Main Street Community Foundation is opening the inaugural cycle of the Louise Lauretano DeMars Love of Art Fund on October 1, 2024. The grant cycle will be open through October 25, 2024 and established artists with an active art practice residing, for a minimum of two years, in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, or Wolcott are invited to apply. Applications are available on the Main Street Community Foundation website.

MSCF is currently accepting applications from nonprofit organizations seeking grants for programs and initiatives that benefit the communities of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott.

Main Street Community Foundation has awarded a total of $153,364 through its general grant cycle to 44 local organizations that are committed to serving the residents of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, or Wolcott.

MSCF recently awarded $6,053 from the Women & Girls Fund to local organizations for the purchase of personal care items for senior women in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott. The $6,053 is the amount that was donated to the Pass the Purse Initiative at the annual Wonder of Women (WOW) event; small purses were placed on each table and attendees were encouraged to ‘Pass the Purse’ and donate what they could.

Main Street Community Foundation is proud to connect students in need to donors with a passion for education through the Foundation’s scholarship program. This year, 166 students have been awarded a total of $334,874 in scholarships. The recipients of these scholarships are students in various stages of their academic careers – elementary and secondary school students, graduating high school seniors, students currently in college and career training - who will be continuing their education with the assistance of these scholarships in the fields of business, healthcare, criminal justice, journalism, education, engineering, visual arts, skilled trades and so many more.

In 2006, the Plainville Community Fund was established at Main Street Community Foundation by a group of community leaders in Plainville. They wanted to enhance the quality of life for Plainville residents through this permanent resource for charitable programs and projects that benefit the town, and since its establishment, $144,186 in grants have been awarded. This year, a total of $15,000 has been awarded to nine local nonprofits.

The first cycle of 2024 grants from the Main Street Community Foundation’s Bradley Henry Barnes and Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust have been awarded to eight organizations serving Southington residents.

Main Street Community Foundation recently awarded a grant to Joseph A. DePaolo Middle School for $900 from the Lynda M. Mazur and Michael F. Colomonico Jr. Hands-On Fund to support the “Kids Koop” Animal Care program. This fund supports non-sport, noncompetitive programs and activities for children attending elementary and middle schools in Southington. Programs and activities supported through grants from this fund involve direct and active participation by the children, and promote self-expression and personal accomplishment.

Join Main Street Community Foundation’s Men & Boys’ Fund for the MVP Breakfast on June 6, 2024. The breakfast will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bristol, with seats at $40 person. Breakfast and registration will be from 7:30-8am, and the program will begin at 8am. The guest speaker for the event will be Dave Stevens, a true inspiration who is the only legless player in sports history to have played NCAA football and minor league baseball. Dave then went on to win seven Emmys as a sports journalist during 20 years at ESPN. Now, after 40 years in broadcasting, he's a motivational speaker and television host while teaching and being an ambassador for individuals with disabilities. His message of hope: You can overcome any obstacle and live your “impossible” dream.

Join Main Street Community Foundation’s Women & Girls Fund for the 23rd Annual Wonder of Women (WOW) event on May 1st.

Every year Main Street Community Foundation gathers together board members, past leadership, and founders for a year-end review and to celebrate another year of successful grantmaking, community partnerships, and building a charitable base for the future. As presented at the Annual Meeting, 2023 saw the distribution of a record $2.4 million in grants and scholarships to benefit the residents of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott, bringing the total amount awarded from Main Street Community Foundation since its establishment in 1995 to $28.2 million. Additionally, the Foundation received $2.2 million in contributions last year and six new funds were established at the Foundation by local individuals, families and organizations to support causes they care about to better their communities.

Ann Gudegast, a lifelong resident of Bristol who spent much of her youth at the Bristol Girls Club decided to establish the Ann Gudegast Fund for the Bristol Boys & Girls Club at Main Street Community Foundation in 2023. At the Bristol Girls Club, she developed friendships, attended summer camp, and learned to cook and sew. Both of her parents worked, so living close by to the Club gave her the opportunity to benefit from the many programs they offered. The inaugural grant awarded to the BGCB from the Fund totaled $7,000 and was celebrated on March 13th with a check presentation. 

Main Street Community Foundation is honored to announce the establishment of the Coach Randy Doucette Scholarship Fund by his family and welcome students to apply.

Main Street Community Foundation’s scholarship program is currently accepting applications. New this year is the Plymouth Human Services Scholarship Fund for Healthcare Students.

Main Street Community Foundation recently held the Women & Girls Fund Annual Meeting & Grantee Reception on January 25, 2024, to recognize annual accomplishments and honor the nonprofit organizations supported. The event gathered together donors, community partners, and volunteers to celebrate the grants awarded from the Women & Girls Fund.

As students begin to prepare for and continue their academic and career journeys, financial support is available. Main Street Community Foundation is now accepting applications for over 90 scholarship funds.

Main Street Community Foundation is proud to award a $1,000 grant from the Myra Boccardi Desroches Advancing Young Minds Fund to the Town of Plymouth Small Wonders Holiday Program to provide books for kids ranging in age from 6 months to 18 years.

Main Street Community Foundation recently awarded a total of $14,870 in grants to benefit the Burlington community. The grants were distributed from the Burlington Community Fund and the James R. Parker Trust, two funds that were established to meet the needs of the community.

In early November, the Main Street Community Foundation Board of Directors approved a total of $13,205 in grants to local organizations from the Men & Boys’ Fund.

The Myra Boccardi Desroches Advancing Young Minds Fund at Main Street Community Foundation is thrilled to announce the first of its 2023 holiday season grants. The Plymouth Family Resource Center (FRC) was awarded a $1,000 grant for the Raising A Reader literacy program to advance its work in promoting reading for children 5 years of age and under.

Since October 7, 2023, we have all been affected by the Israel-Hamas War. If you would like to help in the response to this humanitarian crisis, here are some resources being shared by our philanthropic partners:

Main Street Community Foundation has awarded a $2,500 grant to Wolcott-based Thy Eagle’s Nest. Thy Eagle’s Nest provides new and gently used clothing, furniture, and household items to families and individuals with low to moderate incomes. This grant will support the purchase of a large vehicle to pick up and distribute items to their clients who do not have the means to pick up larger items like beds, mattresses, and furniture.

Main Street Community Foundation has awarded a $2,500 grant to the Memorial Military Museum. The Memorial Military Museum promotes historical knowledge through their collection and raises awareness of Bristol’s military history. This grant will support the restoration of two WWII leather flight jackets that belonged to Bristol residents.

The fall grant cycles are now open at Main Street Community Foundation. MSCF is currently accepting applications for several funds from nonprofit organizations serving the communities of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott.

Looking for ways to help Maui after the devastating wildfires?

UPDATE January 2, 2024: The Challenge was achieved! Thank you to every single donor who gave! The goal was not only met but exceeded. The impact the Men & Boys’ Fund has had has been great, but growing the endowment in this way will ensure that support for local men and boys will not only continue but grow – forever. We are so grateful.
Following an inspiring MVP Breakfast Event in June, the Main Street Community Foundation received a fundraising challenge to further build the Men & Boys’ Fund endowment. Two anonymous donors have joined together in offering to match every dollar donated up to $5,000 donated by December 31. We need your help. We are asking for your support to meet this goal and improve the lives of men and boys in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott in a substantial and lasting way.

