Grants Awarded in 2018

Area of Greatest Need

To support families from Puerto Rico displaced by the Hurricane Maria in serious danger of becoming homeless because of expiration of FEMA funding for temporary housing, non-permanent housing arrangements with family members, or struggles with medical issues or challenges accessing resources from FEMA.

To support acquisition of Connecticut drivers’ licenses, vital statistics and other important documentation that is needed for individuals displaced by the hurricane in Puerto Rico, to seek employment, housing and benefits.

Arts and Culture

Serving students at Children’s Community School, this program unites students of diverse backgrounds with professional artists, and combines art, nature, writing, and science studies using experiential learning.

To bring together all 600+ students at Rotella Inter-district Magnet School in Waterbury, and with the support of professional teaching artists, create their own large-scale mural honoring family and community members whom the students admire for their work because of accomplishments, work ethic and impact on others.

To support the Arts and Culture Collaborative in serving the Greater Waterbury arts community.

Their plan addresses needs of the Museum and its constituents, including: expanded, above-grade educational studio space for children and adults; increased exhibition space for the Mattatuck’s permanent collection; a larger elevator to move artwork and visitors safely and more efficiently; a more welcoming exterior; enhanced wayfinding within the Museum and completely accessible public spaces; and a stable financial legacy.

To provide free fine art learning opportunities for pre-school administrators, teachers, students and families at the museum. Mini-Masters aims to bring arts education into classrooms by providing teachers and aides with resources and methodology to organize arts activities.

To support weekly art classes at Independence Center in Waterbury, based upon the principle that people diagnosed with mental health conditions need a positive, trusted environment to become engaged.  Their goal is to support artists on their path, deepen relationships with community partners to have a broader impact with the public, and invest in storytelling efforts for new opportunities.

To support the launch of the new Five Senses Festival, which will run in Washington from July-August 2018.  It will offer interactive arts programs and performances that inspire creativity, personal expression, and community bonds. The Foundation’s grant will also support immersive programs, including weekly family workshops, interactive Umbrella Projects, and family performances.

To continue support a collaborative, innovative, multi-year arts program where young people develop interactive performances on the history of Waterbury neighborhoods. Once the plays are created, the young people perform them in neighborhood parks or centralized locations for their families and neighbors.  This year’s program will expand to include a Naugatuck component.

A music education program for underserved students and their families, Bravo! uses music as a tool for personal development, community engagement, and social change.  This grant will help to sustain the work of Bravo! through an intensive summer program at Children’s Community School in Waterbury.

To engage an estimated 250+ community volunteers of all ages in creating mosaic murals along the YMCA’s facade facing the newly-restored downtown Waterbury Green. Working with Connecticut artists Joanne and Bruce Hunter (who created Waterbury’s “Cool Waters” mosaic), these murals will create an immersive visual arts experience for a large and diverse population.

Cradle to Career

To support older foster youth who are aging out of foster care by pairing them with an adult who is committed to playing a supportive role for the youth.

To work with newly elected state and local officials to ensure that policymakers understand the importance of early care and education for Connecticut’s children and communities.

To continue collaboration between Naugatuck teachers to ensure students’ smooth transition from preschool to kindergarten.

To provide a five-week storytelling experience for first grade classes at Bucks Hill Elementary School in Waterbury.

To support Granville Academy students (almost 100% students of color) in the college application process. Funding will support travel and hotel expenses for students’ travel to Washington, D.C., Virginia, and North Carolina for visits to historically black colleges.

To support a walking literacy program that incorporates picture books displayed in store fronts throughout downtown Naugatuck.

To increase readiness of students entering kindergarten by continuing to strengthen the collaboration between New Milford Public Schools and the New Milford preschool community.

To support the evidence-based Parents as Teachers family support program that serves parents from pregnancy through age five of their child’s life

To prepare Waterbury children to enter school with the foundational skills needed to learn to read, and to prepare parent to support their children’s academic and social well-being.

To fund outside presenters in support of at-risk youth in afterschool programs. Grant funding will enable these activities to increase from once to twice weekly, which has been indicated to increase program attendance rates.

