From your Foundation Family

Over $340,000 in Scholarships Awarded

Thus Far in 2025!

The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain (CFGNB) is proud to announce that more than $340,000 in scholarships have been awarded thus far in 2025 to students from Berlin, New Britain, Plainville, Southington, and beyond. These awards are helping students across the region take steps toward achieving their goals.

Each year, CFGNB partners with donors to support students in their education. This year’s scholarships reflect not only the academic promise of each recipient but also the community’s belief in their potential. Dozens of scholarship funds, including some newly established, others long-standing, came together to make this year’s awards possible.

“It has been amazing watching our scholarship program continue to grow over the years. This year we saw a record-breaking number of applications submitted, which is a testament to the dedication and potential to succeed of the class of 2025!”

Candice Tabone

Community Impact Officer

The Foundation’s scholarship program continues to grow, both in the number of students supported and in the total amount awarded. These scholarships are more than financial assistance, they are a vote of confidence in the next generation of leaders and changemakers. Whether students are working toward a four-year degree, a two-year program, or hands-on vocational training, CFGNB is proud to support their pursuit of education and growth.

2025 Scholarship Award Recipients

This year, we honored our incredible scholarship recipients with a fun-filled evening of bowling, food, and community at Lessard Lanes in Plainville.

Want to experience the celebration?

Click the button below to watch a special video capturing the joy and gratitude of some of our recipients.

Click Here Scholarship Reception Video

You too Can Start a Scholarship Fund!

You can create a fund in your name or in honor of someone special.

Once your fund reaches $25,000, you will begin awarding scholarships to students who meet the criteria you establish. (such as town, career interest, or background). We handle all the logistics and administration so you can focus on seeing the difference your fund is making.

Your scholarship fund becomes a permanent source of support for students in our region, year after year, forever.

What is Catalyst?

Catalyst is a philanthropic initiative that brings community members together to explore urgent local issues and invest in solutions through collaborative grantmaking.

Catalyst Recap Video

The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain is excited for a new year of the Catalyst Giving Circle! Once again, we are uniting community members through shared learning, collaborative giving, and local impact in 2025.

Our focus this year is on supporting the needs of unsheltered populations. In other words, individuals experiencing homelessness without access to stable or adequate shelter. It’s a growing and complex issue that affects the health and safety of many in our region.

Our first meeting was on Wednesday, June 25th, at The Back Nine Tavern. More than 65 Catalyst members gathered to hear from Julian Pierce of the Connecticut Department of Housing and Matthew Morgan of Journey Home. Their insights helped Catalyst members better understand the systemic challenges facing unsheltered individuals and the innovative approaches being used to address them.

Above: Julian Pierce from The Connecticut Department of Housing

How Catalyst Works

Catalyst is designed to make philanthropy accessible, educational, and impactful. Members participate in three sessions each year, where they learn about a selected issue, engage with local experts, and collaboratively decide where to direct grant funding.

1. Learn Together

Members attend three meetings annually to explore a community issue in depth and hear directly from those working on the front lines.

2. Give with Purpose

Each member’s contribution is pooled into a collective fund. Members then vote on which nonprofit will receive the $20,000 grant.

3. Build Real Impact

Since 2009, Catalyst has awarded over $247,500 in grants to local organizations and that impact continues to grow.

Above: Matthew Morgan from Journey Home

The data is clear: in the past year, Connecticut recorded over 154,000 requests for housing and shelter assistance. 10,800 individuals were enrolled in subsidized housing programs, and 215 housing vouchers were issued statewide.

These numbers reflect a significant and ongoing need, one that Catalyst members are committed to addressing.

If you're looking to make a meaningful difference, there are several ways to get involved.

You can make an impact by joining the Catalyst Giving Circle. If you are interested, contact jwruck@cfgnb.org.

You can also support by contributing to one of the many charitable funds at the Community Foundation, such as the Friendship Service Center Fund.

Donate to the Friendship Service Center Fund

The Friendship Service Center operates with the belief that, through community collaboration, their work becomes 'love made visible,' providing compassionate support and essential services to individuals at risk or are experiencing homelessness.

Visit the Friendship Service Center's website

Another such fund at the Foundation is the Helen M. Lynch Fund.

Donate to the Helen M. Lynch Fund

This field of interest fund supports organizations serving individuals experiencing homelessness and those in need across Berlin, New Britain, Plainville, and Southington.

Click Here to Learn More about Catalyst

Attention Business Leaders

Join Us in Bridging the Gaps

Our 2025 Business Appeal is on its way to businesses across our region, and we’re inviting you to join in and be part of something powerful!

Through the Civic Leadership Fund, presented by Stanley Black & Decker, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain is partnering with corporate leaders to drive meaningful, measurable change in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville, Southington, and beyond.