The People’s United Community Foundation has awarded more than $272,500 to 38 Connecticut nonprofits as part of its $467,000 in third quarter grants to programs throughout the communities the Bridgeport-based bank serves in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
Among the largest grants were $25,000 to assist the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport as it continues to recover from storm damage; $25,000 to the Kennedy Center in Trumbull for its 2013 calendar; and $20,000 to Teach for America, which is expanding its teaching corps in the state.
Other large grants included $10,000 to the Bridgeport Rescue Mission for its Learning Center programs; $10,000 to Housing Development Fund Inc. in Stamford for its affordable housing counseling program; $10,000 to Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Teachers in Bridgeport and $9,000 to Capital Workforce Partners in Hartford for its career connections program.
Across New England, 84 organizations received funding in support of programs that ranged from basic needs services and affordable housing projects to education and job training programs. The funding was distributed within the foundation’s three areas of focus: 49 percent allocated to youth development, 36 percent to community development, and 15 percent to affordable housing initiatives.
The Hartford donates
The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. has made a $100,000 leadership gift of to the Foundations for the Future Bicentennial Campaign at the American School for the Deaf.
The Hartford’s gift will be used for a state-of-the-art audiological suite in the new 62,000-square-foot facility being built on the main campus in West Hartford. The American School for the Deaf has been providing audiological services to deaf and hard of hearing children since its founding in 1817.
Liam E. McGee, chairman, president and CEO of The Hartford, serves as honorary chair of the campaign. John Patrick, chairman, president and CEO of Farmington Bank, is chair of the campaign.
The Foundations for the Future Campaign will be completed in time for the school’s 200th anniversary in 2017.
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Aetna donates to Girl Scouts
Aetna Inc. has donated $50,000 to Girl Scouts of Connecticut to enhance the Live Healthy, Lead Healthy signature initiative that reaches more than 13,000 girls.
The Live Healthy, Lead Healthy signature initiative is a holistic approach to health that educates girls across the state about childhood obesity and the benefits of fitness, nutrition, and stress reduction. Through a variety of programs for ages 5-17, girls are provided with tools to make positive choices in their lives.
Funds will also be used to support the Kids on the Block program, life-sized puppets used to teach girls about bullying, living with disabilities, and other social issues. An earned recognition program focused on fitness, nutrition, and stress reduction for girls will be made available as a result of these funds. Girl Scouts of Connecticut will be able to improve and increase fitness supplies available at their nine day and three resident camps across the state.
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Nonprofit training planned
The Connecticut Association of Nonprofits will partner with the Fairfield County Community Foundation to offer a series of professional development opportunities designed to increase impact and build capacity for nonprofit organizations in Fairfield County. The foundation has awarded a $20,000 competitive grant to CT Nonprofits to carry out the programming.
“Our recent study on nonprofit board governance in Fairfield County demonstrated a pressing need for training and supporting the volunteer board members of Fairfield County nonprofits” said Elaine Mintz, director of the foundation’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence. “This year’s workshops will focus heavily on improving board engagement and effectiveness, and the Connecticut Association of Nonprofits is the best partner to deliver these important, high quality trainings.”
“The Board Chair,” scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 27, will focus on term limits, planning and evaluation, public relations and fundraising. The second offering, “Leadership, Governance and Building Your Board” on Thursday, Nov. 1, will cover recruiting and orienting new board members and conducting board business. The first two workshops will take place at the Merritt View Board Room at the foundation’s building in Norwalk from 5 — 7 p.m. with dinner included.
For more details, contact Mark Berardi at 860-525-5080 or mberardi@ctnonprofits.org.
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Watershed supported
Aquarion Water Co. of Bridgeport recently donated $12,500 to the Housatonic Valley Association in support of the group’s mission to conserve the natural character and environmental health of the Housatonic River watershed.
The donation was a matching grant to five participating companies that each donated $2,500:
• Burns Construction of Stratford;
• C.H. Nickerson & Co. of Torrington;
• H.D. Supply Waterworks of Bridgeport;
• J.J. Brennan Construction of Shelton;
• Tighe & Bond Engineers of Westfield, Mass.
The Housatonic River flows 150 miles from Hinsdale and Washington, Mass., to the Long Island Sound.
Aquarion Water Co. is the public water supply company for more than 600,000 people in 45 cities and towns throughout Connecticut.
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Microsoft helps HARC
Microsoft has made a grant of $656,000 worth of software to restructure the IT capabilities of HARC Inc. a Hartford-based organization serving people with intellectual disability and their families.
HARC needs to both reduce its ongoing hardware and software costs, and upgrade its capabilities, said Jeffrey Martineau, HARC’s IT director. Phase I will be the establishment of a private cloud. Phase 2 involves a public cloud, which will facilitate the increasing collaboration of mobile users. This transition will take 6 to 12 months. Phase 3 concerns data back-up and disaster recovery.