This “backbone grant” supports access to quality, culturally sensitive and evidence-based health information to Greater Waterbury residents and organizations, and supports the coordination of local healthcare services to improve overall community health. The cross-sector partnership focuses on the following priorities: access to care, healthy lifestyles and chronic disease and asthma prevention.

To continue the work of the QUEST Coordinator, which includes training youth providers, providing LGBTQ youth health spaces, and coordinating inclusive public events.

This “backbone grant” aims to develop and guide city-wide strategic direction to help all Waterbury youth succeed in school, work and life. The Bridge to Success partnership includes more than 200 community members representing 97 public and private organizations.

To support the renovation of two buildings on the Rose Hill campus in downtown Waterbury, which will expand the child development program to serve an additional 160 children in preschool readiness and school-age programs.

To develop an instructional leader position at the South Main Street Child Development Center to increase the quality of early learning programs.

To provide high-quality legal counsel to indigent children whose parents are embroiled in high-conflict family court disputes regarding custody and visitation.

To continue support for training additional personnel and providing parenting workshops.

To start a mentoring and academic support program for middle and high school black and African-American boys in Waterbury.

To support the second year of a three-year pilot STEM program in conjunction with the New York Academy of Sciences to provide sequential, quality, and engaging programming for girls in grades 4-12.

 To support a six-week, 12-hour diversionary program available to at-risk youth in the Naugatuck area.

To support low-and moderate-income families with basic care items for infants up to age three (diapers, food, educational classes).

To support eight youth that will work with the Glebe House on educational or historical projects relating to each student’s interests.

To continue a reading initiative that fosters a relationship between youth and adults in the intermediate school.

To improve the well-being of youth and the community by building the capacity of enrolled leaders as restorative justice practitioners.

To support robotics a program that engages students in four middle schools and involves a high school/middle school mentorship component.

For academic assistance, skill-building workshops and a stipend for students.

Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment

For domestic violence crisis intervention and long-term services for victims and survivors in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills.

To support single women to stay inside the shelter between October 2018-May 2019, rather than having women seek shelter with partners who are physically or sexually abusive.

To support crisis and support services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault (150 women and children from six towns in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills).

To continue to address the impact of interpersonal violence and trauma for at-risk, battered, or sexually abused girls ages 13-18.

To support crisis intervention work, emergency shelter, and individual/group counseling services for women and children from Bridgewater, New Milford, Roxbury and Washington.

Economic Vitality

To provide job readiness training to unemployed adults with substantial barriers to employment, such as lack of formal education or a history of incarceration. This intensive program teaches professional workplace norms and leadership and public presentation skills.

To support the school’s job training  for unemployed and under-employed adults leading to career paths in the food service industry. Through job training, students gain valuable hands-on experience and gain opportunities to give back to the community by preparing meals which are donated to the New Milford Food Bank.

To continue collaboration with Waterbury community agencies to implement the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and to provide other assistance for low-wage earners through the Family Economic Success (FES) program.

To support the Coordinated Access Network (CAN) serving Waterbury and surrounding areas. Funding will cover portions of staff time for work building the capacity of the CAN to serve homeless and housing unstable youth in the region, and for serve chronically homeless and homeless families. The goal is to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.

To connect families with vital resources for health and basic needs and to provide classes related to household budgeting and nutritious and affordable cooking.

To support GWIM’s soup kitchen and emergency food pantry, which help some of the neediest residents in Waterbury. The programs served more than 342,000 meals in 2018.

For the second year of a three year ($45,000) grant commitment to address the economic and racial inequalities that have devalued the once-vibrant River Baldwin neighborhood.

To support social service, community support, job training and education programs that position Latinas for success in the workforce. Meeting the basic employment needs through strong social networks is a necessary component to sustainable economic security in this community.

To explore the feasibility and scope of work necessary to implement a local “food truck park” (or similar business). This social enterprise will serve as a catalyst of community and economic development creating jobs and a point of interest within the chosen neighborhood.

To support the operation of a temporary emergency shelter for low/no income homeless families with children, and to provide critical staff training.

Environment

To enable local high school students to experience professional forestry skills and methods, participate in Wildland and Woodland Stewardship Science, and practice long-term habitat monitoring techniques. Guest presentations by scientists, foresters, ornithologists and wildlife experts will enhance learning.

