Grants Awarded in 2019

To provide nutritional weekend meals for 130 students in Waterbury’s south end. South Congregational Church collaborates with Washington Elementary School (the local neighborhood school), which provides the church with a number of students who have been identified as experiencing food insecurity at home. Through the Food for Hope program, volunteers assemble about 130 backpacks that are filled with food and bulk items (such as large jars of peanut butter or tuna fish) that help feed the children and their families.

To purchase a new roof, windows, and install a supporting framework for an emergency food pantry building originally purchased in 2015. The pantry, which is an external trailer, needs repairs and additional structural supports due to the weight of food storage and wear and tear on the building. GWIM provides emergency food to low-income and food insecure Waterbury families through their soup kitchen and emergency food pantry. During 2018, Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries provided 173,647 meals for individuals and families.

To support repairs to engine of a bus that provides medical transportation for older adult and disabled Naugatuck residents. Residents ride to physical therapy, chemotherapy, cardiac rehabilitation, dialysis, among other critical medical appointments.

For continued support and expansion of the in-and-out of school Metamorphosis Project at Waterbury’s Children’s Community School. The four-week program provides experiential hands-on learning that connects art, nature, science, writing, and social studies/ethics, and gives students a deeper understanding of nature and each other.

To support free, high-quality performances and workshops at the Silas Bronson Library that will engage families in cultural arts traditions including music from different places of origin as well as puppetry that brings folk tales to life.

To support the work of the Arts and Culture Collaborative of Greater Waterbury (ACC), which promotes, connects, collaborates and advocates for the arts in a 16-town region. The artists, performers and people affiliated with the arts benefit from its marketing, advocacy and networking support as it raises awareness of the region’s cultural assets.

To support a new three-year strategic plan to increase the organization’s capacity to support Connecticut’s creative community. This road map will ensure that the Arts Alliance is an effective, action-oriented advocate equipped with the staff, programs and resources necessary to succeed.

To support a program in which girls will utilize repurposed or recycled items, along with their ingenuity, to create innovative, sustainable art.

To serve 90 children by offering authentic performing arts instruction and experience. Classes will be offered in story-telling, musical theatre and improvisation.  Activities will focus on increasing self-confidence and self-expression through theatre games, character development, storytelling, voice and movement.

To support free family programming offered related to the Litchfield Jazz Festival’s move to Washington.  An “Outerfest” will feature: student concerts, artist talks and clinics, craft and art exhibits and sales, food vendors and family activities on the Washington Green and at the First Congregational Church.

To support a hand-crafted art journaling class for the Children’s Community School’s third and fourth-graders. This program aims to teach artistic expression, social and emotional learning, and literacy through a fun and interactive journaling project, giving students the chance to hone their writing and creative skills.  The program will also have a professional development component for teachers.

Mental Health Connecticut (MHC) supports artists on their path to health and wellness and for the fourth year, funding from the Foundation will support its Mending Art program—which works to bridge divides around mental health. MHC  will continue the quality Mending Art program at the Independence Center in Waterbury while aiming for a broader impact in the Greater Waterbury region.

To support the Council through its transition and growth with the arrival of a new executive director.  The Council seeks to update its strategic plan, begin the process of rebranding, and update technology so it can be more agile and responsive to constituent needs.

To grow the free, immersive programs for families and kids at its second annual Five Senses Festival in Washington in the summer of 2019. The festiveal will include interactive family workshops, arts and craft activities, master classes with world-class musicians and performers, and family performances.

To support an afterschool acting program conducted at Sprague School in Waterbury. The goal is to increase students’ self-confidence, public speaking skills, collaborative work skills and verbal proficiency, while experiencing the sheer fun of being onstage and the excitement of acting.

To support a high quality arts program of multiyear duration and inter-generational participation, wherein elementary/middle school students and older adults create and rehearse interactive performances that focus on the development and history of specific Waterbury neighborhoods. Participants then work with professional resident artists to take these plays to neighborhood parks or centralized locations to perform them for their families and community.

To offer SoCCA’s program (teaching creative work skills to adults with disabilities) once a week at the Mattatuck Museum (Rose Hill Campus) in Waterbury in order to make transportation easier and increase the number of students from Greater Waterbury able to attend the program.

To support live music entertainment throughout downtown Waterbury during the first day of summer (June 21st). Make Music Waterbury is a free event pairing performers of all ages and musical genres with local businesses and city locations to make live music available to the public. This mix of amateur and professional musical acts will be augmented by a festive atmosphere of food trucks and outdoor dining to create a day of communal celebration for the arts.

To support two children from Naugatuck and two children from Oxford to attend a week long sleepaway camp. Camp Kesem offers youth the opportunity to develop emotionally and form support networks with other youth whose parents have or have died from cancer.

