From the Desk of

Ana Gopoian

What Financial Challenges

Do Nonprofits Face?

The following article was taken from an online resource called GEO. The link below will take you to the full version of this informative piece.



"Financial struggles are a reality for many nonprofits, even those with excellent programs. Primarily dependent on highly restricted grant support that does not cover general operations, today’s nonprofits spend too much time trying to cobble together a patchwork of funding sources. They are subjected to complex and redundant paperwork in order to apply for and report on grants. And, last but not least, they plow most if not all of their grant monies into delivering services now, rather than investing in strengthening their organizations. All of this contributes to hollowed-out nonprofit organizations with high rates of personnel turnover and executive burnout — not to mention an inability to grow stronger over time." Click here to read more!

You have heard the saying, it takes money to make money! TriCircle needs to invest money to potentially generate more. Grant writing is time consuming and expensive! Often the grantmakers require a great deal of reporting in order to meet their funding requirements. There are so many opportunities out there and we need help finding them, applying for them and maintaining them. Unrestricted funds are key and allow us flexibility in their use. Please click here to see how you can help! If grant writing is your super power, consider giving some time. We are all in this together and...

Together WE are Stronger!

See gG's journey with TriCircle here.

Special thanks to

WPAA-TV and Community Media

for producing this video.

#greatgive06492 #BeTheSeed

WHAT IS YOUR SUPERPOWER?

We Need Help With

Events!

Shape the future with a

purpose driven, fun and fulfilling opportunity to give back!

TriCircle is looking for people who are action oriented and

passionate about our cause to work with us.

If your superpower is planning, organizing, and/or helping to implement events, then here is your chance to shine! We need volunteers to serve on the Fundraising & Events Committee! Meetings will be established and will convene once a month at TriCircle, 169 Colony Street, 2nd Floor, Meriden.

Please consider leading or joining the Committee!

Contact ana@tricircle.org to sign up.

Community Service Hours Are Available for All of the Above.

Together WE are Stronger!

April Spotlight:

Colette Anderson

Hamden Women's Consortium, DMHAS and

TriCircle Board President

TriCircle is pleased to introduce our amazing new Board of Directors President, Colette Anderson, LCSW. Colette comes to us rich with experience in the field of mental health and substance use. She was the Executive Director of The Connecticut Women’s Consortium where she worked for the last 12 years. While there, she led statewide and national conferences for the service system. Prior to that she spent 35 years working in behavioral health for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction services. Her expertise is vast and varied. She has led key initiatives for CT and is also an experienced trainer. Colette was awarded the National Association of Social Workers - CT Social Worker of the Year in 2016. Her passion and experience is a perfect fit for her new role as Board Chair and we are very excited about what Colette will bring to the TriCircle table.

Colette first learned about TriCircle when Ana was developing TriCircle Restoration’s Paraphernalia Project. In keeping with TriCircle’s commitment to collaboration, Ana worked with a staff member at The CT Women’s Consortium and began holding meetings in their space, sharing information at the conferences they put on about Harm Reduction.

Over the years, Colette has seen how so many people have benefitted in valuable ways from the programs offered by TriCircle which fuels her dedication to her new role. Her entire career has centered on engaging individuals with mental health and substance use problems. She started teaching peer support back in the 80’s while working at CMHC and has helped to hire consumers into employment opportunities throughout her career. She also led the state in putting together 4 statewide Harm Reduction Conferences funded by DMHAS and the Federal Government.

While Colette is not a person in recovery she has many years of experience working with individuals and families in recovery. She has personally utilized Al Anon and suffered the heartbreaking loss of a nephew from opioids 7 years ago.

Colette shared, “I have run a nonprofit and reported to a board of directors. I have overseen state and nonprofit budgets. I have extensive experience in grant writing and am able to assist others who write grants. I believe the work of TriCircle is extremely important and that is why I agreed to be the Board President.”

