Regional Chamber’s Foundation to Distribute Over $110,000 in Grants — Largest Cycle in Foundation History

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut Foundation will award $110,000 to 52 nonprofit organizations across eastern Connecticut this spring, marking the largest grant distribution in the Foundation’s history. The increase builds on last year’s cycle, which provided $106,000 to 50 organizations, reflecting both expanded funding and broader community reach.

The Chamber’s Foundation, its Board of Directors, and Chamber staff will formally present the grants during a check presentation event on the morning of Friday, May 1, at the Chamber office, located at 92 Eugene O’Neill Drive, New London.

Honorees and their corresponding grant allocations include:

• 50CAN DBA LEAD — $2,500.00 — to expand community-based education and workforce readiness programs that address persistent educational and economic disparities and promote long-term family stability in Eastern Connecticut.
• Always Home, Inc. — $2,000.00 — to prevent family homelessness by stabilizing housing through emergency financial assistance and intensive case management that addresses the root causes of housing instability.
• BSEB – Birth Support, Education & Beyond, Inc. — $2,500.00 — to expand trauma-informed perinatal support that improves maternal and infant health, strengthens parent–child bonds, and reduces long-term adverse childhood outcomes.
• Care and Share of East Lyme, Inc. — $2,500.00 — to provide summer day camp access for low-income children, supporting healthy social development while enabling parents to maintain employment.
• Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut — $2,500.00 — to enhance early childhood learning environments that support school readiness and healthy cognitive and social development for young children.
• Children First Community Collaborative — $350.00 — to increase neighborhood access to children’s books and early literacy resources by installing a Little Free Library in an underserved community.
• Connecticut Foundation for Dental Outreach — $2,500.00 — to deliver free dental care to underserved and uninsured residents, improving oral health and reducing preventable emergency medical visits.
• Covenant to Care for Children, Inc. — $2,000.00 — to provide essential household goods that stabilize families involved with child welfare and reduce the risk of abuse, neglect, or foster care placement.
• Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center — $2,000.00 — to expand hands-on environmental education for middle and high school students who lack equitable access to science and nature-based learning.
• EASTCONN CDT — $2,602.00 — to provide therapeutic movement and sensory equipment that supports regulation, engagement, and academic success for students with complex special education needs.
• Eastern Connecticut Ballet — $1,000.00 — to provide equitable access to high-quality performing arts experiences for schoolchildren from underserved communities through free professional performances.
• Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra — $1,000.00 — to deliver free, curriculum-connected orchestral music experiences that fill arts education gaps for elementary students in Title I schools.
• Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board — $5,000.00 — to support wages and staffing for a summer employment program that provides income-eligible youth with hands-on workplace experience and career readiness skills.
• Expressiones Cultural Center Inc. — $2,500.00 — to provide free bilingual visual arts programming that fosters cultural identity, creativity, and intergenerational connection for immigrant and underserved families.
• FRESH New London — $1,000.00 — to employ and train youth in urban agriculture and food distribution, increasing access to healthy food while building leadership and job skills.
• Girls on the Run of Southeastern Connecticut — $1,000.00 — to deliver evidence-based programming that builds confidence, emotional resilience, and physical activity for girls facing rising mental health challenges.
• Goodspeed Opera House Foundation, Inc. (dba Goodspeed Musicals) — $1,000.00 — to provide barrier-free access to professional musical theatre and immersive arts education for students from Title I schools.
• Groton Community Meals, Inc. — $2,500.00 — to combat local food insecurity by providing consistent access to free, nutritious meals in neighborhoods designated as food deserts.
• H.O.P.E., Inc. — $2,500.00 — to support a rent-to-own housing model that stabilizes low-income families, builds financial capacity, and revitalizes distressed neighborhoods without displacement.
• Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut — $2,500.00 — to increase the supply of affordable housing through new multifamily construction that strengthens families and promotes neighborhood stability.
• Haitian Community Center of Greater Norwich — $2,500.00 — to support culturally responsive youth development that improves academic success, leadership skills, and community connection for immigrant youth.
• Hearing Youth Voices / A Better Way Foundation — $1,000.00 — to build leadership, civic engagement, and advocacy skills among marginalized youth to address systemic inequities.
• High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc. — $2,000.00 — to expand access to equine-assisted therapy that improves physical, emotional, and social outcomes for individuals with disabilities regardless of income.
• Higher Edge — $2,000.00 — to support first-generation college students by reinforcing persistence and degree completion through milestone celebrations and community support.
• Interdistrict Committee for Project Oceanology — $3,026.00 — to enhance marine science education and environmental stewardship through improved shipboard learning technology.
• Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, Inc. — $2,500.00 — to deliver hands-on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career readiness programming that promotes economic mobility for students.
• Lumibility — $1,250.00 — to strengthen early intervention services for children with developmental delays by improving staff capacity for documentation, communication, and family engagement.
• Lyman Allyn Art Museum — $1,000.00 — to eliminate financial barriers to arts participation through free family artmaking programs that foster creativity and cultural engagement.
• Madonna Place, Inc. — $3,000.00 — to strengthen families and prevent child abuse by sustaining comprehensive parenting education, basic-needs support, and home visitation services.
• Miracle League of Southeastern Connecticut — $2,500.00 — to provide inclusive recreational programming that ensures children with disabilities can participate fully in community activities.
• New England Science & Sailing Foundation Inc. — $2,500.00 — to provide underserved students with hands-on STEM and marine science education that builds academic skills and environmental awareness.
• New London Homeless Hospitality Center — $2,500.00 — to prevent homelessness by stabilizing households at risk of eviction through housing-focused case management and mediation services.
• New London Public Market Corporation — $1,000.00 — to support planning for a public market that creates jobs, incubates small businesses, and increases access to affordable, healthy food.
• New London Youth Affairs — $2,000.00 — to meet rising basic-needs insecurity by providing essential diapers and coordinated family support services for households with young children.
• Pattagansett Art Center — $1,000.00 — to expand access to professional arts training and mentorship for girls and young women through hands-on workshops and apprenticeships.
• Reliance Health, Inc. — $1,500.00 — to remove financial barriers to education for adults with chronic mental health conditions, supporting recovery and workforce participation.
• Riverfront Children’s Center, Inc. — $1,250.00 — to promote school readiness and lifelong health by integrating movement and nutrition education into early childhood programming.
• Safe Futures, Inc. — $3,000.00 — to provide trauma-informed mentoring and career exploration that supports resilience and long-term stability for youth impacted by domestic violence.
• Southeastern CT Robotics, Inc. — $1,000.00 — to expand access to STEM learning opportunities that build technical skills, confidence, and academic engagement for regional youth.
• Sweet Serenity Center for Humane Education, Inc. — $2,000.00 — to deliver humane education that fosters empathy, emotional regulation, and responsible decision-making in children.
• The Arc Eastern Connecticut, Inc. — $2,000.00 — to expand inclusive employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through community-based workforce initiatives.
• The Center: A Drop In Community Learning and Resource Center, Inc. — $2,500.00 — to increase college and career awareness for middle school students through guided exposure and mentorship.
• The Covenant Shelter of New London, Inc. — $1,000.00 — to help families exit homelessness more quickly by covering critical one-time costs that remove barriers to permanent housing.
• The Last Green Valley Inc. — $1,000.00 — to increase equitable access to outdoor education opportunities that foster environmental stewardship among children and families.
• The Salvation Army — $1,500.00 — to support children’s academic readiness and well-being by meeting essential needs that remove barriers to school participation.
• Today’s Youth Tomorrow’s Future Inc. — $2,000.00 — to provide safe, structured youth development programming that promotes leadership, confidence, and violence prevention.
• United Community and Family Services, Inc. — $2,500.00 — to eliminate transportation barriers to healthcare and supportive services for low-income and vulnerable residents.
• United Way of Southeastern Connecticut – Gemma Moran Food Center — $5,000.00 — to expand access to nutritious food for food-insecure households through large-scale distribution and mobile pantries.
• United Way of Southeastern Connecticut – Tommy Toy Program — $8,500.00 — to reduce financial strain on families by providing holiday gifts that support children’s well-being and family stability.
• Waterford Country School — $1,500.00 — to ensure children with behavioral and emotional challenges can access therapeutic summer camp experiences regardless of family income.
• Waterford Public Library — $1,500.00 — to support literacy development and educational equity through inclusive summer reading and youth enrichment programming.
• Yellow Farmhouse Education Center — $1,500.00 — to build workforce readiness and leadership skills through hands-on food systems education and youth internship opportunities.