Main Street Community Foundation has awarded a total of $144,200 through its general grant cycle to 44 local organizations that are committed to serving the residents of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott.

Main Street Community Foundation works to connect students in need to donors with a passion for education through the Foundation’s scholarship program. This year, 144 students have been awarded a total of $328,114 in scholarships, which is a $47,514 increase from last year’s total of $280,600. The recipients of these scholarships include students in various stages of their academic careers who will be continuing their education with the help of these scholarships in the fields of business, healthcare, criminal justice, journalism, education, engineering, visual arts, skilled trades and so many more.

On June 8th, Main Street Community Foundation’s Men & Boy’s Fund hosted a breakfast celebrating all MVPs (Men of Value and Purpose) and the grantees who have been impacted by the Fund.

The first cycle of grants from Main Street Community Foundation’s Bradley Henry Barnes and Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust have been awarded to six organizations serving Southington residents.

Main Street Community Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life in Plainville in a variety of ways, one of which is through grantmaking from the Plainville Community Fund.

Main Street Community Foundation recently awarded nearly $20,000 in grants to various food pantries benefiting the residents of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

Join Main Street Community Foundation’s Men & Boys’ Fund for the MVP Breakfast on June 8, 2023. The breakfast will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bristol, with seats at $35 person. Breakfast and registration will be from 7:30-8am, and the program will begin at 8am.

Main Street Community Foundation is proud to announce the election of Andrea Lanese to its Board of Directors. Andrea is a Wolcott resident, born and raised, and is currently the Director of Global Talent Acquisition & Development for Barnes in Bristol.

Main Street Community Foundation is accepting grant applications for The Broad View Fund through April 28.

Join Main Street Community Foundation’s Women & Girls Fund for the 22nd Annual Wonder of Women (WOW) event on May 2nd. WOW is an annual event whose proceeds support grants for programs that make it possible for women and girls in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott to improve the conditions and opportunities in their lives. Because of the community’s generosity and support of WOW, MSCF has awarded over $718,000 in grants and immediate response funds from the Women & Girls Fund since its establishment in 2001 as a community-based endowment.

On March 29, representatives from the Main Street Community Foundation met with the family of Jacob Perkins to present a $1,000 grant to members of the Southington Police Department, including K9 Luke Jacob. The grant was awarded from the Jacob Perkins Memorial Fund to support the Southington Emotional Support Dog Program through which Luke Jacob provides comfort to both Southington officers and community members. Luke Jacob was named after Jacob Perkins.

On the morning of March 10th, board members, past leadership, and staff of Main Street Community Foundation gathered together to celebrate 2022 as another successful year of grant making, scholarship awards and building charitable endowments.

On the night of October 12, 2022, two Bristol Police officers lost their lives in the line of duty. To honor Lt. Dustin DeMonte and Sgt. Alex Hamzy for their selfless service, and to remember the sacrifice they made to the community of Bristol, in early 2023 the Bristol Board of Education, in collaboration with the Bristol Police Department, established the Lt. Dustin DeMonte and Sgt. Alex Hamzy Public Safety Scholarship Fund at Main Street Community Foundation.

Main Street Community Foundation is accepting applications for the Jake Gilbert Memorial Culinary Arts Scholarship Fund from graduating seniors or current college students from Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott pursuing post-secondary education in the field of cu

Main Street Community Foundation is accepting applications for The Craig Yarde Scholarship Fund from residents of Bristol who are graduating high school seniors, currently enrolled students, or adult learners seeking financial assistance for further post-secondary education or career training goa

Main Street Community Foundation is inviting nonprofit organizations serving Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and/or Wolcott to apply for grants through its competitive General Grant Cycle.

Main Street Community Foundation is inviting nonprofit organizations serving Plainville to apply for grants from the Plainville Community Fund. Either the organization or the program for which the funding is requested must be located in Plainville and/or be of benefit to Plainville residents.

Main Street Community Foundation is accepting applications for the Bristol Yale/Miles Peck Jennings Memorial Scholarship from graduating seniors or graduates of public, private, or parochial secondary schools located in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, or Plymouth.

In 2022, a new donor advised fund was established at Main Street Community Foundation - the Myra Boccardi Desroches Advancing Young Minds Fund. The fund was created by Myra’s family to honor her life and her passion for children, teaching, and literacy. As a donor advised fund, the donors take an active part in the grant making process by recommending the organizations that will benefit from grant awards. This Fund’s advisors, Michael Desroches and Becky Boccardi Zappone, Myra’s husband and sister respectively, accomplish the Fund’s mission by selecting organizations that provide literacy services and resources needed to make literature more accessible to young minds.

January not only marks the beginning of a new year, but it also marks the beginning of new educational opportunities as students prepare for the next academic year. Over 90 scholarship funds administered by Main Street Community Foundation are currently accepting applications.

Main Street Community Foundation recently held the Women & Girls Fund Annual Meeting & Grantee Reception on January 10, 2023 to recognize annual accomplishments and honor the nonprofit organizations supported. The event gathered together donors, community partners, and volunteers to celebrate the grants awarded from the Women & Girls Fund.

Main Street Community Foundation recently awarded a total of $9,250 in grants to improve the lives of the residents of Burlington.

In 2016, Main Street Community Foundation established the Men & Boys’ Fund, a community-based endowment that has since awarded $41,200 in grants to benefit men and boys in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott.

November 15 is National Philanthropy Day, a day first organized in the 1980s to recognize the contributions philanthropy makes in local communities as well as nationally.

MSCF’s Manning/Sisson Memorial Fund awarded two $1,000 grants: One to the City of Bristol Parks & Recreation for the Bristol Splash Swim Team, and another to the Town of Plainville Recreation Department for the Blue Dolphins Swim Team. Both of these grants were presented to staff of each department by MSCF staff as well as Don Sisson and Clare Wight, Mary Sisson’s husband and sister respectively.

Hurricane Fiona made landfall in the Caribbean on September 18, 2022, and reached category 3 the next morning. Ten days later, on September 28, Hurricane Ian hit southwest Florida as a category 4. Both natural disasters have brought unprecedented devastation to Puerto Rico, Florida and as far north as the Carolinas, as well as other Caribbean islands. The recovery is going to be long and hard and the communities are going to need help as they recover and rebuild.

From November 7 - November 10, dine at Bell City Diner in Bristol, bring in the below flyer, and 10% of the proceeds will be donated to the Men & Boys' Fund at Main Street Community Foundation! Print the flyer and bring it in to help improve the lives of local men and boys!

Main Street Community Foundation recently awarded the inaugural scholarship from the Bristol Lions Club/James J. Keating Scholarship Fund to Jeremey Evanoski, a Plymouth resident. This scholarship fund, which is available to students who are classified as legally blind or visually impaired, was transferred to the Foundation from the Bristol Lions Club in 2022.

