Circa 1995 Grant Finalists

You Be the Grantmaker

In celebration of the 30th anniversary, all attendees at The Main Event 30th Anniversary Celebration – Meet Us On Main Street on September 13, 2025 will participate in the selection of the recipients of ten Circa 1995 Grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000!

A total of $30,000 will be awarded from the Bristol Savings Bank Fund to celebrate the Foundation’s 30th anniversary. Ten local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations were selected from an applicant pool and challenged with providing a vision for how their organization will make a difference in the next 30 years.

You can now read the responses that each finalist submitted below to prepare for your vote the evening of the event. Each event attendee will cast one vote to determine who receives each grant including the top grant award of $10,000. Be sure to join us on September 13th to be an honorary grantmaker!

The finalists are:

Our organization will make a difference in the next 30 years because we will...

The American Clock & Watch Museum (ACWM) will make a difference in the next 30 years because we will broaden the scope of our collections and programming to be more inclusive and representative of our community.

In 2055, the museum will have just celebrated its 100th anniversary. In that time, it will have evolved beyond its role as a repository of historical artifacts and embrace a broader vision – one that uses the collections and the stories they tell as a bridge to connect with diverse audiences. While the museum will uphold its founding mission – to “maintain…a museum…of clocks, watches and other timepieces of scientific or historical interest,” it will also present a more inclusive narrative by collecting and interpreting contemporary examples of clock and watchmaking, as well as artifacts that tell stories of immigration, innovation, and the contributions of historically marginalized communities. Our goal is for everyone who engages with the museum to feel a sense of belonging and representation.

This broader interpretation will strengthen community awareness of the museum and increase engagements beyond our current 4,000 annual visitors. The ACWM will use technology to reach audiences outside of our local area, and will collaborate with organizations, historians, horologists, and educators to create exhibits and programs that reflect the diversity and richness of our community.

The ACWM will make a positive difference by instilling a sense of community, identity, and the understanding of the cultural impact that the clock and watch industries continue to have on our lives.

Our organization will make a difference in the next 30 years because we will...

The Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut will make a difference over the next 30 years because we will expand our legacy of 85 years of impactful environmental education, conservation, and community engagement - reaching and inspiring over 20,000 people annually.

Today’s environmental challenges demand sustained action. Many children grow up without the natural world. We continue to change that story. Here, children form bonds with nature; soaking in the fresh air from kayaking on the lake, caring for our beloved raptors, amphibians, and reptiles at the nature center, and discovering incredible species they’ve never seen before.
ELCCT addresses these challenges through immersive programs that reach thousands of children, families, and underserved populations each year. Our new accessible trail, summer camp, and public events provide opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to engage with nature. We combine education and conservation to help visitors understand the importance of protecting ecosystems.

In the next three decades, ELCCT will deepen its impact by expanding outreach to underserved communities, improving accessibility to nature, and creating new pathways for youth to develop a conservation ethic. We envision a future where today's children become scientists, educators, and advocates for the health of our planet.

By inspiring the appreciation and enjoyment of nature, the Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut will ensure that the natural heritage and quality of life of our community will thrive for generations to come. With your support, we will continue to inspire our neighbors to care for the land we love.

Our organization will make a difference in the next 30 years because we will...

The Memorial Military Museum will make a difference in the next 30 years because we will… have preserved hundred of artifacts and military stories for future generations, produced programs to connect the past to the future.

For the Memorial Military Museum, this connection is especially powerful. By preserving veterans’ stories, we are not just honoring history—we are helping future generations understand the values of service, resilience, and community responsibility. When younger people engage with these narratives, they see how the actions of the past influence the freedoms they enjoy today.

This continuity also keeps traditions alive and fosters civic pride. It reminds residents that their town isn’t just a place—it’s a legacy built by those who came before them. Strengthening this bridge between history and the future encourages a deeper commitment to preserving, learning from, and carrying forward those ideals so the voices and stories of people like Civil War POW Henry Page who survived brutality and still managed to hide the captured Confederate flag that he brought back to Bristol and is now at the museum; the tragedy of the Bristol men killed at Seicheprey in WWI; or Brigadier General Edward Wozenski, a WWII decorated hero at age 26; to stories of WWII veterans Joe Caminiti and Dick Fitz; the Viet Nam experiences of Kit Critchley and Art Ward; or the newly discovered stories of Bristol’s female veterans like Michelina Masterbone Otto. These actions strengthen a community’s identity and sense of purpose. It ensures that the lessons, sacrifices, and achievements of previous generations aren’t just remembered but actively shape how people move forward.

