recycled art. These programs empower girls to use art as a form of self-expression and, by using recycled materials, they see the value in things that would otherwise be discarded. 

• Shakesperience Productions (Waterbury): Waterbury Interactive, Our City, Our Neighborhoods – $15,000 to support “Neighborhoods”: a year-round inter-generational humanities program encompassing history, the arts, and communication, and storytelling in the form of creative narratives from local young people, older adults, teachers, and more. 

• Waterbury Black Business Network (Fiscal Sponsor: NEST): Euphoria In Hues: A Black & Brown Creatives Weekend – $15,500 to offer a two-day educational event, including seminars on marketing and branding, alongside a vendor market. Seminars will feature guest speakers who are industry experts and successful artists. 

• Waterbury, City of: Make Music Day Waterbury 2025 – $5,000 to support Make Music Waterbury, which brings free, community-wide, outdoor musical performances to Waterbury. Make Music Waterbury will feature musicians of diverse abilities and genres. 

• Waterbury Symphony Orchestra (Waterbury): Musician Mentorship Program – $14,430 to allow professional WSO musicians collaborate with Waterbury Arts Magnet School (WAMS) band/orchestra teachers to mentor students, providing close guidance/instruction while preparing them for performances on a weekly basis throughout the school year.  

• Winning Ways Inc. (Branford): The Winning Circle Series™: Spit and Paint™ – $5,000 to offer an art program in Waterbury focusing on community engagement and team-morale through interdisciplinary art & empowerment discussions. Hosted at local venues, it offers a creative platform for expression and exploration of self and community. 

• Abilities Without Boundaries (Cheshire):  Employment Support – Janitorial Services  – $5,000 to purchase new equipment for the Janitorial Services team, allowing for more paid employment opportunities for participants.  

• Best Buddies Connecticut (New Britain): Best Buddies in Connecticut Leadership Development and Transitions Programs – $5,000 to support programs that are vital to creating more inclusive opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), through pre-employment training Leadership Development opportunities. 

• Big Brothers Big Sisters CT (Hartford):  Waterbury Community-Based Mentoring – $10,000 to connect youth (6-18) facing adversity with screened volunteer adult mentors. Pairs are together 6-10 hours monthly for at least a year, engaging in activities and supporting social-emotional & academic growth. 

• Center for Children’s Advocacy (Hartford):  Waterbury Children & Youth Advocacy Project – $10,000 to promote equitable opportunity for low-income Black and Latinx students and low-income children with disabilities by deploying CCA’s legal services, provider advocacy training and systemic reform advocacy to reduce barriers to education and employability. 

• Community Partners in Action (Hartford):  Greater Waterbury Reentry Welcome Center – $12,000 request to assist people returning to the Greater Waterbury area after prison and those living in the area who have a criminal history. The Center serves as a centralized hub, provides support services, and coordinates referrals to 30+ community partners. 

• CT Institute for Refugees & Immigrants  (Bridgeport):  Waterbury Immigration Legal Services – $25,000 to support family reunification, naturalization, adjustment of status, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals applications and renewals, visas for victims of domestic violence, asylum applications and appeals, and removal defense for immigrants living in greater Waterbury.   

• Hang Time Connecticut (Bridgeport): Hang/Her Time Waterbury – $5,000 for a grassroots social justice program supporting individuals returning from incarceration. HT promotes reintegration, reduces recidivism, & enhances community safety via peer-led support, educational trips, & access to essential services, providing guidance for successful reentry. 

• Literacy Volunteers of Greater Waterbury: LVGW Job Center – $10,000 to expand LVGW’s Job Center, which needs increased staffing as well as materials, computers, phones, interview clothing, etc.  The effort will include increased outreach to both current students and those who have recently graduated.  

• Literacy Volunteers on the Green (New Milford):  Adult Literacy Programs Serving English Language learners and Underserved Adult Learners – $7,413 to support the literacy needs of adult learners in northwestern CT. Literacy programs include English language learning, reading, writing, US citizenship prep, and basic literacy skills to immigrants & undereducated adults. 

• St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Waterbury:  Culinary Jobs Training Program – $10,000  to support the culinary job training program, designed for individuals facing high barriers to employment: an opportunity that will enhance their economic well-being.  

• UConn Foundation / UConn Waterbury:  Hands-On STEM & Health for  Waterbury Students –  $15,000 to support STEM / Health field trips with interactive learning activities for ~800+  7th/8th grade Waterbury public school students.  