On September 1st, Main Street Community Foundation hosted a reception for seven Bristol students in grades 4-8 who were the recipients of awards from the Community Foundation through the Dan Cistulli Memorial Music Fund. This year, a total of $1,020 was awarded to provide lessons for the students, which ranged from saxophone, to singing, to clarinet and bassoon. Depending on their skill level, the students received either three one-hour music lessons or six to seven half-hour music lessons this summer.

Main Street Community Foundation is currently accepting grant applications to three funds from nonprofit organizations serving Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott.

Main Street Community Foundation, through its spring competitive grant cycle, has awarded grants totaling $163,535 to 49 organizations serving Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

An investment in local students is an investment in our community. That is why Main Street Community Foundation’s scholarship program exists, and this year 130 students have been awarded a total of $280,600 in scholarships. The recipients include students in various stages of their academic careers who will be continuing their education with the help of these scholarships in the fields of business, healthcare, criminal justice, journalism, education, engineering, visual arts, skilled trades and so many more.

UPDATE October 1, 2022: The Challenge was achieved! Thank you to everyone who donated! The goal was not only met but exceeded - a total of $7,580 was raised. We are so grateful.

From Veterans Day concerts to green houses for elementary schools, Main Street Community Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life in Plainville. MSCF is proud to have recently awarded seven grants through the Plainville Community Fund, totaling $12,000, which will benefit Plainville residents in several areas of need.

Main Street Community Foundation has once again achieved accreditation from The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations program, the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence, accountability, and distinction.

Established by Bradley Barnes in 1973, the Bradley Henry Barnes and Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust has been supporting the health and wellness of Southington residents for nearly 50 years.

Graduating high school seniors who are classified as legally blind or visually impaired and are residents of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington or Wolcott are eligible for a new scholarship recently established at Main Street Community Foundation.

While Main Street Community Foundation’s Women & Girls Fund supports the needs of local women and girls, it cannot be ignored that we are living in a global society.

Louise (Humphrey) Van Gorder enriched the lives of thousands of students and music lovers in Bristol through the Bristol String Orchestra and Fiddlin’ Around, a former music store in Bristol that she and her husband Bob founded.

The Men & Boys’ Fund at Main Street Community Foundation is celebrating their 5th anniversary with a breakfast event on Thursday, June 9th at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bristol. Registration and breakfast begin at 7:30am, while the program begins at 8am.

Nationally recognized tap dancer and choreographer Ayodele Casel will be the featured guest speaker at the 21st annual Wonder of Women (WOW) event. WOW is hosted by the Women & Girls Fund at Main Street Community Foundation and will be Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, CT.

Before a gathering of board members, past leadership and staff at Main Street Community Foundation’s Annual Meeting, the Foundation celebrated 2021 - a year of resilience.

When Alicia Butler passed away in June 2021, it was natural for her friends and family to honor her memory by establishing a scholarship fund at Main Street Community Foundation. Alicia was born and raised in Bristol, a graduate of St. Paul Catholic High School, and was a lifelong educator.

Upon his death in 2020 at the age of 76, Chester "Chet" Ozga left the remainder of his estate to establish the C. Henry Ozga Memorial Scholarship Fund. This scholarship, in the amount of $3,000, will be awarded for the first time in 2022 to a graduating senior of Terryville High School who has financial need.

The Greater Bristol Branch of the NAACP has been around since the 1960s. While the local branch had been working to ensure that political, educational, social and economic equality was achieved for all individuals in the local community, it was given a new energy and formally reorganized in 1985. That effort was spearheaded by many community members and pastors, including Reverend Dr. Eddie C. Whitehead. To honor his legacy and to continue their mission of advancing educational opportunities, the Greater Bristol Branch of the NAACP established the Reverend Dr. Eddie C. Whitehead of Bristol CT – Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Fund at Main Street Community Foundation.

Main Street Community Foundation is inviting nonprofit organizations serving Plainville to apply for grants from the Plainville Community Fund.

Main Street Community Foundation is inviting nonprofit organizations serving Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and/or Wolcott to apply for grants through its competitive General Grant Cycle.

The closing date for receipt of applications is February 25, 2022. Click here for more information on the position and how to apply.

Main Street Community Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Main Street Community Foundation has recently announced the awarding of $45,000 in grants to local organizations through the Women & Girls Fund. All grants are for unrestricted support of women and girls programming.

Main Street Community Foundation has made a tremendous impact on local residents through the Men & Boys’ Fund.

Swimming was instrumental to the Manning and Sisson families of Bristol and Plainville, so when they decided to establish a fund at Main Street Community Foundation to honor the memory of Mary M. Sisson along with her parents, Dennis and Anna May Manning, they knew what the purpose would be.

Did you know one-in-five teens struggle to afford period products and have missed a day of school due to that? And 46 percent of low-income women have had to choose between buying period products or a meal? To help fight period poverty in the communities of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott, Main Street Community Foundation’s Women & Girls Fund organized a collection of feminine hygiene products.

After having to cancel the 2020 event, the 2021 WOW was held on September 8 and welcomed approximately 350 people to the Aqua Turf to reflect and celebrate. The evening featured Patti Russo as the guest speaker, a nationally recognized leader focused on improving the quality of life for women in Connecticut and the United States; she currently serves as Executive Director of The Campaign School at Yale University. A highlight of this year’s event was the announcement of the 20th Anniversary grant recipients. 

Main Street Community Foundation is accepting grant applications for distributions from the Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust. Nonprofit organizations providing health related services in Southington are encouraged to apply.

Main Street Community Foundation has now granted more than $1 million into the local communities to support COVID-19 response and recovery.

MSCF currently has two grant cycles open: Men & Boys' Fund and Burlington Community Fund with a deadline of August 27, 2021.

Through its recent competitive grant cycle, Main Street Community Foundation awarded $161,830 in grants to 47 local organizations representing a broad range of programs and projects in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

Four year colleges and universities. Military academies. Community colleges. Technical schools.

Father’s Day is a time to celebrate fathers, father figures and families. As a way to do that while supporting local men and boys, the Men & Boys’ Fund of Main Street Community Foundation is holding a fun-filled event on Father’s Day weekend.

Main Street Community Foundation recently awarded a total of $319,155 from the Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust to six nonprofit organizations working to improve the health and wellbeing of Southington residents.

Main Street Community Foundation is inviting nonprofit organizations serving Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and/or Wolcott to apply for grants through it competitive General Grant Cycle.

Main Street Community Foundation is inviting nonprofit organizations serving Plainville to apply for grants from the Plainville Community Fund.

At Main Street Community Foundation’s Annual Meeting in March, the Foundation elected four local residents to its Board of Directors. They are:

The Greater Bristol Branch of the NAACP has been around since the 1960s. While the local branch had been working to ensure that political, educational, social and economic equality was achieved for all individuals in the local community, it was given a new energy and formally reorganized in 1985. That effort was spearheaded by many community members and pastors, including Reverend Dr. Eddie C. Whitehead. To honor his legacy and to continue their mission of advancing educational opportunities, the Greater Bristol Branch of the NAACP established the Reverend Dr. Eddie C. Whitehead of Bristol CT – Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Fund at Main Street Community Foundation.

