Requests for funding also being accepted through February 1, 2019

Grants totaling $376,500 were awarded from the Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust to seven organizations working to improve the health and wellbeing of Southington residents. The organizations, five of which received continued funding from the Barnes Memorial Trust, provide programs that enhance community wellness, support local seniors and improve access to behavioral health services.

Two grants were awarded to organizations for programs that are being funded by the Barnes Memorial Trust for the first time. The grants are:

• $37,500 to Prudence Crandall Center, to provide Domestic Violence Intervention & Prevention Services in Southington. Services include: a 24 hour crisis line and emergency shelter, counseling services and support groups, and education in the schools and overall community. The goal of the program is to prevent and eliminate the negative health consequences experienced by victims.
• $25,000 to Easter Seals of Greater Waterbury, to provide program support for audiology care for Southington residents with financial need. Services will be provided at one of three Easter Seals Centers for Better Hearing and will include: audiological evaluations, pediatric hearing tests, hearing aid evaluations and custom earplugs.

Grants to continue programs were awarded as follows:

• $115,000 to LiveWell Alliance Inc., to continue the Dementia Friendly Southington Initiative whose goal is to decrease the stigma and isolation of dementia, increase meaningful community engagement and quality of life for people with the disease, and teach communities to become more accommodating and knowledgeable about dementia.
• $80,000 to Wheeler Clinic, to continue the Southington Health Outreach Project, which enhances access to mental health and substance abuse programs by educating residents about the signs of these issues and the services available.
• $48,098 to United Way of Southington, to support the Senior Transportation program in collaboration with Senior Transportation Services of New Britain to enhance transportation services for Southington seniors through the provision of additional rides to a medical appointment, pharmacy, hairdresser/barber, bank or care facility to visit a family member.
• $45,900 to LISA, Inc., for the 1-2-3- Prevention, Intervention & Recovery program for teens, educators and parents to reduce the risk of substance abuse and disrupt the use of current users. The program is a collaboration with the Southington Youth Services Bureau and the STEPS Coalition.
• $25,000 to the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington, to support a well-being initiative to provide five educational seminars that support Southington’s young children and their caregivers during 2019.

“We are thrilled to be announcing $376,500 in grants,” said Susan Sadecki, President & CEO of the Community Foundation. “We are honored to carry out Bradley Barnes’ legacy through these important health initiatives.”

All grant proposals are thoroughly reviewed by the nine person volunteer Advisory Committee for the Barnes Memorial Trust. The Advisory Committee is comprised of several Southington residents as well as other professionals who make final funding recommendations to the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors. “The Advisory Committee’s thoughtful review of all proposals to ensure feasibility, sustainability and impact as well as their commitment to honoring donor intent is commendable,” stated Sadecki.

Barnes Memorial Trust Accepting Letters of Intent
Beginning January 2, the Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust is accepting letters of intent from nonprofit organizations serving the Southington community for capital projects, programs or initiatives that will enhance the health and wellbeing of Southington residents.

The proposed capital project, program or initiative must address one or more of the following identified community health and health care focus areas:

• Access and affordability to health care;
• Mental health and substance use;
• Supports to meet the health and health care needs of an aging population;
• Better integrated health care (especially the integration of primary and behavioral health, including initiatives that promote a healthy lifestyle).

The deadline for submission is February 1, 2019 at 4 p.m. Interested 501(c)(3) organizations are required to contact Kate Kerchaert, Director of Grants & Programs, at 860.583.6363 before submitting a letter of intent. Full guidelines, eligibility criteria and links to the online application are available on the Foundation’s website.