November 03, 2015 - 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.

“This milestone gift is one of the largest single donations that the Community Foundation has received in its 20 year history. It will benefit the Greater Bristol community for generations to come,” Susan Sadecki, President & CEO of the Community Foundation stated. “We are very grateful to Sally and Chris.”

“We selected Main Street Community Foundation as a recipient of a grant to honor my father’s memory as well as the family’s appreciation for the Bristol community,” Sally Barnes Sonne said.

The $300,000 grant is supporting current funds and initiatives at the Community Foundation, including:

• E. Bartlett Barnes Award of Journalism Fund - Annually awards scholarships to students pursuing post-secondary education in journalism, creative writing or related studies.
• Money in Motion Fund – Seeds the Community Foundation’s important leadership initiatives to respond to the emerging needs of the local communities served.
• Family Homelessness Initiative – Supports solutions that address family homelessness, including the recent funding of a part-time housing case coordinator.
• Main Street Community Foundation Endowment Fund – Strengthens the Community Foundation’s role as a funder, community leader, convener and advocate for local philanthropy.