To foster collaboration among several western Connecticut land trusts and other conservation partners. Participating organizations will gain insights and information necessary to either commit to the establishment of a more formal, collaborative relationship (such as the Regional Conservation Partnership) or commit to a more formal association with an existing partnership or organization in the region.

To support an educational consultant’s work to enhance the environmental education curriculum and related programs for students in grades 3-5 and to enhance partnerships with area school systems.

For the replacement of a high-priority roadstream crossing structure in the town of Washington, Conn. Grant funding will support preliminary designs for a new culvert, which would last longer, improve wildlife access to upstream pathways, and could be used as a regional demonstration project.

To map all of the catch basins and corresponding outfalls around Lake Waramaug, and assess their impact on the lake to better understand  evaluate and address polluted storm water runoff into the lake. Collected data will be shared in order to educate the Connecticut lake management community so they can also create cleaner, more sustainable water resources.

To support a speaker series focused on climate change and related environmental issues. The public forum will feature prominent scientists and environmentalists and moderated audience discussions, aiming to increase public awareness, stimulate debate and highlight emerging science and technology.

To combine the strengths of low-income development with the goals of the Sustainable CT movement towards resiliency and climate adaptation in the natural and man-made environment. NWCD will work with town land use agencies and citizens to advance understanding and commitments to promoting and adopting resilient development practices, and will design and build a low impact development demonstration project and signage in each town. Year one (of an envisioned 3-year effort) would focus on Bethlehem and Watertown.

To support Waterbury-area youth in the PAL River Brigade in cleaning the Naugatuck River while inspiring future generations of environmental stewards.

To provide student employment and environmental learning opportunities in order to encourage the next generation of environmental professionals and advocates. The program will foster a sense of responsibility for natural resources and civic engagement with on-the-ground, engaging initiatives that have a direct impact on polluted runoff abatement, pollution prevention and environmental education.

To train volunteer monitors to collect data about their lake by conducting water quality monitoring and/or collecting inlet samples. Volunteer monitoring lowers the cost of lake management.

To fund two college-aged interns, who will help support the land stewardship needs of Weantinoge, Bethlehem, Litchfield and Warren Land Trusts. Weantinoge will offer stewardship training and education, housing, equipment and a vehicle to the interns for the duration of the project.

Grassroots Leaders

To support an event on October 13, 2018 that combines music, food, and community in order to 1) help unregistered people register to vote, 2) bring in organizations who can speak on issues that will matter in the election, and 3) excite registered voters by inviting candidates of both parties to come and address voters during a specific time frame.

To support a community collaborative to celebrate African-American culture, history and progress. Through a series of events held throughout the year, planned events will allow space for dialogue and introspection. A steering committee of community leaders, elected officials, professionals and faith-based leaders will lead the effort.

To support twice-weekly workshops for girls experiencing unstable housing at the Salvation Army shelter in Waterbury, in order to teach techniques and share resources to reduce risks associated with lack of stable housing.

To support a six-week series of art classes to homeschooled students in Waterbury and nearby towns, in two parts: Part one focuses on introducing young children to different black or brown artists each week. Part two, for students ages 14 and older, provides instruction in woodworking and artisanal wood carving and sustainable practices.

To support a leadership cohort from the Waterbury Chamber of Commerce in working to change the public perception of Waterbury via tours, history, and a guided bus tour.

To support a girls’ empowerment rally, a one-day event that will consist of six hands-on workshops presented by community members. Topics will include finance, mindfulness, owning and operating small businesses, nutrition, healthy relationships and goal-setting.

Healthy Communities

For supplies to be  used to create a sensory treatment room for children who are enrolled in therapeutic and behavioral treatment.

To increase the capacity to serve individuals currently in Suboxone recovery programs, through supportive maintenance and connection to addiction specialists.

To connect Naugatuck and Waterbury K-8 students with healthy foods in school, by providing gardening and cooking lessons, taste testing, improving school meals, and promoting a school-wide culture of health. (Note: Saunders Fund for the Sick & Infirm of Naugatuck funded half of this grant at the level of $15,000. Total funding for the project is $30,000.)

For a training series that will educate and motivate Waterbury residents to advocate for improved health equity and the elimination of health disparities locally.

To provide a six-week therapeutic riding session for nine riders that require occupational therapy from June-July 2018.

