August 01, 2015 - What would you do if you were surprised with a $1,000 grant? How would you impact your community and change the lives of your neighbors? Twenty nonprofit organizations in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott now have to answer that question as they were each awarded – unknowingly - a $1,000 grant from Main Street Community Foundation during the summer of 2015.

The Bristol organizations that were selected to receive grants are:

• Bristol Community Organization, Inc.
• Bristol Veterans Council 
• Connecticut Lions Eye Research Foundation, Inc.
• Imagine Nation A Museum Early Learning Center
• Parent and Child Center at Bristol Hospital, Inc.
• Saint Vincent DePaul Mission of Bristol, Inc.
• Shepard Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc.  

The Burlington organizations that were selected to receive grants are:

• Burlington Land Trust, Inc.
• Lewis S. Mills High School Crew Booster Club, Inc.

The Plainville organizations that were selected to receive grants are:

• PARC Inc. Plainville
• Plainville Community Pantry, Inc.
• Plainville Historical Society, Inc.

The Plymouth organizations that were selected to receive grants are:

• Plymouth Community Food Pantry
• Town of Plymouth Volunteer Ambulance Corps

The Southington organizations that were selected to receive grants are:

• The Arc of Southington Inc.
• Bread for Life, Inc.
• Margaret C. Griffin Child Development Center of Southington
• United Way of Southington, Inc.

The Wolcott organizations that were selected to receive grants are:

• Wolcott Crossroads, Inc.
• Wolcott Resource Center 

These grant awards are part of the Foundation’s 20 Grants in 20 Days, a special grant program to celebrate Main Street Community Foundation’s 20th anniversary. A total of $20,000 was awarded from the Bristol Savings Bank Fund at the Foundation to 20 nonprofit organizations located in and impacting the communities of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

“The Bristol Savings Bank Fund was the very first fund established after the Foundation was founded in 1995,” stated Susan Sadecki, President & CEO of the Foundation. “Distributing 20 grants from this Fund is a great way to give back to the communities and recognize our community roots.”

The number of grants each community was awarded was based on the city or town’s population size. The grant awards were made in numerous areas including arts and culture; health and human services; the environment; education; and community development. The use of the awards is at the discretion of each organization.

During the month of June, members of Main Street Community Foundation’s staff and Board of Directors met with community leaders in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott to discuss 501(c)(3) organizations that are making an impact in your town and on your neighbors.

“The Foundation’s Board of Directors took the community leaders’ thoughts and began their own intense deliberation process,” stated Sadecki. “The resulting grants will make a great impact on your neighbors.” 

Check out the Foundation's Facebook page for photos of the grant presentations as well as more information on the grantees!

To view a video on the 20 Grants in 20 Days program, visit the Foundation's YouTube page!