Main Street Community Foundation

Women and Girls' Fund

Women and Girls' Fund of the Main Street Community Foundation

The Women & Girls' Fund
Celebrates 10th Anniversary

The Women & Girls' Fund is celebrating its
10 Anniversary!

We have much to celebrate. Over the past 10 years, the Women & Girls’ Fund has awarded $180,000 in grants and immediate response funds to over 50 organizations benefiting women and girls in our service communities of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth/Terryville, Southington and Wolcott.  This support is made possible through our generous donors, many of whom have been with us since the beginning. We also acknowledge the many board members, volunteers, program grantees and community supporters who share our mission to help women and girls improve the quality of their lives.

A Fundraising Challenge

As we enter our next decade, the Women & Girls’ Fund has big goals. One of our major priorities is to increase our endowment from its current level of $300,000 to $500,000 in order to sustain our grant making in the six communities served. Our Endowment Building Program received a major boost when Women & Girls’ Fund Founding Member Noreen Schumann put forth a fundraising challenge by committing a $25,000 gift in matching funds to challenge others to also donate to the Women & Girls’ Fund endowment by December 31, 2011.

We hope you join the circle of inspiring women and men who are meeting the challenge as a way to lend a hand to women and girls in our community and celebrate our 10th Anniversary!

Our Mission

Make it possible for women and girls to improve the quality of their lives.

The Women & Girls' Fund was created in 2001 as a community based endowment of the Main Street Community Foundation. The Women and Girls' Fund exists because we believe in the potential of women and girls and the power they have to build strong communities. This fund serves females of all ages in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott. We tap into the power of women to strengthen their communities by:

  • Funding programs and organizations that help women and girls obtain the skills they need to lead successful lives. Over $200,000 in program grants has been awarded over the past ten years.
  • Empowering and celebrating women by hosting events such as the annual WOW fundraiser, publishing a newsletter, sponsoring community presentations, and by inviting women to serve on the Women & Girls' Fund board and committees.
  • Increasing public awareness of the needs that exist for women and girls and the opportunities available to help bridge the gap.

Advisory Board Officers

  • Deidre Tavera, Chairperson
  • EJ Conlin, First Vice Chair
  • Catherine Cassin, Second Vice Chair
  • Victoria Hickerson, Treasurer
  • Susan Dantino and Timi Paccioretti, Recording Secretaries
  • Pattie Dunn, Past Chairperson
  • Cathryn Addy, Member-at-Large
  • Jarre Betts, Ex-Officio

Back to Top

History

The idea of the Women and Girls' Fund was brought to the Board of Directors of the Main Street Community Foundation in 2000. With the Main Street Board's approval, the Women and Girls' Fund became a community based endowment, the income from which supports programs that work to improve the conditions and opportunities for females of all ages in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

Since its inception in 2001, the Women and Girls' Fund has provided funding to over 50 organizations. The funds for these grants come from two sources, the proceeds of the annual WOW spring event and an annual distribution from the endowment.

The Advisory Board of the Women & Girls' Fund directs the activities of the fund. The Board sets funding goals and strives to reach more and more women as the fund grows each year.

As part of a new development plan, the Women & Girls’ Fund has initiated an Endowment Building Program to increase our endowment to $500,000. We are currently engaged in a fundraising challenge. Thanks to the generosity of Women & Girls’ Fund Founding Member Noreen Schumann if we raise $25,000 in gifts toward the endowment by December 31, 2011, she will match that amount. Through this challenge, we will increase our endowment by at least $50,000.

The Women & Girls’ Fund Advisory Board has stepped up to the challenge with every board member contributing to the endowment. We are now reaching out to the larger community to help us fulfill this wonderful challenge.

We thank all current and future supporters of the Women & Girls' Fund who are investing in our community by providing funding to a variety of organizations that address the vital needs of women and girls of all ages... now and in the future.

Back to Top

Grant Distribution

Since 2001, the Women & Girls' fund has awarded over $200,000 in program grants to organizations in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

The 2011 annual grant cycle for the Women and Girls' Fund is complete. You may contact us to discuss applications for 2012. Applications will be available online in mid-July 2012.

Click here to see the 2011 program grants

Back to Top

Committees

The Women & Girls' Fund Advisory Board cordially invites you to join one of our committees. We ask that you bring your ideas, talents, community spirit, and your dedication to assisting women and girls to obtain their goals! We welcome your valuable time and expertise in any of these committees:

  • Bylaws
  • Community Outreach and Development
  • Distribution
  • Endowment Development
  • Events
  • Finance
  • Publicity & Marketing
  • Board Development

Please consider attending a meeting of any committee or speak with its chairperson or members to gather more information. To make a connection, please contact the Main Street Community Foundation, 860.583.6363, or send an email to . We'll make sure you get the contact information you need, and the welcome you deserve!

Back to Top

Events

SAVE THE DATE!
Mark your calendars for the 2012 WOW event scheduled for Monday, April 23, 2012, at The Aqua Turf Club in Southington. Our guest speaker this year is nationally celebrated radio and television journalist Faith Middleton. Faith Middleton is perhaps best known for her shows on NPR including The Food Schmooze and Politics, Burgers and Beer. She has been named Best Talk Show Host by the editors and readers of Connecticut magazine for eleven consecutive years. Faith Middleton’s television work includes two local, highly-rated series on Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) as well as a series carried by PBS stations nationwide.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Click here for the sponsorship package. For more information, or if you are interested in donating an item for the silent auction, contact Samantha Rajotte at 860.583.6363 or samantha@mainstreetfoundation.org.

