Foundation awards $96 K in grants

WATERBURY— The Connecticut Community Foundation has awarded grants totaling $96,000 to ten nonprofit organizations serving residents of 21 towns in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills. With these grants, the foundation aims to build people’s pathways from poverty to prosperity and to support diverse and robust neighborhood, city and regional economies, according to a statement.

A committee of local residents comprehensively reviewed the submitted grant applications and made recommendations to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, who approved the grant awards in December 2018. The grants are made possible through the generosity of donors who have created charitable funds at the Foundation over more than nine decades.

Julie Loughran, president and CEO of Connecticut Community Foundation, said, “A skilled workforce and thriving families fuel the economic engine of Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills. We applaud the donors and grantees whose investments in the economic vitality of the region make communities stronger for us all.”

Career Resources was among three organizations awarded grants for delivery of job training. With their $10,000 grant (their second from the Foundation), they will continue to provide job readiness training to unemployed adults in Waterbury with substantial barriers to employment, such as lack of formal education or history of incarceration. Career Resources’ intensive three-week training, based on the national STRIVE model, teaches professional workplace norms and leadership and public presentation skills to prepare people for gainful employment.

“For the minimum amount of investment, the STRIVE program delivers maximum return in terms of creating job opportunities and also improving the family unit. We are creating wage earners, tax paying citizens and productive employees,” said Scott Wilderman, CEO of Career Resources, in a statement.

The other nine grantees addressing economic vitality in the region:

New Milford-based Community Culinary School of Northwestern Connecticut received a $10,000 grant to support job skills training for unemployed and under-employed adults leading to career paths in the food service industry.

Connecticut Association for Human Services was awarded $5,000 to continue collaboration with Waterbury community agencies to implement the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and to provide other assistance for low-wage earners.

Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness was awarded a $10,000 grant for coordination of services for homeless and housing unstable youth and families in Waterbury and surrounding areas.

Connecticut Partnership for Children was awarded $6,000 to connect families in Naugatuck with vital resources for health and basic needs and to provide classes related to household budgeting and nutritious and affordable cooking.

Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries in Waterbury received a $10,500 grant for operational support of its soup kitchen and emergency food pantry.

Hispanic Coalition of Greater Waterbury, the fiscal sponsor for Working Cities Waterbury, received $15,000 for the second year of a three-year grant commitment to address the economic and racial inequalities that have devalued Waterbury’s once-vibrant River Baldwin neighborhood.

Madre Latina, based in Waterbury, received $5,000 to support social services, job training and education that position Latinas for success in the workforce.

Neighborhood Housing Services of Waterbury received a $10,000 grant to explore the feasibility of developing a local “food truck park,” or similar business. This social enterprise would serve as a catalyst of community and economic development.

The Salvation Army in Waterbury received a $14,500 grant to support the operation of a temporary emergency shelter for low income homeless families with children, and to provide critical staff training.

Learn more at www.conncf.org/supportingnonprofits.