“We are proud to invest in programs that align directly with the Chamber’s mission to foster a strong regional economy and vibrant communities,” said Megan Gilbert, Foundation Vice Chair and Chamber President. Through this funding, the Foundation advances workforce readiness and long‑term community resiliency by investing in education, career development, and critical support services. These investments remove barriers to opportunity, equip individuals and families with the tools they need, and strengthen the region’s talent pipeline and overall quality of life—positively impacting thousands of residents across eastern Connecticut.”

“This level of funding would not be possible without the steadfast support of the Foundation’s all‑volunteer Holiday Gala Committee as well as our very loyal Sponsors,” said Lou Ziegler, Foundation Chair and Executive Director of the Mohegan Tribal Housing Authority. “Last year’s Ruby Anniversary Gala demonstrated the power of collective investment and community partnership and highlighted the many dedicated organizations working every day to support neighbors and strengthen families across our region.”

To date, the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut Foundation has distributed more than $2.2 million in grants to nonprofit organizations serving communities throughout eastern Connecticut.

The enrollment period for the Foundation’s annual grants cycle opens each winter. To learn more about the Foundation’s leadership, impact, grant opportunities, and scholarships, visit ChamberECT.com/Chamber-Foundation.

About the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut Foundation:
The purpose of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut Foundation is to provide grants to Internal Revenue Service–recognized 501(c)(3) organizations that enhance and enrich education and economic opportunities—especially for children and families—throughout the Chamber’s service area. Community members are encouraged to save the date for the Foundation’s signature fundraising event, the Holiday Gala, returning on December 11, 2026, at Mohegan Sun.