Ron Burns has been an integral part of the Bristol community for decades. That is why it was natural for Geri Ann Bradley and her family, together with the Bradley Family Foundation, to honor her brother Ron with a named scholarship fund.

Katherine Elizabeth “Katie” Dobroczynski was only 10 years old when she passed away in 2013. A Southington resident, she was an active member of the Southington-Cheshire Community YMCAs and she loved to swim, fish with her dad and play golf at Hawk’s Landing Country Club.

In response to the ongoing pandemic and based on the identification of current needs in the local communities, Main Street Community Foundation (MSCF) has launched Phase 3 of its COVID-19 Response Fund grant program.

It has been a challenging year for everyone. Main Street Community Foundation (MSCF) began 2020 on a high note preparing for a celebration of its 25th anniversary and planning additional grant programs. However, everything changed with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Street Community Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2021-2022 academic year. A full list of scholarships available, their eligibility criteria and links to the online applications are available on the Foundation website.

Bristol is filled with arts and culture organizations that help the city thrive and greatly enhance the quality of life. Unfortunately, those organizations and the entire sector, have been hit particularly hard during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nonprofits are struggling due to the challenging effects of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic - there has been a significant increase in the demand for their services and a simultaneous decrease in both program and fundraising revenue.

Main Street Community Foundation (MSCF) will join in a nationwide celebration of Community Foundation Week from November 12-18 to recognize the importance of these philanthropic organizations.

Main Street Community Foundation recently awarded $11,550 in grants to five organizations serving Burlington residents. The grants were distributed from the Burlington Community Fund and the James R. Parker Trust at the Foundation.

Local nonprofit organizations are facing unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Program and fundraising revenue has drastically decreased, yet demand for services is stronger than ever as residents seek assistance for many basic needs and supports. To assist the Plainville community, Main Street Community Foundation recently awarded $6,000 in grants from the Plainville Community Fund.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding nonprofit organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic, most are still running vital programs.

Local nonprofits are struggling due to the challenging effects of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic - there has been a significant increase in the demand for their services and a simultaneous decrease in both program and fundraising revenue.

Main Street Community Foundation (MSCF) currently has two grant cycles open:

Main Street Community Foundation (MSCF) has launched Phase 2 of its COVID-19 Response Fund grant program. MSCF is now accepting applications for operating support grants to provide flexible general operating resources to nonprofit organizations affected by COVID-19.

Through its recent Spring competitive grant cycle, MSCF awarded $90,040 in grants to 27 local organizations representing a broad range of programs and projects. The grants were awarded from endowed funds established by donors to support the local community and the causes they care about.

Much has changed in the last few months but one thing has not – students are still finding ways to further their education.

June 9, 2020 - Main Street Community Foundation was founded on its commitment to use the charitable dollars entrusted to us to make our local communities a better place for all, without influence of bias or inequality.

A total of $161,778 was awarded from the Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust at Main Street Community Foundation to five organizations working to improve the health and wellbeing of Southington residents.

At Main Street Community Foundation’s 25th Annual Meeting, held virtually in March, the Foundation welcomed three local residents to its Board of Directors. They are: Mark Moriarty of Bristol; Jennifer O’Connor of Southington; and Andrea Wasley of Plainville.

Main Street Community Foundation has made the difficult decision to cancel The Main Event: A Quarter Century Celebration scheduled for September 12, 2020.

Due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, local residents are turning to nonprofit organizations more than ever before. But those organizations are also feeling the drastic effects of the coronavirus outbreak.

Now more than ever, the world has seen the critical role of nurses. This year, nursing students are invited to apply for Main Street Community Foundation’s Richard A. DellaVecchia Scholarship Fund through May 15, 2020.

Main Street Community Foundation (MSCF) has established the COVID-19 Response Fund to help our local communities mobilize the necessary resources to support the current emerging needs in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

In September 2019, Main Street Community Foundation received this unexpected and very generous bequest from an anonymous donor to establish the KAWFY Memorial Fund and the KAWFY Memorial Scholarship Fund to support the Southington community.

The Women & Girls' Fund's Annual Meeting & Grantee Reception gathered together donors, community members and Fund representatives to award $53,030 in grants to 18 organizations serving women and girls in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

Main Street Community Foundation invites nonprofit organizations serving Plainville to apply for grants and local students to submit scholarship applications.

National Philanthropy Day (NPD) is a special day set aside on November 15th each year. This is a day to celebrate the charitable work that everyone does to make a difference and create lasting impact in their communities.

Although the Town of Plainville celebrated the 150th anniversary this past summer with a town-wide picnic, historical tours of Plainville were held on October 5th. Trolleys took participants around to 12 sites where volunteers shared the historical background of the sites.

Raise the quality of life for local men and boys by raising a pint with the Men & Boys’ Fund of Main Street Community Foundation. The Men & Boys’ Fund is holding the second annual “Raise a Pint” at Main Street Pint & Plate in Bristol on Monday, October 28 from 5-7 p.m. 

When the Plainville Senior Center realized that their Dial-a-Ride service couldn’t accomodate all of the requests from local seniors to get to out-of-town doctor’s appointments and early morning medical procedures, they reached out to Senior Transportation Services (STS).  With the help of a $3,500 grant from the Bristol Savings Bank Fund and the Bristol Brass General Grant Fund in the spring of 2019, the two organizations have partnered together to fill this void in Plainville with a unique door-to-door service.

September 2019 - Two Bristol Eastern High School students, Luke Ashworth and Onyae Hill, attended Laurel Music Camp at the end of June thanks to full-tuition scholarships from the Louise (Humphrey) Van Gorder Music Camp Scholarship Fund at Main Street Community Foundation.

On October 7, 2019, from 5:30-7:30pm at the Bristol Public Library in the Community Rooms, the Women & Girls’ Fund will host a free screening of Women's Work: Stories Behind the Movement, an original documentary from Connecticut Public (CPTV). The documentary features the stories of eight Connecticut women who share a common desire to be part of a collective effort – serving as leaders, trailblazers, artists, educators, advocates and entrepreneurs. These women are just some of the multitudes of women in our communities who through their daily work, drive the movement forward.

Although the Town of Plymouth’s 225th anniversary isn’t until 2020, the Plymouth Historical Society is getting a jump start on celebrating. Earlier this summer, a large mural depicting historical and current features of the town was unveiled on the side of the Lee’s Hardware building. Now the Historical Society is creating the Passport to Plymouth program as a fun and educational way for residents to discover 21 fascinating and unusual historic sites in town.

The Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust of the Main Street Community Foundation invites nonprofit organizations serving the Southington community to submit a letter of intent for capital projects, programs or initiatives that will enhance the health and wellbeing of Southington.