To provide information on early detection, health risk and disease reduction to the Latino community through community events.

To fund a group support program for parents with children that have relational and behavioral problems.

To support glucose screenings for New Milford residents, which would lead to referrals to an evidence- based diabetes prevention program at the local YMCA.

To support four outreach events at the Oakville American Legion that will connect low-income veterans to free diabetic and cholesterol screenings, eye dilation, and referral to the LensCrafter’s Operation OneSight initiative.

Naugatuck Health and Wellness

To support 200 participants with over 20 medical diagnosis through equine assisted and therapeutic riding.

To continue afternoon medical transportation to Naugatuck residents, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that Naugatuck’s older adults can remain independent and in the home for as long as possible.

To connect Naugatuck students with healthy foods in school, by providing gardening and cooking lessons, taste testing, improving school meals, and promoting a school-wide culture of health.

Older Adults

To support the eight-session Matter of Balance program in Cheshire, Wolcott and Prospect. This evidence-based program focuses on strategies to reduce fear of falling while increasing the activity level of older people.

This “backbone grant” supports the Connecticut Healthy Living Collective, a centralized hub and delivery network dedicated to expansion of evidence-based and evidence-informed programs for older adults.

To continue and expand presentations at community and residential locations by museum staff. teaching artists and docents. Equipment purchased in year one has made it possible to offer mobile tours of the museum’s permanent collections and special exhibits.

To support a portion of salaries for the program coordinator and van driver.

To support a 15-week “Magnificent Mobility” exercise class, which has been a popular, informative and enjoyable exercise program for senior center participants.

To support “Getting It Right” training for staff and key volunteers followed by a movie and panel presentation marketed to the LGBT older adult community. The center aims to build an LGBT-inclusive culture and join the network of LGBT “Moveable Senior Centers.”

To continue providing healthy, affordable, restaurant-quality lunches at Southbury and Woodbury senior centers  twice weekly. The Watermark will continue its collaboration.

To purchase garden supplies, materials for raised beds and a solar power system for the OLLI gardens in Fulton Park in Waterbury. OLLI members provide volunteer labor to grow food for distribution to local soup kitchens and food pantries. More than 22,000 pounds of food were distributed in 2018.

To support two 12-week “Connecting with Balance” series at each of the three sites (Litchfield, New Milford and Woodbury), a weekend teacher training intensive, and online instructional videos. “Connecting with Balance” is a series tailored to helping seniors reconnect with their bodies and environment. Exercises in movement and balance guide participants to maintain and improve balance, think creatively, and build community through social engagement.

To expand implementation of evidence-based healthy aging programming including diabetes and chronic pain self-management and “Matter of Balance.”  Tai Ji Quan Moving for Better Balance will be added this year.

For supplies to address 25 Health and Safety Priorities at the homes of low income seniors. Labor is provided by volunteers. In addition to major repair and accessibility projects, they now include a health and safety review of homes.

To continue enhancing the intergenerational play “Waterbury Interactive” as well as developing more artistic pieces that allow older adults to tell their stories.

To support a yearlong strength training and balance class with a certified instructor to 20 participants.

To continue the expansion of LiveWell With Diabetes, LiveWell with Chronic Pain, and Matter of Balance programs in Greater Waterbury.

To fund a portion of the cost of a larger car allowing more rides to be provided. Wheels provides medical rides using volunteer drivers and has the flexibility to travel beyond town borders.

To support exercise classes with different areas of focus and varying levels of challenge. These classes have attracted new members including younger seniors and have enhanced social bonds.

To support weekly chair yoga classes for older adult residents and those with disabilities. Instructors are experienced working with older students including those with pain management needs and other physical problems

To fund overhead costs incurred while serving older people in Waterbury BRASS (Bringing Resources to Action to Serve Seniors) programs.

For costs of transporting older people participating in on-site BRASS (Bringing Resources to Action to Serve Seniors) programs.

For overhead costs including staff, refreshments, art supplies and presenters for programs serving older adults as part of BRASS (Bringing Resources to Action to Serve Seniors).

For overhead costs (staff) incurred while serving older adults at the senior center.

To assist with overhead costs in serving older adults as part of Waterbury BRASS (Bringing Resources to Action to Serve Seniors).