• Urban Fresh Gardens (Waterbury):  Learn to Earn – $10,000 to support a Climate Smart Project  that empowers youth to take part in climate-conscious agriculture initiatives.  

• Waterbury YMCA (Waterbury): Linking Academics to Life: $10,086 to offer a free, high impact, evidence based, college, career, and life readiness after- school program for Waterbury’s high school youth, the majority of whom are African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino and almost all are from low-income families. 

• Girl Scouts of Connecticut Inc. (Hartford): Equity in Care: First Aid for Camp An-Se-Ox: $4,740 to support the purchase of a comprehensive first aid kit, provide First Aid/CPR training for 6 counselors, and hire a qualified First Aider to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants.  

• Built 4 Success (Waterbury): Kids RISE Up Community Program: $7,000 to continue supporting an after-school program where Waterbury students participate in yoga, art, and mindfulness activities that help build resilience and social emotional learning, addressing mental health and toxic stress.  

• Waterbury Black Business Network (Waterbury): Black Health and Wellness Providers Fair: $8,000 to support the Black Health and Wellness Providers Fair, which connects Black health professionals with the Greater Waterbury community and offers health screenings, educational workshops, and resources to address healthcare disparities and empower attendees.  

• Flanders Nature Center and Land Trust (Woodbury): Research, Planning, Curriculum Development of “Flanders Climate Champions” program for Middle and High School: $9,475 to support a future-oriented program at Flanders where students can gain knowledge and skills that can empower them to act and provide them with mentorship to tackle the climate problem affecting their world.  

• McCall Behavior Health Network (Torrington): Interpretation Services for Non-English-Speaking Patients: $9,560 to enable McCall to provide video and over the phone interpretation services for individuals in Greater Waterbury who do not speak English.  

• Woman’s Choice Charitable Association (Prospect): Prenatal Education & Postpartum Support $10,000 to support Prenatal Education and Postpartum Support programs that will prepare and uplift families during both periods and focus on Black and Brown families in Waterbury.  

• Covenant to Care for Children (Hartford): Basic Essential Goods for Children $10,000 to continue supporting families in the Foundation’s 21-town region with basic needs access, helping to prevent child removal from homes and support the reunification of families when basic needs is the barrier for families to remain intact.  

• The UConn Foundation Inc. (Storrs): UConn Waterbury Husky Harvest Addressing Food Insecurity: $10,000 to support the Husky Harvest on-campus food bank, which supports nearly 1/3 of UConn Waterbury students facing food insecurity, and to extend the food bank hours so students taking night classes can access resources. 

• Sustainable CT, Inc. (Bozrah): 2025 Sustainable CT Fellow Program: $10,000 to partially support two SCT Fellows serving municipalities in the Foundation’s 21-town region who will complete and document sustainability actions and connect the municipality with no-cost assistance, resources, and funding opportunities.  

• Saint Mary’s Hospital (Waterbury): Culturally Competent Care Training to improve Black and Latine Maternal Health Outcomes: $13,600 to train hospital leadership and clinicians in culturally competent care by creating a better understanding of systemic racism, and to improve Black and Latine maternal health outcomes. 

• Food Rescue US, Inc. (Stamford): Food Rescue US-Northwest CT: $15,000 to support the expansion of food recovery work in the Foundation’s 21-town region, and to increase the number of meals provided to communities in the Foundation’s region.  

• Brian Gibbons Homeless Outreach Inc. (Naugatuck): Greater Waterbury Homeless Outreach Services: $20,000 to support program outreach and efforts including supplies, clinical support services, and intensive case management to ensure the successful operation of the program in support individuals of Greater Waterbury facing homelessness. 

• Special Olympics Connecticut (Hamden): Special Olympics Connecticut’s “Opening Eyes” program: $5,000 to support the “Opening Eyes Program”, which improves the quality of life of athletes by optimizing their vision, eye health, and visual skills through quality eye care. 

• Love146 (New Haven): CT Survivor Cares Program: $10,000 to fund short-term and rapid response services to children and families who have been impacted by trafficking. 

• Safe Haven (Waterbury): Safer Communities – Greater Waterbury: $10,000 to fund comprehensive support and crises services to those who are or have experienced domestic or sexual violence.  

• Soul Friends (Bethlehem): Horse Program for Teen Girls: $5,314 to fund an equine-therapy program for teen girls focused on self-empowerment, resilience-building and social-emotional skill development. 

