In early November, the Main Street Community Foundation Board of Directors approved a total of $13,205 in grants to local organizations from the Men & Boys’ Fund. This Fund was established in 2016 to provide grants to organizations that address the needs of local men and boys in the communities of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott. The grants awarded from the Fund this year are:

• Boys & Girls Club of Bristol - $2,000 - Passport to Manhood, a program to engage boys ages 8-17 in discussions and activities that reinforce character, leadership and positive behavior
• Bristol Family Resource Centers - $3,000 - Expansion of the WatchDOGs (Dads of Great Students) program to include South Side School and West Bristol School offering a series of 10 workshops to provide parenting education and increase fatherhood engagement
• Bristol Public Schools - $1,500 - Wolf’s Den after-school program at West Bristol School for young male students to promote social emotional growth, confidence and leadership
• Community Counseling Centers of Central Connecticut - $2,190 - Artful Self-Discovery program nurturing self-esteem, awareness and emotional bonds for boys through artistic exploration
• Outside Perspectives - $3,000 - Youth Excellence Project (YEP) providing at-risk male youth with adult mentorship through outdoor programming to promote health and build resiliency to the challenges in life
• The New England Carousel Museum - $1,515 - Spring Afternoon STEAM program for boys to introduce engineering concepts and team-building skills

From promoting emotional growth in young boys to offering dads a place to connect with their kids and learn about fatherhood, the Men & Boys’ Fund is always looking for ways to support the social, emotional, and educational needs of men and boys in the local communities. Since its establishment, over $63,000 in grants has been awarded from the Fund to local nonprofit organizations with the same vision of improving the quality of men and boys’ lives, increasing their self-sufficiency, and assisting them in making positive changes in their communities.

To learn more about the Men & Boys’ Fund and what you can do to contribute to this mission, visit www.mainstreetfoundation.org/men-boys-fund.