Main Street Community Foundation’s Board of Directors recently approved a total of $15,000 in grants to local organizations from the Men & Boys’ Fund. This Fund was established in 2016 to provide grants to organizations that address the needs of local men and boys in the communities of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott. The grants awarded are:

• Bristol Family Resource Centers - $3,000 - Expansion of the WatchDOGs (Dads of Great Students) program now in year two at Greene-Hills School, South Side School and West Bristol School, providing a series of workshops on parenting education and opportunities to increase fatherhood engagement
• Bristol Public Schools - West Bristol School - $1,500 - Wolf’s Den after-school program at West Bristol School for young male students to promote social-emotional growth, confidence and leadership
• Bristol Youth Lacrosse - $1,000 - Equipment support for the boy’s lacrosse program for young athletes
• Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut - $1,500 - Granting boys an opportunity to experience nature and environmental awareness through camperships
• Outside Perspectives - $5,000 - Youth Excellence Project (YEP) providing at-risk male teenagers with adult mentorship in outdoor spaces to promote health and build resiliency to the challenges in life
• Shepard Meadows Equestrian Center - $1,500 - Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) Youth Development Program in collaboration with the Boys & Girls Club of Bristol in which participants work with therapy horses to better understand and integrate non-verbal communication skills, self-awareness, teamwork skills, and more
• The Bridge Family Center, Inc. - $1,500 - Therapeutic recreational activities for the Specialized Trauma-Informed Treatment Assessment Reunification (STTAR) Program for boys in Wolcott’s Hastings House

Many of the needs of men and boys, especially their social and emotional needs, are often overlooked. MSCF’s Men & Boys’ Fund is dedicated to meeting those needs in the local communities. From promoting healthy, outdoor activities for youth, to offering parenting support for dads, the Men & Boys’ Fund is always looking for ways to support the social, emotional, and educational needs of men and boys.

Since the Fund’s establishment, over $78,000 in grants has been awarded to local nonprofit organizations with the same vision of improving the quality of men and boys’ lives, increasing their self-sufficiency, and assisting them in making positive changes in their communities.

To learn more about the Men & Boys’ Fund and what you can do to contribute to this mission, visit www.mainstreetfoundation.org/men-boys-fund.