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

To support a partnership between EdAdvance’s special education program and Post University in Waterbury that will provide comprehensive transition services for young adults with learning challenges (ages 17-21) residing in Connecticut Community Foundation’s service area.

To fund improvements to the Waterbury child guidance center, modeled after the successful changes at the Danbury location. Planned additions to the center include:  1) The Life is Good Playmakers Village, a fun space where clinicians utilize the power of play and optimism. Youth can meet their therapists in the Village, on a basketball court or in a building blocks room for instance; 2) PeaceLove Expressive Art Studio, where a team will help to heal a youth’s traumatic experiences through art and positive creative expression; 3) Mock Subway Station with Shops, where students can “purchase” items. Tickets for purchasing items are obtained when youth attend their therapy programs.

To expose children to basic scientific concepts about the universe/space through reading of fiction and nonfiction materials that address the topics. There will be five corresponding entertaining educational programs.

To support individuals with STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) backgrounds to serve as STEM coaches for girl scout troops who need extra assistance in STEM subjects.

To support eight youth to work with the Glebe House (two per week for four weeks) on educational or historical projects relating to each student’s interests. The program aims to provide professionally designed educational experiences for youth, fostering collaboration and professional skills.

To provide financial literacy, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship programs for Waterbury students. They will pair mentors from area businesses and community organizations with 300 4^th – 8^th graders at three Waterbury schools (Wilson, Reed, and Driggs).

To support two Kids Coding for a Cause programs serving students in 4th through 12th grades at Kaynor Technical High School (Waterbury) and Howard Whittemore Memorial Library (Naugatuck). Kids Coding for a Cause has two primary goals: 1) to expose students to kindness and social good through the lens of technology, and 2) to introduce them to the basics of coding and the design process. The program will take place through “hackathons,” intensive, 7-hour trainings.  During the hackathon, student groups will work together to take a project from inception through design, refinement, testing and distribution.

To support two separate youth-centered leadership programs for girls of color primarily from Greater Waterbury that focus on building self-advocacy and self-esteem: the Leadership Academy and Liberation on FYER.

To continue support for the Boost! Waterbury program, a collective impact model that addresses students’ social, emotional and academic needs. For Bridge to Success, Boost and its emphasis on getting service providers in schools is the first step in transforming the four Boost schools into community schools.

To continue support of a middle school robotics program that engages students in four different schools and involves a high school/middle school mentorship component. Goals include increasing the STEM knowledge and abilities of 6th-8th graders, enhancing student interest in STEM-related careers, and building 21st century skills. They also aim to develop a vertical pipeline of middle school students who enter high school with prior robotics and STEM hands-on learning experience in order to ensure that those students are confident enough to sign up for the high school robotics programs.

To support (1) the beautification and maintenance of the Association’s Adopt-a-Spot, at which the neighborhood’s welcome sign sits, (2) the neighborhood cleanup of the historic Hobart Welton Victory carriage shed, featured on the state’s Historic Landmark Registry, (3) supplies for the Adopt-a-Pot, a community building event for neighbors to gather together and create pots of flowers for their own front porches and the front porches of elderly or home bound neighbors, and (4)  the monthly meetings, which includes printing of materials/flyers and refreshments.

To establish a school based health clinic (administered by Community Health Center), which will provide medical and behavioral health care for students, families and staff.

To educate clinicians on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, the role opioids play, and how to decrease risks in pregnant women.

To connect Naugatuck and Waterbury K-8 students with healthy foods in school by providing gardening and cooking lessons, taste testing, improved school meals, and by promoting a school-wide culture of health.

To provide a six-week therapeutic riding session for nine riders that require occupational therapy from June- July 2019.

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

To fund collaboration with two other health districts (Chesprocott and Naugatuck) in order to create a data-driven outreach and education initiative to address the opioid crisis.

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

To support two evidenced-based programs, “Diabetes prevention” and “Healthy weight and your child.”

To establish a low vision center in Meriden where clients receive low-vision assistive devices at no cost, when vision loss can no longer be corrected by a medical procedure or treatment.

To distribute fruit, vegetables, whole grain and dairy products to food insecure households in Naugatuck.

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

To provide equine-assisted therapies to sick and infirm people of Naugatuck and to increase participation in new programs to reach new Naugatuck residents.

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

To provide Livestrong, an evidence-based program for adult cancer survivors in Naugatuck.

To enable City Hill and Naugatuck High School students to receive mental health services during school hours. Anticipated outcomes include improving school performance and increasing teachers’ capacity to work with students that have severe emotional issues.

To help fund overhead costs at the Waterbury Senior Center’s BRASS (Bringing Resources to Action to Serve Seniors) programs. Funds will be combined with city funds to support a part-time activities assistant.

To help fund overhead costs for BRASS (Bringing Resources to Action to Serve Seniors) programs. Funds will be used for transportation for older people.