• Susan B. Anthony Project (Torrington): Rebuilding Lives Program: $10,000 to fund free, confidential crisis and support services to domestic and sexual violence victims living in northwest Connecticut, including emergency shelter, transitional living, a 24-hour crisis hotline, one-to-one counseling, court and medical advocacy, and support groups. 

• St. Vincent DePaul (Waterbury): Woman’s Day Program: $10,000 to fund Women’s Day Program services which provides a safe, structured daytime environment for single female shelter residents from October 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026.  

• YMCA/Waterbury Youth Services (Waterbury): Child Advocacy Center – Bridging Component: $10,000 to fund trauma-focused therapeutic interventions to children who are victims of abuse or neglect. The program offers short-term therapy, safety planning, case management, and caregiver support. Children are referred by community partners and are engaged within 72 hours and the program is offered free of charge. 

• Brass City Harvest (Waterbury): Brass City Cooks: $15,000 to continue providing cooking classes and nutrition education to older adults with a focus on chronic disease management and provide cooking demonstrations and education in conjunction with the Farmer’s Market on the Waterbury Green.  

• Brooker Memorial (Torrington): Relatives as Parents Program at Brooker Memorial for Grandparents Raising Children: $2,500 to support the “Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP)” which offers monthly support groups, speakers, offsite family activities and access to a clinical psychologist.  

• Cape Verdean Social Club (Waterbury): Senior Fitness and Engagement Program: $8,000 to support monthly activities for older adults, including 1-hour exercise classes led by a professional trainer to help improve the physical health of older adults, paint classes, gardening classes, and other activities that encourage connections and social engagement.  

• Danbury Hospital and New Milford Hospital Foundation, Inc. (New Milford): Senior Supper Program at New Milford Hospital: $7,678 to support the “Senior Suppers Program” which provides affordable, nutritious meals and educational gatherings for older adults, reducing food insecurity and social isolation.  

• Grace Baptist Church of Waterbury (Waterbury): Grace Baptist Senior Center (BRASS): $7,200 to provide a broad range of group and individual activities and services that respond to the needs and interests of BRASS members/older adults, families, and caregivers in the Waterbury community. 

• Hispanic Coalition of Greater Waterbury (Waterbury): La Casa Bienvenida Senior Center (BRASS): $7,200 to provide a safe and welcoming space where older adults can access programs that promote social interaction, educational awareness, and healthy living habits, while also promoting independence, dignity and advocating for and protecting their rights. 

• Landmark Community Theater (Thomaston): Performing Arts Activities for Older Adults: $3,000 to allow older adults to participate in classes such as beginners and advanced ukelele, comedy workshops, reader’s theatre, and theatre improvisation. 

• Mattatuck Museum (Waterbury): Seniors at the Matt: $12,000 to support the offering of interactive activities and programs for older adults, including Matt on the Go, trivia-based BRASS Bingo, expanded chess lessons, and Senior Mornings.  

• McCall Behavioral Health Network (Torrington): Supporting Basic Needs for Vulnerable Older Adults in Greater Waterbury $7,500 to support older adults in Greater Waterbury with direct, on the spot assistance for essentials (meals, personal care items, paperwork for employment, clothing) ensuring everyone can access needed resources and age with dignity. 

• Mount Olive A.M.E. Zion Senior Citizens Center, Inc. (Waterbury): Mt. Olive Senior Center (BRASS): $7,200 to support older adult BRASS members in free social, educational, and wellness programs that promote active, healthy, and thriving aging within the community, reducing social isolation by promoting emotional wellbeing through social interaction and lifelong learning. 

• Naugatuck YMCA (Naugatuck): Older Adult Wellbeing: $15,000 to support the aging population in the Foundation’s service area and surrounding towns by providing programs that offer social interaction, chronic illness prevention opportunities, exercise and fitness opportunities, and evidence-based programs.  

• New Opportunities Inc. (Waterbury): Conexion: $3,000 to provide nutritious meals and transportation to older adults participating in the Conexion Program, ensuring access to balanced meals that meet dietary guidelines, and to culturally relevant activities that support older adult wellbeing. 

• Park Central (Waterbury): Park Central-Intergenerational Programs: $7,000 to partner with local older adult serving organizations and offer programming opportunities where older adults can connect with girls and engage in specific projects, activities, and events.  