Our organization will make a difference in the next 30 years because we will...

First of all, congrats to Main Street
30 years of doing good isn’t an easy feat!
We’re proud to know you, and hope it shows
As PARC partners with you as it still grows

You asked us about our next 30 years
We’re working toward smiles, never toward fears
For our population of disabled friends,
As you know, the work never ends

To advocate for one’s own rights
Is something for which PARC fiercely fights
Our future vision looks something like this -
Communities where stigma has gone into the abyss

To help our members feel confident and strong
A plan is in place to help them belong
Educational pieces, marketing, and publicity will abound
To showcase the joy and value for which our members are renowned

PARC currently serves 55 folks of the special needs group
And they sadly, on occasion, find that their spirits will droop
An open house! Articles and workshops!
We’re going to share with the world that our friends are the tops!

The need is great, impact will be immense
Acceptance of this population, simply common sense
Through visits and meetings with members of our towns
Citizens will understand people with autism and Down’s

We’re asking for financial support
So the future can be bright, and bias we can thwart
With funding from our Main Street friends,
We’ll ensure our members are viewed with a brand new lens.

Our organization will make a difference in the next 30 years because we will...

Do the things that the government won’t or can’t do. We will become the Plymouth Community RESOURCE CENTER, reaching out to the 40% of the households in our town, a quarter of them living in poverty and the others earning wages far less than the cost of living, inviting them to our upstairs community room. While our Food Pantry operates downstairs, the Resource Center, upstairs, will offer an assortment of activities meeting the needs of every demographic. Seniors will have days when professionals visit to treat health, grooming, and finances issues. They will socialize, eat lunch, and plan day trips. Adults will visit in the evening to learn parenting skills, how to eat and cook healthily, job and interview skills, financial skills and much more to solidify their household and lift themselves to a new station in life. Children will visit after school, maybe focusing on schoolwork or joining youth groups that will confront the frustrations of food insecurity and poverty. Lastly, the issue of transportation must be addressed. Unless you have access to a car, it is nearly impossible to get around town.

The Food Pantry held an Open House in April of 2024 and invited Roland Anderson, age 95, one of the 1995 co-founders of the Pantry. He and his wife began the Pantry in a garage. He couldn’t believe the seeds they planted grew into this vibrant organization. I hope in 2050, I am the 95-year-old man who, like Roland, is overjoyed with the Plymouth Community Resource Center.

Our organization will make a difference in the next 30 years because we will...

Shepard Meadows Equestrian Center, Inc. is never idle—we are continually evolving to make a difference in the world, one person at a time. Through creative, non-traditional and experiential equine-assisted activities, we empower individuals, families, and communities with transformative experiences.

We envision a future where connection, challenge, and self-actualization take center stage—where individuals of all ages discover mindfulness and joy through the healing presence of horses. As leaders in the equine-assisted services industry, we remain at the forefront of innovation, research, and creativity—ensuring our programs reflect the ever-evolving science of the horse-human bond.

At Shepard Meadows, we embrace the uniqueness of every individual. Time spent in nature and on the farm with our therapy horses (and goats!) delivers meaningful benefits—physically, socially, and emotionally. Our commitment is unwavering: we evolve with the needs of our community and BELIEVE in the profound wisdom horses offer to those who truly listen.

Horses have been a part of human evolution for over fifty million years. Their presence in our lives—from work and sport to companionship and therapy proves their enduring impact.

We are a gem of a resource, proudly located on a hilltop overlooking Bristol, with a top-notch facility, dedicated staff, volunteers, and extraordinary herd. Thirty years from now, we will celebrate half a century of service. The headline in the national paper will proclaim: "Nonprofit horse farm transforms thousands of lives, proving that the power of the horse extends far beyond the arena.”


Our organization will make a difference in the next 30 years because we will...

At Southington Community Cultural Arts (SoCCA), we envision a future where creativity is the heartbeat of our community – the very essence of our connectivity to the global neighborhood. Over the next three decades, we'll continue to cultivate a vibrant, inclusive space where individuals of all ages and abilities are inspired to explore their artistic passions and beyond. Whether it's painting under the open sky or molding clay in our studios, we believe in the transformative power of art to alleviate stress and forge joyful memories.