“I believe we are all recovering from something. I am passionate about everything I do and I set high standards for myself and any services I am affiliated with. I am very excited to help lead TriCircle into its next phase of growth and evolution.”

Colette is married and the proud mother of two grown girls and has four beautiful grandchildren who mean the world to her! TriCircle could not be happier to have Colette leading our team!

Together WE are Stronger!

All SMART Meetings are in person with a virtual option and Alternative Peer Groups

are also up and running and their schedules and flyers

are available by clicking here.

Drop In Setback Middlefield at 1741 Pub & Grill - First and Third Wednesday of each month, April 2 and 16 at 72 Lyman Road, Middlefield. Registration at 5:00 pm, first game 6:00 pm. (click here)



New Location for Drop In Setback! Sliders in Wallingford - Second Wednesday of each month, April 9, at 950 Yale Avenue, Wallingford. Registration at 5:00 pm, first game 6:00 pm. (click here)



TriCircle's Hope & Support Groups - Thursdays, April 3, 10, 17 and 24 and every Thursday throughout the year. (click here for full schedule with locations)

TriCircle's Hope After Loss Support Groups - Mondays, April 7, 14, 21 and 28 and every Monday throughout the year. (click here for full schedule with locations)

SMART Family & Friends Fun APG and Harmony Within SMART APG Wallingford - Last Tuesday of each month, April 29, 4:30 - 5:30 & 5:30 - 6:30 pm, Master's Manna 428 S Cherry St Wallingford, before the SMART Recovery Meeting. (see flyer above or click here)

SMART Recovery Wallingford - Every Tuesday April 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 (click here) 7:00 - 8:30 pm Master's Manna 428 S Cherry St Wallingford.

SMART Recovery Family & Friends Meriden - Every Tuesday April 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 (click here) 6:00 - 7:30 pm 169 Colony St, 2nd Floor, Meriden.

Reuniones de SMART en Espanol Meriden - Todos los miércoles en el mes de abril 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 (haga clic aquí) 6:00 - 7:30 pm 169 Colony St, 2nd Floor, Meriden.

SMART la APG Meriden - Al tercer miércoles de cada mes de abril 16 antes de la reunión, 4:30 - 5:30 pm, 169 Colony St, 1st Floor, Meriden. (haga clic aquí)

SMART Recovery Amigos y familiares en español Meriden - Todos los jueves en el mes de abril 3, 10, 17, 24 (haga clic aquí) 6:00 - 7:30 pm 169 Colony St ,1st Floor, Meriden.

Yoga at DiversaFit Wallingford - Last Saturday of each month April 26 (click here) 2:00 - 3:00 pm DiversaFIT 549 Center St, Wallingford.

TriCircle Memorial Scholarship Application Deadline - June 6, 2025, to apply visit https://tricircle.org/memorial-scholarship/

Mark Your Calendars for TriCircle's 4th Annual Self Care Retreats - Hope After Loss Retreat, Saturday, September 6 (Rain Date Sat Sept 13) Hope & Support Retreat Sunday, September 7 (Rain Date Sun Sept 14) at Story Barn in Somers, CT. Stay tuned for more details!

Raianna's 4th Annual Memorial Poker Run at Freedom Road Harley-Davidson, 557 West Main Street, Branford, CT, Saturday, September 20, Kickstands up at 10:30 am with a Bike Blessing (proceeds benefit TriCircle, see flyer below for details).

SAVE THE DATE for TriCircle's 7th Annual Gala Brunch at The Farms Country Club, Sunday, November 2, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.



TriCircle is located at

169 Colony Street

Second Floor, Room 28

Meriden, CT 06451

We are pleased to be located inside the WFC. This allows for wonderful opportunities to expand the reach of our support services and resources as we cultivate this collaborative partnership. This location also provides increased accessibility on the bus line and nearby train station.

Alternative Address

Master's Manna

428 S Cherry St

Wallingford, CT 06492

Together WE are Stronger!