The Main Street Community Foundation Memorial Fund accepts memorial donations not otherwise included in or eligible to be a separate named fund. This fund provides a permanent source of funding for charitable projects and programs which will enhance the quality of life for citizens of the service area of the Foundation.
FUNDS
Set up by the Main Street Community Foundation Board of Directors in 1997 as a combined scholarship fund to accept gifts from donors interested in pooling their money for scholarship purposes. The first gift to this fund came from the estate of Lucrezia Lena.
This fund was established in 2009 to provide grants for special and creative initiatives that cannot be funded on a meaningful scale through the regular school budget. This permanently endowed fund will be built by gifts and donations of many individuals, families, businesses and the community-at-large to create a new resource for enhancing the education of students who attend schools in Burlington and Harwinton.
A bequest received in 2005 from the estate of Harold L. Malerbo provides the opportunity to award funds to non-profit youth sports organizations in Bristol and Burlington for field improvements or field maintenance equipment.
Established in 2005 through a bequest from the estate of Harold L. Malerbo, this fund provides scholarships for Bristol students attending St. Paul Catholic High School in Bristol.
Established in 2015 in memory of Sandra Caggiano, a former Bristol school teacher, who passed away on April 20, 2010 after a courageous battle with cancer. This fund will provide an annual grant to the Family Resource Center at South Side School located in Bristol, CT to support children and families serviced in the program.
The fund was established by the Manning/Sisson families to honor the memory of Mary M. Sisson along with her parents, Dennis and Anna May Manning. Grants will be made to charitable organizations for general charitable purposes at the recommendation of the donors, with preference for programs that foster the sport of swimming through team competition and skill-building at the municipal recreational level for the City of Bristol or the Town of Plainville, and/or support of swim team programs at the collegiate level.
Originally established with bequests from the estates of Colonel Frederick Manross, Robert Manross and Arthur Manross, these funds were transferred to the Foundation by the City of Bristol Library Board in 2014 to administer in perpetuity. Annual distributions will support operating, capital expenditures and the purchase of children’s and nature books at the F.N. Manross Memorial Library in Forestville as a supplement to the annual appropriations from the City of Bristol.
In memory of Margaret Haberman, this fund was established in 2010 to support programs and organizations for the promotion and appreciation of music in the communities of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.
This fund was established in 2018 by Paul Maskery to honor his family and give back to the students of Farmington and Plainville. Paul, who grew up in Plainville, was a long time teacher, coach and Athletic Director at Farmington High School. This scholarship will be awarded to a graduating high school senior of either Farmington High School or Plainville High school who is pursuing post secondary education at a technical/vocational school, two-year or four-year college or university.
This fund was established in late 2006 with a charitable rollover gift from Ruth Rabin and children Shaye and Paul in recognition of Max Rabin’s contributions to the Bristol Business Community. The fund will provide tuition assistance for Bristol students majoring in business administration.
This fund was transferred to the Community Foundation in 1999. It was established by the late Blanche McMaster to honor her and her mother's, Ella Moulthrop, love of children. The fund provides assistance for graduates of Bristol Central High School who are pursuing post-secondary education.
This fund was established in 2016 by a group of committed community leaders to make it possible for men and boys to improve the quality of their lives and make a positive difference in their communities. This Fund will encourage and provide support for programs, projects and organizations that serve men and boys in various areas, such as self-confidence, coping skills, conflict resolution, education and mentoring.
For more information on the Men & Boys' Fund, visit their webpage.
In 2017, the Men & Boys’ Fund Advisory Board established this fund to offer immediate assistance to men and boys in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott. Small grants are awarded to help individuals who may be in need due to a particular life situation or unexpected financial hardship. Preference is given to needs for economic security, increased self-sufficiency, health and safety and opportunities for inclusion.
This fund was established by the Merriman family in 2000 as a field of interest fund to promote environmental and ecological preservation, conservation, education, research and advocacy.
The Foundation’s community leadership efforts, also known as “Money in Motion”, address a broad range of community goals. We identify opportunities within the community to support meaningful dialogue on issues affecting the towns we serve. We convene community members, assess changing needs, and propose action on critical concerns. In this way, the Foundation is able to develop collaborative solutions to meet emerging needs and provide support to what matters most to the people who live and work in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.
Established in 2007 from the estate of Jeanne Muncy and donations from family members and friends, this fund supports program expansion and other needs of the Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut, Inc. (ELCCT).
This fund was established by the family of Myra Boccardi Desroches to honor her passion for children and literacy. The focus of the Myra Boccardi Desroches Advancing Young Minds Fund is formed to support Myra’s career-long passion for kids, literacy and helping our youth reach their full potential. The Fund aims to do this by awarding grants to organizations to provide literacy and other services, and the resources needed in the mission of advancing young minds holistically.
This donor advised fund was established in 2017 by an anonymous donor to honor the memory of Wolcott resident Jane Woodard. Grants will be made to charitable organizations for general charitable purposes primarily in the Foundation’s service area at the recommendation of the donor.
Established in 2010 by the New England Spring and Metalstamping Association (NESMA), this permanent fund will provide two scholarships annually: Award 1 is available to a graduating senior attending high school in a New England state pursuing a degree in engineering or an accredited manufacturing/mechanical skilled trades program; Award 2 is available to a graduating senior, currently enrolled student or student returning to school who is a child or grandchild of an employee or owner of a NESMA-member company in good standing.
