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News Release

February 1, 2006

Community Foundation Awards Over $100,000 in New Grants

Middlesex County Community Foundation has announced that over $103,000 in competitive grants have been awarded to 40 organizations serving Middlesex County communities. Exceeding the $100,000 mark in 2005 is a milestone for the Foundation's annual grantmaking, representing a 10 percent increase over grant awards made the previous year. Funding for these grants was made possible by increasingly favorable investment returns on endowed funds and by donations from generous individuals and community-minded organizations.

“Our sustained effort to build a strong Community Foundation in Middlesex County over the past eight years is bringing increased benefit to the people of Middlesex County. The trust and support of individuals and organizations have helped us grow endowments and provide funds for effective grantmaking in the arts, education, environment, heritage enhancement and human services. We are particularly grateful to the vision and support of the River View Cemetery - Essex, the Connecticut Humanities Council and Citizens Bank. We are also pleased with the investment performance of our growing endowment which has contributed to this record breaking year,” said Patti Anne Vassia, President of the Middlesex County Community Foundation.

Letters of Intent are sought from 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations and governmental entities serving the 15 Middlesex County towns in a competitive process that begins in the fall. Full grant proposals are requested for the programs considered most worthy of funding. Final recommendations of the Grants Committee, chaired by Robert L. Kirkpatrick, Jr., are presented for Foundation Board action at its December meeting. Grants are sent to organizations beginning in February.

Grants for the arts: Connecticut Choral Artists, Inc., $2,500; Essex Art Association, $2,690; Oddfellows Playhouse, $1,500; Tracy Art Center, $1,500.

Grants for education and human services: American Red Cross, $3,000; Durham-Middlefield Youth and Family Services, $3,375; Estuary Council of Seniors, $5,000; FISH for C.D.& E. (Chester, Deep River and Essex), $500; Kuhn Employment Opportunities, $2,000; MARC Community Resources, $5,000; Middlesex Coalition for Children, $3,000; Middlesex Community College, $3,500; Middletown Adult Education - Even Start Program, $1,600; Middletown Public Schools, $5,000; Middletown School Readiness Council, $4,200; Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council, $1,500; Nutmeg Big Brothers/Big Sisters, $2,000; Old Saybrook High School, $1,000; Shoreline Soup Kitchens, $5,000; St. Vincent de Paul Place, $2,400; Westbrook Family Services, $1,000.

Grants for the environment: Arbor Garden Club of Clinton, $1,000; Camp Hazen YMCA, $3,000; Connecticut River Museum, $3,500; Connecticut River Watershed Council, $2,500; Essex Land Conservation Trust, $3,000.

Heritage Enhancement Grants: In collaborative grantmaking initiatives with the Connecticut Humanities Council and River View Cemetery - Essex, the Community Foundation made the following heritage enhancement grants: Chester Historical Society, $1,950; Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, $3,000; Essex Historical Society, $500; Haddam Historical Society, $2,000; Ivoryton Library Association, $4,200; Russell Library, $4,700.

Middletown Neighborhood Enhancement Grants: Thanks in large measure to a grantmaking partnership with Citizens Bank, the Foundation granted: Northern Middlesex Habitat for Humanity, $5,000; Nehemiah Housing Corporation, $2,000.

Grants for Women and Girls: The Children's Home of Cromwell, $2,000; Community Health Center, $1,800; The Connection, $500; Estuary Council of Seniors, $900; Girl Scouts, Connecticut Trails Council, $2,300; Ray of Light Farm, $750; Rushford Center, $1,750.

The Middlesex County Community Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Middlesex County. Its mission is to work with charitably-minded individuals and organizations to build permanent endowments and other charitable funds and to support local non-profit organizations through effective grantmaking to address community needs. Since its founding in 1997, the Community Foundation has provided over $650,000 in grants to more than 125 organizations for the arts; cultural and heritage programs; educational activities; environmental improvements; and for health and human services. The Middlesex County Community Foundation welcomes conversation with persons and organizations that wish to establish endowed funds or make tax-deductible donations to help build a better community. Contact Patti Anne Vassia, President, for more information at 860.347.0025 or info@MiddlesexCountyCF.org.

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