$58,443 in New Grants Awarded to Three Southington Non-Profits

The following was submitted by the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain.

The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain (CFGNB) recently awarded $248,177 in grants to 14 local non-profit organizations in their final round of grant making for 2011. Among those grants was almost $60,000 to three Southington organizations: $20,000 to the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington (ECCS), $18,443 to Bread for Life and $20,000 to the .

The ECCS consists of educators, parents, care providers and concerned citizens working to ensure that all Southington students enter school ready to learn. ECCS’ Family Resource Center provides education, support, and resources to enhance the process of family growth through the development of skills that benefit parents and their children, promote health and foster a sense of community.

“This will be our fourth year of operation, and CFGNB has funded us for all four years.

This is a huge commitment from CFGNB and a partnership that we are proud to brag about,” says Krista Pringle, Director of the Family Resource Center of Southington. “We are so grateful for their continued support of the Family Resource Center. Without their funding, the program would be forced to cut way back on the services we are currently providing the families of Southington.”

Bread for Life’s mission is to provide food, fellowship and a sense of dignity to those in need.  They accomplish their mission by providing meals, bagged lunches, a community pantry and a meal delivery service for the homebound.  Begun in 1984 as a three-day per week lunch program for 16 people has expanded to a five-day per week program serving over 23,000 meals annually to those who are hungry and in need in Southington. As Bread for Life’s programs have grown to meet increased community need, its office operations have not kept pace.  This grant award will support technology upgrades enabling the organization to operate more efficiently and productively.

Bread for Life’s Executive Director, Eldon Hafford, explains “The new office equipment will improve the daily tracking of all our programs and operations, helping clients, seniors and volunteers. This new technology equipment is a great contribution to our mission: that no one may go hungry in Southington.”

With a membership of close to 12,000 and over 600 volunteers, the Southington-Cheshire YMCA’s mission is to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities.  They were recently selected by YMCA USA, as part of a New England Cohort of eight YMCA’s, to implement “Livestrong at the Y,” a new program to support the growing population of cancer survivors.  This 12-week, small group program is for adults affected by cancer and is provided under the guidance of specially trained health and wellness staff.  It is offered at no cost and is designed to help participants gain strength, endurance and function lost through cancer treatments as well as emotional support and self-esteem, leading to improved quality of life.

“CFGNB’s funding for our first year of providing LIVESTRONG to our community is a great gift.  Seeing the profound impact that LIVESTRONG is having on folks affected by cancer coupled with this generous grant solidified our conviction in LIVESTRONG and our ability to help those going through very challenging times,” says John Myers, Executive Director, Southington-Cheshire Community YMCA’s. “Once again the CFGNB has proven to be true community partners.  The success of LIVESTRONG will ultimately come from developing and nurturing partnerships in our community.  CFGNB has paved the way for the future.”

This final round of 2011 grant-making brings CFGNB’s total grant and scholarship awards for 2011 to almost $900,000 in funding to improve the lives for citizens of Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington.