Community Foundation Increases Annual Grant Awards to $656,848

Well, you did it again. Because of you – our investors and partners – the Community Foundation of Middlesex County helped more people, supported more programs and services in 2014. Your partnership allowed us to work with the county’s nonprofits and make dreams come true. Your commitment coupled with the time and expertise of our volunteer grants committees awarded a record $166,220 to forty-four (44) nonprofits during the 2014-2015 competitive grants process. Funding for the competitive grants is made possible by you, our friends and neighbors who have established funds at the Community Foundation as well as by donations from generous individuals and community-minded organizations.  “We are very fortunate to have such dedicated partners and investors, who see the value of giving back to the community and supporting programs that benefit all of us.  Our collaboration with businesses, individuals, nonprofits and other civic organizations has had a snowball effect, allowing us to do a lot more in the 15 towns that make up Middlesex County,”  said Cynthia Clegg, President & CEO of the Community Foundation.

CFMC is lucky to have three incredible committees working on Middlesex County’s behalf during the competitive process. These volunteers give endlessly of their time and expertise reviewing applications and considering the impact of each grant dollar. “Giving away money is not as easy as it sounds,” explained Wally Jones, CFMC Board of Directors Chairman. “While the individuals who volunteer for these committees know that each application is worthwhile, they also recognize that the need for grant dollars in our communities exceeds the dollars available. Making those hard decisions of what to fund is no easy task. Yet we are incredibly fortunate to have people who are committed to making the best decisions possible on our community’s behalf.”

Because of your generosity and support, CFMC approved grants totaling $656,848 to nonprofit organizations during 2014, a 13% increase over the previous year, with over 200 awards invested in Middlesex County. Since 1997 your support has provided 1,295 grants totaling more than $4 million to make Middlesex County a great place to live, work, and play. Thank you! You do make a difference.

The following organizations were awarded grants through the Community Foundation’s most recent Competitive Grant Making Process:

• Academy at Mount Saint John
  

  XMen program at Keigwin Middleschool, Middletown, showed their pride to members of the Let’s Hear It for the Boys Fund Grants Committee visit.

• Camp Hazen YMCA
• Cat Tales, Inc.
• Center for Chidren’s Advocacy, Inc.
• Chester Historical Society
• Community Music School
• Connection, Inc.
• Connecticut Forest & Park Association
• Connecticut River Museum
• Durham Middlefield Youth & Family Services
• Durham Public Library
• East Hampton Food Bank
• Epoch Arts
• Essex Historical Society
• Essex Land Trust
• Essex Winter Series
• Estuary Council of Seniors, Inc.
• FISH for Chester, Deep River, & Essex
• Gilead Community Services
• Greater Middletown Chorale
  

  CFMC’s Sari A. Rosenbaum Fund for Women & Girls Grants Committee recently met Middlesex Hospital’s Perinatal Case Manager and doctors, nurses and administrators to hear about the Maternal Child Health program and outreach services.

   

• High Hopes Therapeutic Riding
• Henry Carter Hull Library
• Ivoryton Playhouse Foundation
• Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center
• Keigwin Middle School’s XMen Program
• Killingworth Library Association
• Kiwanis Foundation of Middletown, Inc.
• Literacy Volunteers Valley Shore
• Luther Ridge at Middletown, Inc.
• Middletown Public Schools – All Pro Dads Program
• Middletown School Readiness Council
• Moody School Parent Teacher Association
• Middlesex Coalition for Children
• Middlesex County Coalition on Housing & Homelessness
• Middlesex Habitat for Humanity of Connecticut
• Middlesex Hospital Center for Behavior Health
• Oddfellows Playhouse
• Portland Public Library
• Ray of Light Farm, Inc.
• Rushford, a Hartford Healthcare Partner
• Salt Marsh Opera
• Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries
• Simply Sharing, Inc.
  

  Members of the Middlesex County Coalition on Housing & Homelessness LEAD Team with Thayer Talbott (CFMC) and Ann Faust (MCCHH)

• St. Luke’s Community Services
• St. Vincent DePaul Place
• Valley Shore YMCA
• Wesleyan/Middletown Public Schools Collaborative
• Westbrook Youth & Family Services
• Youth & Family Services of Haddam-Killingworth
• YMCA of Northern Middlesex County