Eastern CT – The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT Foundation recently awarded 51 grants to support programs that address education, economic development, food insecurity, and essential needs throughout the regions of New London and Windham counties.
The mission of the Foundation, a 501(c)3 overseen by a volunteer board with support from the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT, is to enhance and enrich education and economic opportunities, especially for children and families, in the Chamber’s service area. The Foundation provides local nonprofits with crucial resources, including funds for pilot programs, research, and program expansion, that improve the region’s overall quality of life.
Louis Ziegler, Chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT Foundation’s Board of Directors, helps facilitate the annual Holiday Gala which is the premier fundraising event that sustains the grant distribution to community organizations.
“I’d like to extend a thank you to all our sponsors, donors and volunteers who helped to make the Holiday Gala the success that it is. This is our largest year yet for submitted applications and a record number of awarded funds.” said Ziegler. “The need for accessible grants is high and we are proud to distribute grant funding to 51 regional non-profit organizations, which will in turn impact thousands of our neighbors in need.”
The check distribution ceremony and photo opportunity took place at 10 a.m. April 16 at the Chamber’s Regional Innovation Center in New London.
Since 2002, the Chamber Foundation has donated over $1.5 million to numerous local organizations that primarily serve the needs of children and families. The Foundation’s goal is to support projects and programs that enhance and enrich education and economic opportunities, especially for children and families, in the Chamber’s service area in Connecticut.
The 2024 Chamber Foundation grant recipients, awards, and projects are listed below:
- Always Home, $1,500, to help low-income families resolve their immediate housing crisis and regain housing stability, thereby avoiding eviction, homelessness, or time in emergency shelter.
- Catholic Charities, Diocese of Norwich, Inc., $1,500, to assist individuals and families experiencing a situational or environmental crisis, to meet their immediate basic needs.
- Child and Family Agency of Southeastern CT, $2,100, to update and enhance lighting and security at the agency’s Vauxhall Street facility.
- Connecticut College, $1,000, to fund the clinical and literacy support services for the Child Development Lab School’s Kindergarten Readiness Family Initiative.
- Covenant Shelter of New London Inc., $3,500 to replace existing damaged flooring in the 6 family units at the shelter for the safety and comfort of guests experiencing homelessness.
- Cultural Coalition, $2,500, to support the Funding Booster program, which provides free monthly drop-in grant clinics, workshops, consulting, online resources, peer-to-peer resource sharing, and technical support.
- EASTCONN Transition Academy, $2,512, to create a wellness room to promote physical and mental health for students with disabilities aged 18-22 by providing fitness equipment and adapted programming.
- Eastern Connecticut Ballet, $1,000, to support "All About Ballet: Presenting the Nutcracker to Schoolchildren in our Community” where elementary and middle school students from New London and Middlesex counties will be able to enjoy the live performance.
- Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, $1,500, to continue offering the "Link Up" program from Carnegie Hall, which provides the unique experiential opportunity for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders in the region to attend a live symphonic concert.
- Elevate to Even Plus Incorporated, $1,500, to support programming for interns, including a networking dinner with business leaders, as well as professional headshots to help them convey an impressive personal brand.
- FRESH New London, $2,500, to continue engaging young people in their mission to build a just and local food system in New London
- Girls on the Run of Southeastern CT, $1,000, to update the Girls on the Run program content, including a new curriculum for 2024-2025 with enhanced programming for 3rd-5th grade participants.
- Goodspeed Opera House Foundation, Inc., $1,000, to provide partial underwriting for Arts Education Collaboration (AEC) activities at Goodspeed Musicals for more than 300 New London and Windham youth.
- Groton Community Meals, $2,500, to help pay costs for the chef who prepares all the meals, and for the food, supplies and materials needed to serve the weekly meals from the dinner sites and the mobile food trailer.
- Habitat for Humanity of Eastern CT, $2,000, to purchase Automated External Defibrillators (AED) to support and protect staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to fulfill the mission.
- High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc., $1,500, to support the One Health Initiative programs that highlight the interconnectivity between humans, animals, and the environment through its Equine-Assisted Services (EAS).
- Higher Edge, $2,000, for essential programming and certain administrative costs, such as website development and design and marketing materials.
- Horizon’s Inc., $1,500, to bring the Boating Program back to Camp Horizons in the summer of 2024.
- Interfaith Human Services of Putnam, $1,500, to fund families/working parents so they can send their school age children to the Putnam Recreation After-School and Summer Camp Programs
- Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut, $1,000, to support Dignity Grows, which provides menstrual and hygiene supplies for everybody that needs them and prevents disruption to their school or work attendance.
- Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, Inc., $2,500, to provide dynamic work readiness and financial literacy programming led by community volunteers for 225 students in New London and Windham Counties during 2024
- Madonna Place, Inc., $2,500, to support four critical programs: Family Support Center, Fatherhood Initiative, Community Outreach Plus Education, and Great Beginnings Home Visiting.
