Chamber Foundation Announces 27 Grant Recipients for 2015

Chamber Foundation Provides $88,674 to 27 Nonprofits to Benefit
Thousands of Children and Families in Region

Waterford, CT — The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut Foundation today announced the distribution of $88,674 to 27 eastern Connecticut nonprofits that will improve the quality of life for thousands of children in eastern Connecticut.
 
The Foundation raised funds throughout 2014 with fundraisers including the Annual Bowl-a-Thon at Foxwoods in April and the Annual Holiday Gala held at Mohegan Sun in December.
 
“I would once again like to thank the community for its continued support of the Foundation’s Holiday Gala,” said Lou Ziegler, chairman of the Foundation’s board. “Once again you have come through in a time of need showing your generosity for those less fortunate.  A special thanks goes to the Mohegan Tribe and Mohegan Sun, not only for providing a venue that is second to none, but for going above and beyond in your efforts to make sure this event is successful." 
 
“Thank you to all of our Sponsors, Committee Members, Volunteers, Foundation Board members and staff of the Chamber.  Putting this event together is a team effort, and everyone mentioned plays a critical role in our success,” said Ziegler.
 
Since 2002, the Chamber Foundation has donated more than $1 million to numerous local organizations that serve the needs of children. The Foundation’s goal is to support projects and programs that enhance and enrich education and economic opportunities in the Chamber’s service area. 
 
This year recipients will be able to provide children and families with warm clothes for winter, toys and books for Christmas, summer camp experiences, help going to college, violin lessons, and car safety seats, among many other benefits. The full list of recipients is below.
 
The 2015 Chamber Foundation grant recipients are:

• New London Community Orchestra: $1,000 to fund a summer program providing free violin lessons in conjunction with the New London Magnet Schools.
• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Norwich: $1,500 to purchase diapers and formula for children of low-income families.
• Mystic Aquarium: $1,500 to fund the City Meets the Sea program which instills a sense of respect for natural resources for students in elementary schools in New London and Norwich.
• Norwich Community Backpack Program: $1,500 to provide backpacks and school supplies to children of low-income families.
• Norwich Human Services: $1,500 to provide uniforms for children of low-income families that cannot afford to provide them.
• The Arc New London County: $1,500 to purchase iPads to use with young adults in the School to Work Transition Program.
• Covenant Shelter of New London: $2,000 to provide support for an after-school tutoring and mentoring program and a summer program for children at Covenant Shelter of New London, as well as those who have moved into housing.
• The Riverfront Children’s Center: $2,000 to replace broken, worn-out, and unsafe heating baseboard fixtures in the Polliwogs and Turtles preschool classrooms.
• Care Net Pregnancy Resource Center: $2,500 to support the Center’s crisis pregnancy program, which provides medical and material support for women and teens experiencing an unplanned pregnancy.
• Center for Hospice Care of Southeastern Connecticut: $2,500 to support their expressive arts program for children and teens grieving the loss of a loved one, helping them to manage emotions and learn coping skills.
• New England Science & Sailing Foundation: $2,500 to provide a STEM education program at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School in New London.
• Public Library of New London: $2,500 to create a pilot project to encourage every preschool child in New London to experience one thousand books before starting school.
• Mayflower Montessori School: $2,871 to install a CCTV door monitor system on the main door of their facility with lock releases in the administrative offices, preschool, and infant classrooms.
• Madonna Place: $3,000 to fund a program that helps at-risk children succeed in school through home visiting services and creating action plans.
• TVCCA (Thames Valley Council for Community Action): $3,000 to support the 20th Annual Santa Anonymous Winter Boot Projects, which would allow 100 pairs of boots to be distributed in Dec. 2015 to low-income children and families in New London County.
• High Hopes Therapeutic Riding: $3,000 to increase recreational and therapeutic opportunities available to individuals with disabilities in CT during summer 2015.
• Higher Edge: $3,100 to continue the College Access Program and mentor low-income and first-generation college-bound students.
• Read to Ride: $3,200 to encourage reading in schools in Norwich and Montville by providing the incentive of winning a new bike, helmet, and lock for grades K-3 or a $100 Dick’s Sporting Goods gift card for grades 4-5.
• Thames River Family Program: $4,000 to cover the costs of tuition, transportation, and clothing for 15 Thames River Family Program children whose mothers cannot afford to send them to camps this summer.
• Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut: $4,300 to purchase and install 60 car seats for low-income families as a part of the Safe Kids New London Coalition.
• Safe Futures: $4,703 to purchase a new wooden playscape and rubberized mulch for the Genesis House Emergency Shelter playground area.
• Waterford Country School: $5,000 to be used for their adoption program for eastern CT.
• United Community and Family Services: $5,000 to fund the addition of Case Coordination to the Autism Spectrum Disorder Center.
• St. Vincent de Paul Place, Norwich: $5,000 to provide peanut butter and cereal to children whose families participate in the St. Vincent de Paul Place food pantry.
• Mystic Area Shelter and Hospitality: $5,000 to support their direct services for families with children at imminent risk of homelessness in New London County through their Homelessness Prevention Program.
• Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board: $5,000 to fund their Summer Youth Employment Program, which prepares students to enter a career pathway model into Advanced Manufacturing.
• Tommy Toy Fund: $10,000 to purchase toys, books, and gloves for approximately 5,000 children in eastern CT for the 2015 holidays.