A Message From Liza

Spring is testing our patience, but signs of the season are starting to appear! Cherry blossom time is just around the corner, and you don't have to travel to Washington, D.C. to enjoy it. Soon, Wooster Square and the Yale campus (near Harkness Tower and Berkeley College) will be in bloom. The Wooster Square Blossom Blog Facebook page is a great resource for tracking peak bloom and learning about the upcoming annual Cherry Blossom Festival to be held on April 19.

Meanwhile, this is an especially active and meaningful time of year for the Foundation. Our Community Investment Committee is beginning to meet weekly throughout April to review the 50 applications submitted for our 2026 community grants. It's always inspiring to see the breadth of work happening across our community.

For our nonprofit partners, a reminder that the Youth Advisory Group (YAG) grant application deadline is April 15. These grants focus on programs that support children and youth.

Beyond blossom season, our event calendar is full of opportunities to connect, learn, and engage. Take a look below.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and for the trust you place in The Guilford Foundation. We couldn't do what we do without you.

Liza Janssen Petra

Executive Director

lpetra@guilfordfoundation.org

Youth Advisory Group (YAG) Starts its Grantmaking

YAG is launching its annual grantmaking process, with applications due April 15. The group supports programs that strengthen the broader community, with a focus on children, families, and education. In 2025, YAG awarded over $13,200 in grants to a range of local organizations and projects, from mental health and social connection to basic needs and the arts.

Founded in 2010 by former President Tim Geelan and former Board member Al Jacobs, YAG was created to foster philanthropy and leadership among students. Now in its largest year ever, 24 Guilford High School students are participating, taking on the role of a “mini foundation.” They run their own meetings, review proposals, and recommend funding, while raising the dollars they grant through luminaria sales and a community appeal.

What began with a $10,000 challenge grant has grown into a lasting program that has awarded more than $130,000 to the community through 96 grants. These students continue to build on that legacy, developing the next generation of community leaders while making a meaningful difference in Guilford. Go YAG!

Voices of the Guilford Foundation: Guilford Center for Children

Our partnership with the Guilford Center for Children spans decades and reflects a shared commitment to supporting local families. What began with just 23 children enrolled in their Early Education Program in 1970 has grown into a vital community resource serving families through early education programs, summer camp, and additional classroom space to serve even more families.

With early funding and encouragement from TGF in 1978, GCC launched Guilford’s first after-school care programs, creating a safe, nurturing environment for children and helping working families thrive. In 1999, GCC added mornings, renaming it Before & After School Care (BASC).

In the video, Executive Director Annemarie Holly reflects on that enduring partnership and its impact today. From scholarship support that makes programs accessible to local families to the Foundation’s flexibility as needs evolve, her perspective brings the relationship to life. When asked to describe The Guilford Foundation in one word, she chose “generous.”

Grants that Support Arts, Culture & Heritage

Arts, culture, and heritage are essential to a strong, connected community. In 2025, we awarded 35 grants totaling $117,900 across eight focus areas, including $11,500 supporting organizations that create opportunities for artistic expression, education, and shared experiences. These organizations include:

GreenStage Guilford brings the shoreline together through its biennial performing arts festival, with TGF support helping deliver 30 live performances and interactive experiences this summer. Guilford Art Center engages more than 4,000 residents each year through classes, exhibitions, and community programs, with funding supporting its school, gallery, Craft Expo, and outreach.

The Guilford Keeping Society preserves local history through spaces such as the Thomas Griswold House Museum, where recent repairs, supported by TGF, ensure continued hands-on learning and demonstrations. Neighborhood Music School’s Guilford Branch provides personalized music instruction to students of all ages, with grant funding helping sustain one-on-one lessons with experienced teaching artists.

As a newly established nonprofit, Starship Dance Theater & Company is expanding access to dance through education, performance, and mentorship, creating more opportunities for young artists in Guilford.

While not TGF's largest funding category, Arts, Culture & Heritage touches thousands of residents each year, bringing people together, enriching daily life, and strengthening the sense of community that defines Guilford.

Other Event Reminders

• March 27: Community Dining Room Plant Bingo
• March 27-29: Guilford High School Spring Musical All Shook Up
• April 2: Little Sprouts Learning Center Music Bingo
• April 2: Guilford Free Library Artificial Intelligence is Everywhere with Dennis Gleeson Talk
• April 25: Guilford Keeping Society Spring Wine Tasting
• April 25: Town of Guilford Earth Day Event
• May 8: Friends of the Guilford Free Library Spring Book Sale
• May 16: Alex, Inc. Guilford Pride Event
• May 30: Guilford Keeping Society 2026 House Tour

Check out these event calendars for ongoing events: Bishop's Little Red Barn and Guilford Free Library.

Want to learn more about TGF's community impact?

Take a look at our Impact Report.