• Roxbury Senior Center Fitness Program (Roxbury): Roxbury Senior Center Fitness Program: $3,500 to support older adult fitness programs and assist older adults on fixed incomes to engage in programs at an affordable cost. 

• St. Margaret Willow Plaza NRZ (Waterbury): Willow Plaza Senior Center (BRASS) $7,200 to promote social connections, health and wellness, and lifelong learning, providing opportunities for socializing through group activities, fitness classes and educational events, reducing isolation and strengthening community ties for BRASS members. 

• Village Center for the Arts (New Milford): Senior Clay Hand-Building Class: $7,400 to support offering an art program where older adults work with clay, promoting learning and development of new skills. 

• Town of Warren Social Services (Warren): Paint and Social for Older Adults: $1,115 to support the “Paint and Social” event, allowing a group of older adult residents to be led by an artist and paint their own product while socializing with friends and neighbors. 

• Waterbury Senior Center (Waterbury): Waterbury Senior Center (BRASS): $7,200 to continue expanding BRASS senior center programming to increase socialization, learning and volunteer opportunities including our workshops, classes and other education, health, and fitness activities with a culturally competent lens while remaining diligent in communication with members. 

• Woodbury Senior Center (Woodbury): Chef on Site Congregate Lunch Support: $9,000 to support the Chef on Site program, which provides hot and nutritious meals twice a week, as well as social connections and access to resources for older adults.  

• Connecticut Partnership for Children, Inc. (Naugatuck): Case Management/Support of Basic Needs for Naugatuck Families: $32,595 to support strengthening families by fostering child development and building engaged communities in Naugatuck, providing food, diapers, clothing, warmth, case management, and social services that can help families navigate challenges.  

• Human Resources Development Agency (Naugatuck): Medical Transportation Socialization: $31,747to serve Naugatuck’s elderly and disabled community with transportation from their homes to doctor appointments, physical therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, dialysis, chemotherapy/radiation, blood work, prescription pick up, shopping, and community social events.  

• Naugatuck Valley Soup Kitchen (Naugatuck): Free Meal Delivery Program: $12,000 to support a healthy meal program that benefits Naugatuck residents in need, providing free delivered meals three days a week.  

• Naugatuck YMCA (Naugatuck): Livestrong: $10,000 to support the continued implementation of “Livestrong”, a free evidence-based program that helps cancer survivors reclaim their health and wellbeing following a cancer diagnosis. 

• Make a Home Foundation (Middlebury): Seniors Making a Home for Many  – $2,500 to help elderly residents, primarily in Heritage Village, to transition to higher level of care, helping downsize and donating their furniture when needed.  

• PHS Gradnite Inc. (Southbury): PHS Gradnite 2025 – $5,000 to provide an overnight celebration on Pomperaug High School’s graduation night to keep students safe and away from alcohol and drugs. 

• SMART Inc. (Southbury/Middlebury): Outreach & Educational Program Initiatives – $15,000 to create/implement community needs-assessment survey and crucial mental health, suicide prevention, & substance use prevention community groups based on results. They will collaborate with partners to use resources to improve mental health, increase protective factors, and support safety & wellness across life domains.   

• Southbury Junior Women’s Club: SWC Operation Backpack  – $2,500 to raise funds through grants and community donations to purchase backpacks and school supplies for needy families in Southbury.  

• Southbury Land Trust (Southbury): Spring Hill Farm Preserve Boardwalk Trail – $5,000 to create an interpretive woodland boardwalk trail connecting to a Wildlife Viewing Platform on the shoreline of the Preserve’s rare pond habitat. 

• Waterbury YMCA – YMCA Camp Oakasha Scholarship – $5,000 to provide financial assistance to families in need through scholarships for youth to attend YMCA Camp Oakasha.   

• Whiskers Pet Rescue (Southbury): Senior to Senior Forever Foster Program – $5,000 to support a program that provides joins senior cats (over age 12) with senior citizens (over age 65) in the local community. Whiskers covers all medical expenses and food/litter for the life of the cat.

• Abilities Without Boundaries (Cheshire): Management Training $10,000 to fund training for Abilities management team. Sessions will provide staff with the tools and techniques to empower direct support professionals.  

• Bantam Cinema & Arts Center (Litchfield): Board Training: $2,000 to fund work with a consultant for training on board fundamentals, including roles & responsibilities, governance basics, financial management, recruitment and structure, fundraising and assessment and evaluation. 