Many people have heard of the “summer slide” – the decline in skills that can occur over the summer months when school isn't in session. Well, for seven lucky students in Bristol, the opposite is happening – their skills are actually improving this summer. Specifically their music skills, thanks to grants from the Dan Cistulli Memorial Music Fund at Main Street Community Foundation.

Main Street Community Foundation is currently accepting grant applications from area nonprofit organizations. All guidelines, eligibility criteria and links to the online applications are available on the Foundation’s website.

Aquatics safety. Leadership skills. Expanding audiences. Veterans support. Those are a few ways that the recent grants awarded by Main Street Community Foundation will inspire, affect and touch the residents living and working in the towns of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott. A total of 41 organizations representing a broad range of programs and projects received $126,459 in grant awards.

Friday evening, June 14th, more than 100 people attended “Family, Fun & Fathers”, a night of bowling, mini-golf and food at Lessard Lanes in Plainville.

A total of 139 students at varying levels of their academic careers were awarded a total of $213,000 in scholarships from Main Street Community Foundation. The students – graduating high school seniors, current college students and adult learners – hail from the towns of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott as well as other communities.

A total of $308,150 was awarded from the Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust to six programs working to improve the health and wellbeing of Southington residents. The organizations provide programs that enhance community wellness, promote healthy living and improve access to behavioral health services.

A broad spectrum of local grantmakers joined together to announce their commitments to the Statewide 100-Day Challenge to End Youth Homelessness. The first of its kind in the nation, the effort brings together funders, nonprofit providers, state agencies, and young adults, to develop creative solutions to provide housing and improve services for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness throughout Connecticut.

The Broad View Fund at the Main Street Community Foundation is proud to announce the 2019 beneficiary of the proceeds from the 13th Annual Cocktails @ Eight to be held on Saturday, October 19th.

You’re invited to play mini-golf and bowl while celebrating families with the Men & Boys’ Fund of the Main Street Community Foundation. Family, Fun & Fathers will be held on Friday, June 14 from 5 pm to 8 pm at Lessard Lanes in Plainville.

On Thursday, April 11 the Women & Girls’ Fund of the Main Street Community Foundation will be hosting a Blood Drive in honor of this year’s Wonder of Women (WOW) Event guest speaker, Colleen Kelly Alexander.

On Thursday, April 11 the Women & Girls’ Fund of the Main Street Community Foundation will be hosting a Blood Drive in honor of this year’s Wonder of Women (WOW) Event guest speaker, Colleen Kelly Alexander.

Before a gathering of board members, past leadership and staff at Main Street Community Foundation’s Annual Meeting, the Foundation celebrated 2018, which saw the distribution of $1.7 million in grants and scholarships to benefit the residents of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southin

MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER is the theme for the Women & Girls’ Fund at Main Street Community Foundation’s 18th Annual Wonder of Women (WOW) event to be held on Tuesday, April 23 at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville.

The Women & Girls' Fund's Annual Meeting & Grantee Reception gathered together donors, community members and Fund representatives to award a record $55,227 in grants to 19 organizations serving women and girls in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.
 

Main Street Community Foundation invites area nonprofit organizations to apply for grants through its competitive General Grant Cycle and the Plainville Community Fund. Local students are also invited to submit scholarship applications for 75 scholarship opportunities.

The Town of Plainville's Animal Control recieved a $1,000 grant from the Elizabeth I. and Louis J. Matt Animal Protection Fund at Main Street Community Foundation to be used to defray the cost of emergency medical care to save the animals so they can be adopted.

Jarre Betts, Vice President of Programs at Main Street Community Foundation, retired after 18 years of service in December 2018. Her accomplishments and contributions are great, and this is just a snippet of what she meant to all of us. Congratulations, Jarre, and we wish you all the best in retirement!

On December 10, the Men & Boys’ Fund at Main Street Community Foundation presented a total of $6,000 in grants to Bristol Youth Services, Bristol Hospital’s Parent & Child Center, Boys & Girls Club of Bristol Family Center, and the Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut. The $6,000 was double the amount granted in 2017, which was the Men & Boys’ Fund first grant cycle.

On November 28, a $13,525 grant from The Broad View Fund at Main Street Community Foundation was awarded to support a collaborative exchange between Imagine Nation, A Museum Early Learning Center, the Bristol Preschool Child Care Center, and the Talcott Center for Child Development. Together, they will be launching an innovative curriculum called Bristol=Resilient Children.

(November 9, 2018) – Your neighbors need your help.

Lewis S. Mills High School has taken several steps to ensure the safety of their football student-athletes by implementing the multi-step “Heads Up” tackling program. The Lewis S. Mills High School Football Booster Club identified the critical need to enhance this program and continue to teach safe tackling techniques. To do that, they applied for and received a grant from the Burlington Community Fund at Main Street Community Foundation to purchase two tackle wheels.
 

Selected Bristol Public School students are given the opportunity to learn how to play an instrument or take voice lessons during the summer months. These students have a true passion for making music and want to continue their education outside of school with lessons. Thanks to the Dan Cistulli Memorial Music Fund at Main Street Community Foundation, 7 Bristol students received grants to take instrumental or voice lessons this summer.

The Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust of the Main Street Community Foundation invites nonprofit organizations serving the Southington community to submit a letter of intent for capital projects, programs or initiatives that will enhance the health and wellbeing of South

Main Street Community Foundation is currently accepting grant applications from area nonprofit organizations. All guidelines, eligibility criteria and links to the online applications are available on the Foundation’s website.

On Monday, June 25th, 52 people attended “Raise a Pint,” the initial fundraiser for the Men & Boys’ Fund at Main Street Community Foundation raising more than $2,200 to fund grants for existing programs and to provide for small immediate needs.
 

Bringing history to life. Expanding early literacy. Meeting basic needs.

Over 160 students at varying levels of their academic careers were awarded a total of $200,000 in scholarships from Main Street Community Foundation. The students – graduating high school seniors, current college students and adult learners – hail from the towns of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott as well as other communities.
 

The Broad View Fund at the Main Street Community Foundation is proud to announce the 2018 beneficiaries of the proceeds from the 12th Annual Cocktails @ 8 to be held Saturday, October 20th.
 

Over $200,000 was awarded from the Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust to three organizations working to improve the health and wellbeing of Southington residents. The organizations provide programs that enhance community wellness, support local seniors and improve access to behavioral health services.
 

The Men & Boys’ Fund of Main Street Community Foundation will hold its first fundraiser on Monday, June 25 at the new Main Street Pint & Plate Restaurant. “Raise a Pint” will be held from 5-8p.m. and tickets are $45, which includes a sampling of the menu and a pint of beer or glass of wine. 
 

The Walsh Summer Work Experience Program (WSWEP) will once again be offered in 2018. Another generous grant has been awarded to the United Way of West Central Connecticut to coordinate this program. A total of 30 Bristol youth ages 16-19 will participate in WSWEP this year, which will run from June 25 through August 10.

The Burlington Food and Fuel Bank was recently awarded a $500 grant from the Burlington Community Fund for the purchase of two small carts and additional baskets to improve supervision of food distribution as well as some tamper-proof storage containers.