To help fund overhead costs associated with the BRASS (Bringing Resources to Action for Serve Seniors) program. Funds will be used for staffing, presenters, art supplies and refreshments.

To help fund overhead costs (staff) associated with the BRASS (Bringing Resources to Action for Serve Seniors) program.

To fund the BRASS (Bringing Resources to Action to Serve Seniors) program coordinator who will plan and organize programs for BRASS sites, publicize and evaluate programs and members’ interests, and coordinate with site staff. A portion of the funding is used for instructors and other program costs, too.

Grant funds will be used for hardware and software for BRASS (Bringing Resources to Action to Serve Seniors) sites and for library staff’s travel costs to teach technology classes at BRASS sites.

To help fund overhead costs for the BRASS (Bringing Resources to Action to Serve Seniors) program.  Funds will be used for staff hours, facility costs, programming and printing costs.

Funding will be used for 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 and financial benefits and to fund programs that foster aging in the community. The grant will also help them develop a pilot project for Waterbury seniors on recognizing and dealing with elder abuse.

To support the Southbury mobile pantry that distributes fresh fruits, vegetables and other groceries directly to residents of high poverty areas.

To provide students with an opportunity to develop leadership roles by repairing residences for those in need.

For continued support of S.M.A.R.T.’s outreach efforts, particularly the local prevention council, Parent University and community/school-based initiatives. Activities are determined at the beginning of the academic year and reflect the concerns, trends and requests identified by the council.

To support printed communication through media or mailers to reach Southbury residents who are uninsured, low income and/or living without a regular source of health care.

To create a spend-down account at the Southbury Veterinary Hospital for cat foster families to receive free medical treatment for cats in the Forever Foster program.

To purchase and install raised garden beds and equipment at YMCA Camp Oakasha in Southbury. The garden would serve as a tool to teach youth about environmental sustainability, making healthy choices and social responsibility in an engaging hands-on way.

For the purchase of an online fundraising platform to help manage events, programs, donor information and marketing efforts.

For the purchase and implementation of the Neon Nonprofit CRM system, designed to expand outreach, provide more data for analysis and build capacity by automating steps in the process.

For the purchase of chromebooks and the CASAS pre- and post-test system, which would aid in student recruitment by creating a rolling registration process. The CASAS system also allows for better, more efficient student tracking.

For the purchase of new cloud-based student information system and compatible hardware in order to greater secure data and more efficiently share information.

For the purchase of a new membership database to support development efforts, analyze programming data and improve facility access management.

For the purchase of five new tablets with electronic medical record capabilities. Migrating to an electronic medical records system will build efficiency, allowing staff to spend more time focusing on client care.

For the purchase of five iPads that will be available to all residents. Staff will help train residents who can use the tablets for information, entertainment and connecting to family and friends through face time features.

Madre Latina in Waterbury was awarded a $10,000 grant to launch “Young Representatives of Waterbury,” a program geared toward Latina high school students in the city.  Participants will learn leadership and civic engagement skills to make change in their communities.

Waterbury Youth Services received a $10,000 grant to support a second year of the “Girls Who Code” program for 14 Waterbury high school girls. Girls learn computer coding skills in a fun and supportive after school program.

Greenwoods Counseling and Referrals in Litchfield was awarded a $4,000 grant to subsidize women’s counseling sessions, providing the psychological support necessary for promoting and protecting mental health and developing resilience to stress and adversity.

LiveGirl was given a $4,000 grant to provide programs at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Waterbury, including: Four scholarships to Camp LiveGirl, 20 weeks of LiveGirl Talk afterschool programming, and transportation to a leadership summit in Bridgeport.

Seabury Society for the Preservation of the Glebe House in Woodbury was awarded $1,500 to create a six part, historical hands-on workshop that will present colonial women’s activities.

To support collaboration between ASAP and Save Girls on F.Y.E.R during the summer. Funds may support scholarships for the interdisciplinary camp or for the weeklong theater intensive.

To support collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club in Waterbury to run a Girl Scout Troop with 30 members.

To support a youth empowerment program that provides positive health messages and promotes self-esteem, advocacy and leadership skills in Latinas ages 10 to 18.

To support two leadership programs for girls of color in greater Waterbury.

To provide provide children residing in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills with information, safety planning and referral services related to human trafficking.

To support the provision of domestic violence, crisis intervention, and long-term services for victims and survivors in ten towns in the Foundation’s region.

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.

For crisis and support services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, transitioning victims from crisis and dependency to safety, empowerment, self-sufficiency and independence.

To support an evidence-based trauma treatment mental health intervention for child victims ages 7-17.

For crisis interventions, emergency shelter and individual/group counseling services for women and children from Bridgewater, New Milford, Roxbury and Washington.