As part of Waterbury BRASS (Bringing Resources to Action to Serve Seniors): To fund overhead costs including staff hours, facility, program and printing.

To fund overhead costs incurred through Waterbury BRASS (Bringing Resources to Action to Serve Seniors), including instructor fees for tai chi and chair yoga.

To fund a full-time information and benefits specialist to assist older adults in Waterbury with health insurance, financial benefits and programs that foster aging in the community. The specialist would also coordinate the Senior Services Provider Network.

To support instructor and staff costs for a yearlong project of writing and art classes leading to a publication of participants’ works. Monthly open studio sessions offer opportunities for collaboration and peer feedback.

To support offerings for older people that include healthy living classes, computer training and mini-bus day trips.

To support nutrition education, meal planning and healthy cooking classes for older adults at Waterbury BRASS (Bringing Resources to Action to Serve Seniors) and housing sites and in surrounding towns. Brass City Harvest also endeavors to implement dietary behavior changes through a peer-led challenge.

To support staff time for weekly social gatherings and to fund food and supplies for monthly luncheons with educational programs. Staff and volunteers monitor the well-being of participants and follow up to address needs.

For the purchase of seeds, plants and gardening materials so that more of the senior center members can plant and harvest their own food in the community garden. Plantings will focus on food “of Hispanic taste” enjoyed by the members. All senior center members can share in the harvest and the cooking classes.

To pilot an intergenerational program with older adults and at-risk youth in order to build mutually rewarding relationships and offer purposeful community engagement for older adults. Funds primarily will support training and ongoing meetings with a clinician in order to enhance understanding and communication.

To support a portion of the coordinator’s salary and uncovered costs for chore workers who help older people age in their own homes (up to three hours per week of assistance is provided).

To provide 14 weeks of stretching and muscle strengthening classes which will also include tasting/recipes for health drinks.

To support staff and program costs of providing two Matter of Balance series to Naugatuck and Beacon Falls residents. Matter of Balance is an evidence-based program shown to reduce fear of falling and enhance fall prevention behaviors.

To support instructor costs for a wide variety of fitness programs for older adults offered at the Y and offsite. Offerings include Enhance Fitness and Livestrong which are specifically evidence-based. A combination of funding sources has made this programming available to all interested members of the community who are 60+.

To cover service and material costs of chores for older adults who are unable to afford the full cost. Volunteers are used when possible to control costs and add a social component to the program. The chores and fix-it projects help people remain in their homes.

To offer nine monthly inspirational presentations from older adults who are pursuing new, enriching interests in the second half of their lives. The Palace is hoping to serve as a community gathering place beyond its traditional productions and these programs will initially target a relatively small audience to encourage interaction.

For part-time staff and supplies to create a network of organizations serving seniors in Southbury. The project goal is to build a unified group that will discuss issues, share ideas and develop a framework for collaboration. The Jewish Federation is helping to spearhead the effort.

To fund rentals and supplies for an intergenerational family weekend and two older adult hikes and picnics. Interest in engaging older adults in active outdoor programming was determined through surveys, community discussions and a successful pilot in August 2017.

For three 12-week art classes (two clay sculpture and one watercolor painting) for older adults. Skilled volunteers will be recruited to assist teachers in order to enlarge class sizes. VCA will partner with New Milford Senior Center for promotion, demos and art exhibits. This is the first Pathways grant to Village Center for the Arts.

To cover publicity, materials and food for a Town Conversation on Aging to update priorities and action steps. Woodbury’s first Town Conversation (May 2013) led to enhanced transportation, a service guide, a housing study and increased intergenerational opportunities. Woodbury is the first town to hold its second Town Conversation on Aging.

Town of Southbury

For a collaborative experience between the art and writing class participants at Arts Escape, culminating in a published collection of work by the students.

To provide students in need of school supplies with backpacks of supplies corresponding to their teacher’s required list of supplies.

To support a drug and alcohol free all-night celebration for the graduates of Pomperaug High School. This is the 27th annual PHS Gradnite.

To purchase ten Google Expedition kits which provide virtual reality experiences for students to develop technological skills. The purchase of additional kits will allow the entire classroom to use the kits at once (the school already has 20 kits).