Boy scouts in Burlington will be able to have the tools and equipment needed to advance in rank and complete merit badges partially thanks to a $500 grant from the Burlington Community Fund at Main Street Community Foundation. 

Before a gathering of board members, past leadership and staff at Main Street Community Foundation’s Annual Meeting, the Foundation elected Kelly Leppard of Southington to the Board of Directors.

A collaboration of six Connecticut community foundations has awarded a $100,000 grant to the Connecticut Mirror to support two journalism series and statewide community conversations. This effort will explore the long-term impact of Connecticut’s fiscal crisis on the nonprofit sector and the impact of wealth disparities in Connecticut.

Imagine Nation, A Museum Early Learning Center, located in Bristol, will hold its inaugural “Imagine Nation Loves Burlington Day” in the spring of 2018. This program is being made possible by a $1,000 grant from the Burlington Community Fund at Main Street Community Foundation.

The Women & Girls’ Fund’s Annual Meeting & Grantee Reception gathered together donors, community members and Fund representatives to award a record $51,111 in grants to 14 organizations serving women and girls in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

Main Street Community Foundation is currently accepting grant applications from area nonprofit organizations through its competitive General Grant Cycle while scholarship applications are being accepted from local students. All guidelines, eligibility criteria and links to the online applications are available on the Foundation’s Apply for a Grant webpage.

On December 2, For Goodness Sake was awarded an $11,562 grant from The Broad View Fund at Main Street Community Foundation. The grant will support a strategic planning process for growing the organization.

On Tuesday, November 28th Bristol Youth Services was awarded a $2,000 grant to support the Skills to Pay the Bills program. The grant from the Men & Boys’ Fund at Main Street Community Foundation.

Local social service providers told emotional stories at the Men & Boys’ Fund’s November 14 community meeting detailing the needs of men and boys. The meeting, held at Southington’s Hawk’s Landing Country Club, introduced the Men & Boys’ Fund, a newly established fund at Main Street Community Foundation that works to improve the quality of life of local men and boys and help them make a positive difference in their communities.

An elderly man who lives independently and does not have family locally is able to attend doctor’s appointments in town thanks to transportation services for seniors. A middle school girl knows what a healthy relationship is – and isn’t – and is aware of services she can access for herself, friends or family. A homeless family is able to furnish their new apartment and pay for a licensing fee to obtain job training so they can live a healthy life. These stories—alongside the countless others like them—are due to grants awarded from Main Street Community Foundation as well as the partnerships the Foundation has built with local organizations.

Main Street Community Foundation is participating in The Joy of Sharing, a program run by the United Way of West Central Connecticut. The Community Foundation will be conducting a Holiday Toy and Gift Drive through December 5, 2017 and all items can be dropped off at the Foundation’s office at 120 Halcyon Drive in Bristol.
 

The newly established Men & Boys’ Fund of Main Street Community Foundation will hold an introductory community meeting at the Hawk’s Landing Country Club in Southington from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on November 14th. The public is invited to attend; RSVP is required to Julie Matthews at the Foundation by calling 860.583.6363.

Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria have brought unprecedented devastation to Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the Caribeean Islands. The recovery is going to be long and hard and the communities are going to need help as they recover and rebuild.

Terryville Plymouth Little League was recently awarded a $1,500 grant from the Bristol Savings Bank Fund at Main Street Community Foundation to support the repair and replacement of outfield fences at two of the fields.

Wolcott Crossroads was recently awarded a $5,000 grant from the Bristol Savings Bank Fund at Main Street Community Foundation to install a projection system at the organization’s Youth Center.

The beginning of the summer brought news that the City of Bristol was not expecting. The State Summer Youth Employment Program positions in Bristol would be eliminated due to Connecticut’s absence of a state budget. Despite the jarring news, 30 Bristol high school students were given the opportunity to work a meaningful job within their community while developing the skills and personal qualities necessary for success in the workforce. The Walsh Summer Work Experience Program (WSWEP) was funded with a grant from the Tim and Mary Walsh Charitable Fund at Main Street Community Foundation and coordinated by the United Way of West Central Connecticut.

Main Street Community Foundation recently received notification that it has again met the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere.

Wolcott Citizens Against Substance Abuse (CASA) received a $2,000 grant from the Bristol Savings Bank Fund at Main Street Community Foundation to implement a social marketing campaign on the dangers of underage drinking.

The Women & Girls' Fund of Main Street Community Foundation is hosting a Lunch & Learn for local nonprofit professionals and volunteers to discuss the Fund’s grant process as well as the critical needs and issues local girls and women face. This luncheon will be held on Thursday, August 24, 2017 from 11 am – 1 pm at Tunxis@Bristol, which is located at 430 North Main Street in Bristol.

The Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust of the Main Street Community Foundation invites nonprofit organizations serving the Southington community to submit a letter of intent for capital projects, programs or initiatives that will enhance the health and wellbeing of Southington residents.

The weight room at Lewis S. Mills High School will be getting a lift to benefit the student-athletes. That project got a boost when the Burlington Community Fund at Main Street Community Foundation awarded the high school a $1,000 grant. Specifically, the grant will be used to purchase and install new mirrors to enhance the student-athletes’ training.

Bringing history to life. Expanding early literacy. Meeting basic needs. Those are a few ways that the recent grants awarded by Main Street Community Foundation will inspire, affect and touch the residents living and working in the towns of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

Over 150 students at varying levels of their academic careers were awarded a total of $184,000 in scholarships from Main Street Community Foundation. The students – graduating high school seniors, current college students and adult learners – hail from the towns of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott as well as other communities.

A new fund at the Main Street Community Foundation is providing financial resources for local men and boys. The Men & Boys’ Fund is designed to both support existing programs and provide for immediate individual needs in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

The residents of Burlington just became safer thanks to a grant from the Burlington Community Fund at Main Street Community Foundation to purchase two automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The $2,300 grant was awarded to the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department.

March 29, 2017 - The Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust of the Main Street Community Foundation invites Southington nonprofit organizations to an information session on the launch of a new grant program, known as the Southington Community Well-Being Grant Initiative

March 17, 2017 - The Main Street Community Foundation elected officers and two new board members at its annual meeting on March 17, 2017.

Sandy Caggiano, affectionately known as “Mama” to those close to her, was a devoted teacher who worked in the Bristol School system for 30 years. Continuing her legacy of giving back to the schools, a $220 grant was awarded from the Mama Sandy Caggiano Fund at Main Street Community Foundation to support the Family Resource Center at South Side School.

January 15, 2017 - Main Street Community Foundation is currently accepting grant applications from area nonprofit organizations through its competitive General Grant Cycle and the Plainville Community Fund while scholarship applications are being accepted from local students.

Main Street Community Foundation is a tax exempt public charity the promotes philanthropy to help assure the long-term well being of the Connecticut communities of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

Main Street Community Foundation is participating in The Joy of Sharing, a program run by the United Way of West Central Connecticut. The Community Foundation will be conducting a Holiday Toy and Gift Drive through December 5, 2016 and all items can be dropped off at the Foundation’s office at 120 Halcyon Drive in Bristol.

