WATERBURY—From April through June, Connecticut Community Foundation awarded over $750,000 in grants to dozens of nonprofit organizations serving residents of Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills. The funds will bring vital programs and services to people in need.

Julie Loughran, president and CEO, stated, “Every year we are filled with gratitude for the compassion of local donors who make these grants possible. We look forward to working in partnership with local nonprofit recipients that share our values of integrity and dedication to tackling the social and structural challenges that many communities face and help these organizations remain financially sustainable for the long term.”

Among other grants, the April-June awards included:

  • Grants totaling $90,820 to fifteen nonprofits that provide youth mentoring and education programs, including youth leadership development travel funds and other “Cradle to Career” resources.
  • $96,233 to improve the health of Naugatuck residents through grants for a mobile food pantry, to teach school children about healthy foods, to support substance abuse prevention and intervention, support oral health interventions and to fund medical transportation.
  • Nearly $90,000 in grant funding for fifteen nonprofits working to bring interactive arts experiences to people in neighborhoods and communities across Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills—often in underserved populations that may otherwise be excluded—through the collaborative work of arts and community service organizations.
  • $92,000 to support nonprofits providing access to health prevention, chronic disease programs, behavioral health supports and medical transportation for residents across the Foundation’s region.
  • $30,500 in grants to benefit residents of Southbury. Projects funded include a mobile food pantry, outreach to people without regular healthcare, and medical treatment for pets.
  • $60,000 to improve and upgrade the technology systems of nine local nonprofits.
  • Over $230,000 in grants to nearly twenty organizations to improve the quality of life of and provide essential services to older people.
  • $25,550 in community organizing “grassroots grants” to groups in Waterbury who lead equitable efforts to revitalize communities, influence local systems and foster youth leadership.
  • $73,043 grants to support women and girls through organizations that provide services for survivors of domestic violence, shelter and services for women who are homeless, programs to increase self-esteem and build leadership skills, and mental health treatments for trauma victims.

Grants are made possible by the extraordinary generosity of donors who have established more than 500 charitable funds at the foundation to benefit residents of Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills.

One of many organizations awarded grants, Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury received $8,500 from the Lois Livingston McMillen Memorial Fund to support its Safer Communities Greater Waterbury program.  This program aims to support victims and survivors in 10 towns in the Foundation’s region.  Activities include: emergency shelter services; community services for adult victims and children of domestic violence and or family violence; case management; Crisis Hotline services; advocacy, support groups and safety planning; counseling; and, transportation and basic needs assistance.

Lee Schlesinger, Executive Director of Safe Haven, said, “Safe Haven is honored to be a recipient of grants from the Lois Livingston McMillen Fund at Connecticut Community Foundation. These funds help us to ensure that domestic violence and sexual assault services will be available 24-hours a day for those in need of assistance. It is a privilege to use these funds to help support our shelter and continued access to our community services.”

View all the grants awarded by the Foundation in the April-June grant rounds at www.conncf.org/grants-awarded.

Established in 1923, Connecticut Community Foundation fosters creative partnerships that build rewarding lives and thriving communities in 21 towns in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills. The Foundation provides leadership in addressing the region’s critical issues, strengthens local nonprofit organizations through grants and technical assistance programs, and works with individuals, families and corporations to establish and steward scholarships and charitable funds. Learn more at www.conncf.org.