To provide domestic violence and sexual assault services in Southbury. Funding will ensure a staff person is at the Southbury location Monday through Friday.

To purchase new music. Much of the music for the Heritage Singers is 50 years old and is in very bad condition. The goal is to purchase new music to perform two concert series in 2019.

To increase the amount of healthy food, particularly fresh produce, low-fat dairy and whole grain to high poverty areas of Southbury.

To support a drug and alcohol free all-night celebration for the graduates of the high school.

To host a forum on the health concerns related to drinking water from private wells, as they are typically less regulated.

To support the Anti-Defamation League’s A World of Difference Institute’s program, “Names Can Really Hurt Us” which is an anti-bias/anti-bullying program designed to help schools create positive climates through student-centered assemblies.

To support a mission trip that gives youth an opportunity to develop a leadership role through community service.

 To support year-round community outreach and education, including the Local Prevention Council, Parent University, and other community/school based initiatives.

To support supervision over Southbury Farms (formerly known as Southbury Training School), while six area farmers use the land.

To support a mission trip of youth at the parish. The trip provides youth with an opportunity to develop a leadership role through community service.

To support a collaboration between Riverview Cinemas and WSO to put on a silent film, accompanied by live orchestra.

To support a small, high school production to both expand experience with the arts as well as be a capstone project for students pursuing theatre/music.

Technology for Organizational Development

To support the web design and development phases of a top-to-bottom rebranding effort which is a part of larger strategic planning effort. The initiative as a whole positions CLS to expand and improve service delivery; respond more effectively to a quickly-changing landscape; reach more clients; and more successfully recruit private funds.

To replace outdated server for Waterbury office, which is expanding its services. New server will save staff time, allow information to be better shared, offer compatibility and greater security.

To purchase new computers and a HIPPA-compliant shared drive, which will increase efficiency and allow staff to focus more on client care.

To purchase the necessary software for TeleHealth, which will provide access to care for people who struggle to find services.

To purchase e-signature touch screens as part of paperless record keeping, which will save staff time, help with record keeping and save costs.

To purchase a new server which will create efficiencies, increase communication and information sharing and strengthen security.

To purchase new software specifically made for court-appointed special advocate organizations that will track all relevant data, allowing the organization to be more effective and efficient.

To provide staff training for new CRM as well as data conversation and migration from old system.

To purchase a laptop and projector for tutor training sessions which are vital to the success of the organization.

To redesign website in order to make it more accessible to the community and museum visitors. Redesign would also allow staff to manage information more easily.

To purchase a cloud-based ticketing system with both marketing and donor tracking capabilities.

Women and Girls

To support a specifically-designed theater program for Waterbury nonprofit Save Girls on F.Y.E.R. (future young educated role models).

To provided continued support to two troops (grades 1-3 and 4-6) at the Boys and Girls Club in Waterbury. Troops will continue to meet weekly for 1.5 hours engaging about 35 girls.

To run a leadership program created to enhance the lives of girls ages 11-17.

To continue to address the impact of interpersonal violence and trauma for at-risk, battered, or sexually abused girls ages 13-18.

Grants Awarded by Women’s Giving Circle

To support mentoring, leadership skills and personal empowerment workshops and activities for girls.

To enhance the college experience and improve retention leading to graduation for a select group of women who, despite overwhelming challenges, demonstrate resilience and tenacity in furthering their education.

To empower girls and women through nature-based activities.

To support a 22-week small group prevention and treatment self-esteem enhancement program for girls 8-18 years-old. They will explore their own and societal attitudes and values as they build life skills, connect to resources and develop positive relationships with peers and adults.

To provide crisis services for survivors of sexual assault, including providing women and girls with opportunities to attend alternative therapy programs (yoga, salt caves and music and art).

To support the social-emotional and physical health of Waterbury Public School girls via afterschool programs.

To support an afterschool club for 14 high school girls based on the nationally acclaimed Girls Who Code program. Girls will learn computer software coding in a fun and supportive environment.

To help girls in grades 6-12 learn to code. Girls can learn together in a safe and supportive environment of peers and role models and learn to see themselves as computer scientists. The program is also based on the national Girls Who Code model.

Youth Travel

To support four students (from Waterbury, Southbury, Torrington and Roxbury) in need of financial assistance for the cost of this trip.