- Montessori Discovery School, $2,000, to help enrich outdoor exploration and nature-focused curriculum rooted in Montessori education principles.
- New England Science & Sailing Foundation, $3,500, to engage the youth and families of Eastern CT through its Partner Programs. These programs focus on STEM-based ocean experiential learning that takes place in the classroom and on the water.
- New London Area Food Pantry, Inc., $1,500, to for the ongoing operations of the New London Area Food Pantry.
- New London Homeless Hospitality Center, $2,500, to fund the developing employment program needs of very low-income individuals especially those who have experienced homelessness.
- New London Youth Affairs, $1,500, to address the gap concerning family access to diapers, and connect families to early childhood basic needs support items.
- Norwich Public Schools Education Foundation Inc., $1,500, to utilize Academic Intervention Materials to supplement the NPS general educational curriculum with the goal of closing learning gaps and improving academic achievement.
- Norwich Rotary Foundation, $1,000, for the Rotary Coat Fund, which provides warm winter coats to children from low-income families in the greater Norwich area
- Our Piece of the Pie, Inc., $1,500, to provide outings to cultural, social, historical, educational and team-building activities for youth participating in OPP’s Eastern CT Youth Center in Franklin, CT.
- Pro Bono Partnership, $1,000, to provide complimentary legal services and education programs to nonprofits throughout eastern Connecticut.
- Project Oceanology, $2,500, to offer summer camp scholarships to children from families experiencing financial hardship, including children from vulnerable/underserved communities.
- Public Library of New London, $2,500, to start a “Library of Things,” a collection of non-traditional materials including gadgets, games, tools, electronics, and more available for use with a library card, to increase awareness, education, and reduce consumer waste.
- S.T.E.P.S., Inc., $1,500, to support S.T.E.P.S. programming for middle and high school girls ages 10 through 18 years in the towns of eastern CT.
- Safe Futures, Inc., $3,500, funding for Camp HOPE America-Safe Futures and Pathways Mentoring Program 2024.
- SARAH Inc., $1,160, to purchase Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) applications for iPads used by families served to bridge the communication gap between parents/caregivers and their birth-to-three child with delays.
- Southeastern CT Robotics, Inc., $1,000, to support the financial assistance program and directly contributing to scholarships, reduced program fees, overhead, project costs, and stipends.
- Spark Makerspace, $1,500, for the creation of the SparkStart Lab initiative and youth and beginner-friendly Fabrication Lab at Spark Makerspace.
- Stonington Community Center, $1,500, to expand programs to reach more girls, and help pay for qualified coaches who act as mentors, as well as the necessary equipment to participate.
- Stonington Free Library, $1,000, to update the collection of toys, puzzles, and playsets that will engage and entertain our youngest patrons.
- Thames River Community Service, Inc., $1,500, to support programs focused on providing safe housing and support services to individuals and families aged 18-24 experiencing homelessness in Southeastern Connecticut.
- The Haitian Community Center of Greater Norwich, Inc., $2,000, to provide ESL education to Haitian American immigrants from New London County.
- The Last Green Valley, Inc., $2,300, to create opportunities for children and their families to experience and learn about the wonders of the night sky, and to understand how darkness benefits both people and wildlife.
- The Riverfront Children’s Center, Inc., $2,000, to purchase high-quality storage units for strollers, toys, and classroom materials.
- The Samaritan House Inc., $2,500, to add additional Health & Wellness programming within the youth mentor program.
- The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries Inc., $1,000, to purchase food for distribution through the pantry, at area food banks or through wholesale vendors.
- Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group, Inc., $1,500, to support the "Got Drama" program. This program is designed to work with youth who have experienced significant emotional, physical, or sexual trauma.
- Tommy Toy Found, $10,000, to purchase toys, books, bikes, and other items that will be distributed to families in need in December 2024.
- United Community and Family Services, $7,500, to help with renovation and flood damage remediation costs so vital regional safety net services can resume as quickly as possible.
- United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, $5,000, to purchase fresh produce, meats, and dairy products not in inventory, needed to serve the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center's 72 feeding programs.
- Yellow Farmhouse Education Center, $1,500, to fund staff and supplies to develop and implement a program with Ocean Avenue LEARNing Academy students in Summer and Fall 2024.
About the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut Foundation
Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut Foundation, a business community-based 501(c)(3) foundation affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, is dedicated to promoting initiatives that enhance and enrich education and economic opportunities for children and families in the Chamber service area. ChamberECT.com/foundation
About the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, Inc.
The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut is a collaborative of business and community leaders dedicated to securing and enhancing the economic vitality of eastern Connecticut. The Chamber works to create value for its members and the region by providing forums for business networking, leadership and discussions of issues that affect the region; providing opportunities for members to showcase their products, services and accomplishments; helping small businesses succeed through educational programs; and working to reduce the costs of doing business in Connecticut. For more information, visit www.ChamberECT.com.