Our commitment extends beyond our walls. Through collaborations with the Southington Public Library, Bread for Life, the Barnes Museum, and other neighborhood partners, we will be stewards of enrichment for the region with a continual eye to broadening our reach. Our mobile art initiative, ArtVanGo, brings creative experiences directly to neighboring communities, ensuring that artistic expression is accessible to all.

The ongoing lifeline of our mission is the belief that every individual possesses boundless potential. It’s the shared experiences that will connect us – regardless and because of our diverse backgrounds – and bring about mutual respect and a rightful sense of belonging. Moreover, the stories and experiences of those we touch will inspire our staff and board, guiding us to programming that captures the community's evolving needs.

Together, we will go beyond the creation of art in the next 30 years. Our legacy will be the tapestry we weave of shared experiences, dreams, and aspirations.

Our organization will make a difference in the next 30 years because we will...

Our organization envisions transforming how we support our community’s most vulnerable by fostering not only immediate relief but lasting connection and empowerment.

At the heart of our mission is community. We are committed to creating a welcoming space where every guest feels recognized, valued, and supported. Through our shared meals, social gatherings, practical provisions, resource center, and skill-building workshops, these programs aim to cultivate a caring community where dignity is honored, hope is renewed, and friendships flourish.

By investing in relational and personal growth, we empower individuals to regain stability and confidence, fostering a journey of restoration and healing.

Our vision is clear: a community united in compassion and empowerment; a home where everyone belongs, thrives, and progresses together. We would love to expand by funding off-hour gatherings, providing food and various events with speakers on relevant topics of interest and helpful to those we serve, giving them an opportunity to learn, socialize and nurture relationships that break isolation and rejection.

Our desire is to unite related services, engaging with community members, social workers, medical professionals, education and employment opportunities, along with our homeless guests by hosting semi-annual events, creating a unique gathering of collaboration and holistic approach. Whenever hearts and hands come together across every walk of life, hope becomes tangible and achievable.

This is not just events – it is a reflection of the kind of community we strive to be. Impacting not only the 70-100 people currently being served daily, but also countless community members as well.


Our organization will make a difference in the next 30 years because we will...

Our organization will make a difference in the next 30 years because of our dual purpose that addresses the great needs of our community: One being the need to raise-up the next generation, into volunteerism and the second, giving families and individuals in need, a hope of a new beginning.

It blesses our heart to fulfill both sides of why Thy Eagle's Nest exists. We are being summoned to teach the youth to soar where they have never been before, like an eagle. Overcoming all obstacles. We encourage our young volunteers to lead and make decisions that pertain to fundraising, marketing and working with the clients during scheduled appointments. Our goal is to imprint our youth's heart with the gift of serving others.

On the other side of our objective, the clients who have been referred to us through collaborative alliances have doubled. We are now serving over 2400 clients per year. We have been building homes with free items such as furniture, household items and clothing for 13 years. We have recently introduced personal development classes to our services. This extension focuses on making an impact on the lives of our clients. Throughout the years, we have learned that those who need physical items also have a need to further develop their personal lives. At the "Nest" we use material items as a steppingstone to help build lasting relationships. We focus on building trust and confidence in their new beginning. We are making a difference, one person as a time.


Our organization will make a difference in the next 30 years because we will...

Our organization will make a difference in the next 30 years because we will continue to fill the systematic gaps in the veteran support systems. The United States has been at war since August 2, 1990. That’s 35 years of service members who will be looking for VA support in the not so distant future. Our current infrastructure cannot meet the needs of these brave men and women. Veterans Strong Community Center (VSCC) will be here ready to help them through whatever life throws at them. While this group makes up less than 1% of the populations of the United States, they ensure the other 99% are able to live in freedom. It is our duty to ensure they have the resources and support necessary to navigate civilian life. VSCC will do that through expansion of our programs to include opportunities for veterans to find their focus and purpose after service and enhancing sleep quality to improve mental health. We will offer targeted workshops led by industry leaders who understand the mindset of veterans and have made the successful transition to civilian life. These workshops will be dictated by the ever-changing needs of our clients. Improving the lives of veterans also improves the lives of those around them. By 2055, VSCC will have impacted the lives of over 10,000 veterans in the greater Bristol area alone. At VSCC we’ve got your 6.