Do you remember the feeling you had the first time you cast a vote in an election? Maybe you felt like you were finally an adult; perhaps you felt empowered. Maybe this was the first time you ever voted in this country or in any country. These are some of the experiences that will be shared as part of a new social media campaign being launched by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

In celebration of the Women & Girls' Fund's 15th anniversary in 2016, the Fund initiated the First 500 Challenge in the spring to raise its endowment to $500,000. Thus far the response for the First 500 Challenge campaign has been overwhelmingly positive and supportive of reaching this goal by December 31.

Dr. Kimberly H. James has been elected to the Board of Directors of Main Street Community Foundation.

For over 40 years, Jeffrey Downes, a native of Southington, drove commercial trucks. He loved his work and truly had a passion for driving. When he passed away in March 2015, after a long and courageous battle against cancer, his family established the Jeffrey Downes Memorial Truck Driving Scholarship Fund at Main Street Community Foundation to honor his memory and his devotion to driving.

Viewing a musical performance. Shopping at a food pantry. Attending support groups and educational experiences. Those are a few ways that the recent grants awarded by Main Street Community Foundation will inspire, affect and touch the residents living and working in the towns of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

The Main Street Community Foundation welcomes grant requests from organizations that serve our geographic area, which includes Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott, Connecticut.

Students in the fourth grade in Regional School District #10 are given the opportunity to learn how to play an instrument, to make music and experience everything that goes along with it. However, many families cannot afford to buy or rent an instrument for their child and Region 10 has few available to borrow. To help out, the Burlington Community Fund at Main Street Community Foundation decided to not only lead a collection of unwanted, used musical instruments for Region 10 but to award a $1,000 grant to the Music Department to refurbish them.

Over 130 students at varying levels of their academic careers were awarded a total of $171,000 in scholarships from Main Street Community Foundation. The students – graduating high school seniors, current college students and adult learners – hail from the towns of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott as well as other communities.

If you are in need of a wheelchair temporarily, do you know where you can borrow one? Burlington residents can now contact Burlington Community Services to borrow one of two wheelchairs, thanks to a $350 grant from the Burlington Community Fund at Main Street Community Foundation.

Safe Harbor Youth Services was founded in 2012 and has impacted the lives of hundreds of youth in Burlington and Harwinton. To expand the organization’s operations, in June 2014, students from Lewis Mills High School worked to create an activity center in the center of Burlington for them and their peers. Due to its growth, the Town of Burlington, in partnership with the Town of Harwinton, sought to establish a pilot program for an Activities Coordinator at the Safe Harbor Youth Activity Center.

Before a gathering of more than 30 board members, past directors, founders and staff at Main Street Community Foundation’s Annual Meeting, the Foundation welcomed Kathy Reinhard of Southington and Byron Treado III of Plainville to the Board of Directors. In addition, the following Board members were reelected to a second three-year term: David Aldieri of Bristol; Todd Burton of Wolcott; Kris Dargenio of Plainville; Margi Fletcher of Bristol; and Jeff Sonenstein of Burlington.

The 15th Annual Wonder of Women (WOW) event, hosted by the Women & Girls’ Fund at Main Street Community Foundation, will be Wednesday, March 30, 2016, at 5:30 p.m. at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, CT. The event will celebrate the Fund’s 15th anniversary of improving the lives of local women and girls and will feature WFSB Channel 3 television personality Kara Sundlun as the guest speaker.

Main Street Community Foundation is a tax-exempt public charity that promotes philanthropy to help assure the long-term well-being of the Connecticut communities of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

Main Street Community Foundation is currently accepting grant applications from area nonprofit organizations through its competitive General Grant Cycle and the Plainville Community Fund while scholarship applications are being accepted from local students. All guidelines, eligibility criteria and applications are available on the Foundation’s website.

The Women & Girls’ Fund of the Main Street Community Foundation held its Annual Meeting on
January 14, 2016 to do just that - celebrate the Fund’s accomplishments of the past year before looking ahead to the Fund’s 15th anniversary year.

Over $325,000 was awarded from the Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust to five organizations working to improve the health and wellbeing of Southington residents. The organizations, two of which received continued funding from the Barnes Memorial Trust, provide programs that enhance community wellness, support local seniors and improve access to behavioral health services.

On December 18, 2015, President Obama signed into law the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015, which includes a permanent extension of the IRA Charitable Rollover tax provision.

A celebration of the Women & Girls' Fund's 15th anniversary in 2016, A Toast to Women is a pay it forward campaign to honor 1,000 special women who have made a positive impact in the lives of others.

How happy are you? Have you seen a dentist lately? Is it safe to walk in your neighborhood? Is local government responsive to your needs? Do you need more education or training to advance in your current job? These are some of the more than 100 questions that nearly 17,000 representative residents answered as part of the 2015 DataHaven Community Wellbeing Survey.

Main Street Community Foundation is participating in The Joy of Sharing, a program run by the United Way of West Central Connecticut. The Community Foundation will be conducting a Holiday Toy and Gift Drive through December 7, 2015 and all items can be dropped off at the Foundation’s office at 120 Halcyon Drive in Bristol.

This year is Main Street Community Foundation’s 20th anniversary. In September at the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington,Main Street Community Foundation celebrated its 20th anniversary at The Main Event - Celebrating Our Community Roots. The farm-to-table gathering reflected on the Foundation's 20 years as a funder, community leader, convener and advocate for local philanthropy.

Although he passed away in 2004, E. Bartlett “Bart” Barnes, the well-known publisher of The Bristol Press, had a lifelong love of the Bristol community. Sally Barnes Sonne, one of Bart’s four children, caught that love from her father, and though she may have moved from Bristol nearly 50 years ago, she has never forgotten her roots. Sally and her husband Chris recently recommended a $300,000 grant to Main Street Community Foundation from the Vincent Mulford Foundation, a foundation established by Chris’ grandfather, which was dissolving.

Sandy Caggiano was a devoted teacher who worked in the Bristol School system for 30 years. She truly cared about her students and their families and was affectionately known as “Mama” to those close to her. After a courageous battle with cancer, Sandy passed away on April 20, 2010. To honor her memory and all that she cared about, the family of Sandy Caggiano has recently established the Mama Sandy Caggiano Fund at Main Street Community Foundation to support the Family Resource Center at South Side School.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcco538VDTA&feature=youtu.be

The Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust of the Main Street Community Foundation invites nonprofit organizations serving the Southington community to submit a letter of intent for capital projects, programs or initiatives that will enhance the health and wellbeing of Southington residents.

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.

A total of 29 organizations representing a broad range of programs and projects received $82,355 in grant awards. This is the result of the Foundation’s 2015 General Competitive Grant Cycle, which saw the submission of 39 grant proposals.

The Burlington Bell Community Fund announced a $1,150 grant to Burlington Parks and Recreation Department to support summer recreational activities for youth in need. The Parks and Recreation Department provides Burlington youth week-long summer camp programs at Foote Road Recreation Complex in Burlington. During the camps, youth participate in field sports, tournaments, enrichment programs, arts, crafts and games.