• Boys and Girls Club of Greater Waterbury (Waterbury): Board Retreat: $5,000 to fund the planning and facilitation of a board retreat with a consultant with the goal of setting expectations, developing board culture and increasing engagement.  

• Girl Scouts of CT (Hartford): Camp Technology Upgrades: $5,445 to fund technology upgrades at Camp An-Se-Ox in Oxford. 

• Hoops4life, Inc. (Waterbury): Young Creatives Program: $5,000 to fund the organization’s graphic design program for middle school students. The program is part of the educational offerings Hoops4Life offers beyond basketball. 

• Park Central (Waterbury): Technology Upgrades: $5,000 to fund the purchase of new laptops for the organization to be used both operationally and programmatically. 

• Save Girls on FYRE (Waterbury): Executive Coaching and Strategy Development: $12,000 to fund work executive coaching with an organizational consultant.  

• Susan B. Anthony Project (Torrington): Professional Development for Management: $8,000 to fund on-site leadership training for SBAP’s management team focused on essential leadership skills in the areas of communication, expectation setting, accountability, and organizational efficiency. 

• TheaterWorks of New Milford (New Milford): Strategic Planning: $5,000 to fund work with a consultant on the development of a new strategic plan to help align goals and strategies. 

• Waterbury Black Business Network (Waterbury): Board Training and Strategic Planning: $7,500 to fund work with a consultant for strategic planning services and board governance training tailored specifically to the organization’s Board of Directors.  

•  Waterbury Promise (Waterbury): Fundraising Consultant: $10,000 to support continued work with a fund development consultant for the organization.

• Black Boarders of Connecticut was awarded a $5,000 grant in support of the Mom’s on the Mountain program, which will engage female guardians in joining youth participants to foster physical wellness, family bonding, and increased representation on the slopes.
• Lady of Love was awarded a $5,000 grant for daily living essentials for families in need, such as hygiene products, seasonal clothing, and other personal care items.
• North End Co-operative Market was awarded a $3,500 grant in support of their Fall Harvest which will increase awareness of local farmers and expand access to fresh, local food for residents.
• Ungroup Society was awarded a $1,500 grant to support its Music in We: Sunday Weekend Wind Downs program which showcases original music created by Waterbury youth.

In addition, the Circle will also award $2,600 in college tuition assistance to the top five African American Waterbury Public High School graduates of 2025, through the In Search of Excellence Scholarship fund. 

Information to come.

• New Opportunities (Waterbury): Pathway to Success: $5,000 to fund a job readiness and self-care seminar series for low-income women ages 18–26 in the Waterbury area.  

• Save Girls on FYRE (Waterbury): Leadership Academy: $23,068 to fund the organization’s Leadership Academy, which is aimed at girls aged 7-19 and focuses on equipping participants with confidence and leadership skills through a selection of different tracts, ranging from environmental research, technology, theater and STEAM.  

• Woman’s Choice Charitable Association (Waterbury): Prenatal Education and Postpartum Support: 10,000 to fund free and low-cost pregnancy support services for Black mothers who live in Waterbury, including childbirth and breastfeeding classes and one-on-one doula support. 

• Greenwoods Counseling Referrals in Litchfield was awarded a $5,000 grant to support its affordable mental healthcare and addiction treatment for Women & Girls in Litchfield County.
• Brian Gibbons Homeless Outreach was awarded a $5,000 grant to support its emergency services and outreach support for women in need who are at risk of being unhoused or are currently unhoused. 
• Hang Time Connecticut was awarded a $5,000 grant for peer-led support for formerly incarcerated women, including housing, employment, and recovery. 
• McCall Behavioral Health Network was awarded a $5,000 grant for a peer-led support group for adolescent girls that promotes voice, agency, and self-awareness in girls and gender-expansive youth. 
• Naugatuck Valley Soup Kitchen was awarded a $5,000 grant to support its free meal delivery program of fresh, nutritious food for vulnerable residents of Naugatuck. 
• New Milford Affordable Housing was awarded a $5,000 grant to support its Brookside Commons Basic Needs program, which provides shelter, food, healthcare, education, and safety for up to 99 women and children who were previously unhoused.
•  YMCA of Greater Waterbury Youth Services was awarded a $5,000 grant to support youth and family emergency services, which includes crisis support, family counseling, and housing assistance. 

Information to come.

Information to come.