More details to follow!


Jeans, Jazz and Jam- A Night of Music and Celebration
The Honorable Barbara Hackman Franklin, who served as U.S. secretary of commerce under President George H.W. Bush, was the Honorary Chair of the Jeans, Jazz & Jam event celebrating the Women and Girls’ Fund 10th anniversary on September 17, 2011. At the beginning of the event, Barbara was joined onstage by her stepson, Thomas Barnes, and her granddaughter, Lilly Barnes, who had a surprise – the start of a new fund named for her - The Barbara Hackman Franklin Fund for Women.

The new fund, along with the John & Gloria DiFrancesco Fund for Women and Girls, which was also created to honor the 10th anniversary of the Women and Girls’ Fund, will provide additional funds to the Women and Girls’ Fund for their annual grantmaking.

The special presentation to Franklin was only one part of the celebration, though, which was hosted at the Lake Compounce Ballroom. Latanya Farrell & the Bookman Style Band provided the live entertainment to over 250 attendees who talked, ate and danced late into the evening.

The Women and Girls' Fund gives out at least $20,000 in grants every year to nonprofit organizations that help women and girls. Sometimes a small grant, as Franklin said, can really make a difference to an individual or organization, giving women and girls confidence and inspiration as well as the tools needed to succeed.



A Big Thank You to Our 10th Anniversary Sponsors!

Leadership Sponsor
Barnes Group, Inc.

Presenting Sponsors
Aetna Inc.
Comcast
KPMG LLP

Diamond Sponsor
Thomaston Savings Bank

Platinum Sponsor
New England Bank

Gold Sponsors
Anonymous
The Carpenter Family
The DePaolo Family Foundation, Inc.
Farmington Bank
First Niagara Private Client Services
The Hartford’s Employee Giving Council-Personal Lines-Southington/Simsbury
Murtha Cullina LLP
The Petit Family Foundation Inc.
Radcliff Wire, Inc.
Walmart – Bristol
Walmart – Southington
Walmart - Waterbury
Webster Bank

Silver Sponsors
Dr. Victoria Rose Biondi & Associates
CCOG Women’s Health Group
The Decadents
Dr. Sue Moreau
Janis L. Neri, CPA/PFS
The Orchards at Southington, Inc.
Shannon’s Diamonds and Fine Jewelry, Inc.
The Ultimate Companies, Inc.
US Trust Bank of America Private Wealth Management

Patrons
First Bristol Federal Credit Union
Green Acres Farm
Debra Javit
R. Tracy Page & John S. Schnabel, Sagemark Consulting
Roland Dumont Agency, Inc.
Cheryl Dumont-Smith
Tracy-Driscoll & Company, Inc.
White Insulation, Inc.
Yarde Metals

Special Sponsors
Entertainment Sponsor – Thomaston Savings Bank
Centerpiece Sponsor – Jeanine Audette
Martini Glasses – John and Susan Scarritt

 

WOW 2011 - a 10th Anniversary Celebration!

The Women & Girls' Fund held its 10th Annual Wonder of Women event on April 13, 2011 with acclaimed speaker, author and UCONN professor of English and Feminist Theory, Dr. Gina Barreca, as the featured guest. The evening was particularly special as the Women & Girls’ Fund celebrated its 10th Anniversary.  With balloons filling the air and over 400 people in attendance, the night was both festive and fun.  Gina Barreca, who was the featured speaker at the first WOW event 10 years ago returned with her hilarious and spirited commentary on women and men.

To cap off a wonderful anniversary party, in a surprise announcement via Skype from her Florida home, Women & Girls’ Fund Founding Member Noreen Schumann announced a fundraising challenge in support of the Women & Girls’ Fund endowment. Ms. Schumann committed a $25,000 gift in matching funds to challenge others to also donate to the Women & Girls’ Fund endowment by December 31, 2011.

With thanks to all the participants, sponsors and supporters, the WOW event raised over $20,000 for the Women & Girls' Fund annual grant program.

 

Back to Top

Contributing to the Women & Girls' Fund

To make a donation directly to the Women & Girls' Fund, please click the link below.
To contribute to any other funds, please visit our Donate now page.

Click the Donate Now button below to make your contribution.
To make this gift in honor or memory of someone fill out the optional fields below.

Gift Type:
Name:

Back to Top

The Women & Girls' Fund Program Grants

Since 2001, The Women & Girls' Fund has awarded over $180,000 in program grants to organizations in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott. In 2011 grants were awarded to the following organizations:

Southington Youth Services - $2,400
To support the Success Café program for middle school girls in Southington                                                            
Bristol Family Resource Center - $4,000
To support the professional development of women providing Licensed Home Based Child Care

Klingberg Family Centers - $1,100
To support an eleven week prevention education program for adolescent girls residing in a group home in Terryville

Terryville High School/School To Career - $1,900
To support a series of educational programs for women aged 16+ to develop the skills and access the tools necessary to gain employment

Living in Safe Alternatives (LISA) - $3,000
To provide parent education for clients with children

YWCA of New Britain - $2,233
To support a women empowerment group at Plainville High School

Women & Girls’ Immediate Response Fund - $5,367   
To support basic needs and opportunities of females in the six towns served by the Main Street Community Foundation

Back to Top