Eva Wickwire was a truly genuine person who touched many lives and was an integral part of the Bristol community. Before she passed away in April 2015 at the age of 53, Eva was the Chief Development Officer and Assistant Vice President at Bristol Hospital. To honor her memory and all that she stood for, the Eva Wickwire Volunteer Scholarship Fund was recently established at the Main Street Community Foundation by the “friends of Eva”.

Main Street Community Foundation has awarded $146,000 in scholarships to a group of over 120 students at varying levels of their academic careers from the towns of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott as well as other communities.

On April 25, 2015, the worst earthquake to hit Nepal in more than 80 years - a 7.9 magnitude earthquake - caused mass destruction with the epicenter located just 50 miles from the nation’s capital and largest city, Kathmandu. Officials estimate that several thousand have been killed and thousands more have been injured by this natural disaster.

Before a gathering of more than 30 board members, past directors, founders and staff, the Main Street Community Foundation elected officers and four new board members at its annual meeting on March 20, 2015.

She wanted to support her music students and provide them the opportunities she had. Annually, Louise (Humphrey) Van Gorder, a lifelong Bristol resident, would give a scholarship to a young and talented musician to attend Laurel Music Camp in New Hartford. When Louise’s health began to decline, her family and friends decided to establish the Louise (Humphrey) Van Gorder Music Camp Scholarship Fund at Main Street Community Foundation so her tradition of assisting avid music students could continue.

The 14th Annual Wonder of Women (WOW) event, held by by the Women & Girls’ Fund at Main Street Community Foundation, will be Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at 5:30 p.m. at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, CT. The event will feature WFSB Channel 3 television personalities Scot Haney and Irene O’Connor as guest speakers.

The Burlington Bell Community Fund announced a $1,000 grant to the Burlington Food and Fuel Bank to support the services offered. The Burlington Food and Fuel Bank provides Burlington residents with the assistance they need in order to provide for basic needs and improve the quality of their lives.

Wanting to help their fellow Region 10 students, the Student Council at Lake Garda Elementary School in Burlington developed a creative fundraiser to benefit the Karen DuCotey Fund for Kids at Main Street Community Foundation.

Julie Roche, a lifelong Bristol resident, had a passion for nursing. It was evident in the way she cared and advocated for her patients and the way she mentored new nurses. So it was natural that when she passed away in December 2013, after a long and courageous battle against leukemia, her family established the Julie A. Roche Nursing Scholarship Fund at Main Street Community Foundation to honor her memory and her passion for nursing.

The Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust recently awarded grants to organizations working to improve the health and wellbeing of Southington residents. Three organizations were awarded a total of $284,000 to enhance community wellness and to improve access to behavioral health services.

Main Street Community Foundation is currently accepting grant applications from area nonprofit organizations through its competitive General Grant Cycle and the Plainville Community Fund while scholarship applications are being accepted from local students. All guidelines, eligibility criteria and applications are available on the Foundation’s website,www.mainstreetfoundation.org.

The Women & Girls’ Fund of the Main Street Community Foundation held its Annual Meeting on January 8, 2015 to do just that - celebrate the past year and all the Fund has accomplished before electing Advisory Board members to guide the Fund through the next year. The celebration centered on the announcement of grant distributions from the Fund in 2014 – a record $36,650 was awarded to 12 organizations serving women and girls in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

They vowed to have their daughters grow up in a community inspired by the beautiful acts of kindness that have resulted from the tragedy in Newtown almost two years ago. And the proceeds from a 2013 event that they created in Southington to showcase just that – acts of kindness - have established the Because of 26 Kindness Award Scholarship Fund at the Main Street Community Foundation.

Main Street Community Foundation is participating in The Joy of Sharing, a program run by the United Way of West Central Connecticut. The Community Foundation will be conducting a Holiday Toy and Gift Drive through December 8, 2014 and all items, as well as monetary donations, can be dropped off at the Foundation’s office at 200 Main Street in Bristol.

National Philanthropy Day, November 15, 2014, is a day to recognize and pay tribute to the great contributions that philanthropy—and those active in the philanthropic community, like the Cistulli family —have made to our lives and our communities.

Seven students never received their high school diploma. They left school for various reasons but after a while they all realized they needed a job in order to provide for themselves and their families. They also came to realize that to be successful, and to make a living wage, they needed to obtain secondary education.

The end of the year is often filled with spending money on material items. But the end of the year is also about giving back. Main Street Community Foundation has joined GivingTuesday, a national movement around the holidays dedicated to giving. The movement culminates on December 2, 2014 – the Tuesday after Thanksgiving – with a global day of giving.

It's back to school for kids, colleges...and nonprofits. Main Street Community Foundation has announced a seminar and a webconference as part of its Nonprofit Education Series. Topics will be  liability of directors and officers and fundraising through storytelling. 

The Women & Girls’ Fund of Main Street Community Foundation is currently accepting grant applications from local nonprofit organizations through its annual competitive grant cycle. The application, which includes the grantmaking guidelines and criteria, is available on Main Street Community Foundation’s website, under the "Grants" section.

Meeting the needs of our most vulnerable citizens. Strengthening education and development of our youth. Bolstering the arts. Preserving history and cultural heritage. Protecting the health and welfare of our animals. That is what $75,000 in grants to 28 organizations is achieving, and it is the result of Main Street Community Foundation’s spring 2014 General Competitive Grant Cycle. The 28 grant recipients were chosen from among 37 proposals submitted, and represent a broad range of programs and projects to benefit the communities and residents of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

Main Street Community Foundation has awarded nearly $135,000 in scholarships to an outstanding group of 121 students at varying levels of their academic careers from the towns of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott as well as other communities.

With the Main Street Community Foundation’s announcement of $11,350 in scholarship awards to 39 local students, the Keating-Monaghan Memorial Scholarship Fund is extending its namesake’s legacy of encouraging faith, family and community service within young people.

The 13th Annual Wonder of Women (WOW) event, held by by the Women & Girls’ Fund at Main Street Community Foundation, will be Monday, April 28, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, CT. The event will feature guest speaker Cari Champion of ESPN.

The Bristol Technical Education Center’s (TEC) SkillsUSA Team will now have official red SkillsUSA blazers and a SkillsUSA banner with the school’s logo on it, unifying the team and building the students’ confidence. The blazers and the banner were purchased with a $1,520 grant from the Technical Education Fund at Main Street Community Foundation.

At its annual meeting on March 7, Main Street Community Foundation announced that it distributed a near-record $1.2 million in grants and scholarships in 2013 to benefit the residents of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

With the Main Street Community Foundation’s announcement today of $635,000 in grants to three local nonprofits, the Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust is embarking on a brave new direction for the people of Southington, Connecticut.

Main Street Community Foundation is currently accepting grant applications from area nonprofit organizations through its competitive General Grant Cycle and the Plainville Community Fund while scholarship applications are being accepted from local students. All applications are available on the Foundation’s website, www.mainstreetfoundation.org.