Foundation Aids Eight Groups Helping Southington Residents

Main Street Community Foundation

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A regional, Bristol-based giving foundation recently awarded more than $620,000 to several Southington and Southington-area causes.

According to the Main Street Community Foundation, the first cycle of 2024 grants from the Bradley Henry Barnes and Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust have been awarded to eight organizations.

The total amount awarded is $620,448, all of which will be used to fund programs or initiatives that improve the health and well-being of Southington residents.

The grants are for:

• Bread for Life in Southington was awarded a $10,000 unrestricted operating grant in celebration of their 40th anniversary.

• The Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain was awarded a $177,179 grant that will be used to support the relocation and expansion of the medical oncology and infusion services at Bradley Memorial Hospital, which is located in Southington.

• LEAF (Lewis Educational Agricultural Farm) in Southington was awarded a $60,000 grant in order to support the organization’s school and community programs.

• Mulberry Gardens was awarded a $12,000 grant that will be used to purchase exercise equipment for the Good Life Fitness program at Mulberry Gardens, an assisted living facility in Southington.

• Prudence Crandall Center, Inc. in New Britain was awarded an $85,000 grant to support its comprehensive domestic violence intervention and prevention services. These
programs benefitted over 230 residents of Southington last year.

• Southington-Cheshire Community YMCA was awarded a $54,840 grant to upgrade
and modernize the existing main elevator in the lobby of the YMCA.

This upgrade will ensure that all users can make it safely to the second floor where many health-related programs and activities are offered.

• United Way of Southington was awarded a $99,894 grant to support the senior
transportation program in collaboration with Senior Transportation Services of New Britain.

The service is available to Southington residents aged 50 and over, who need rides to medical appointments, pharmacies, hairdressers, banks, or a care facility to visit a family member.

• Wheeler Health was awarded a $121,535 grant to support the Southington Community Health
Outreach Project to enhance access to mental health and substance use recovery services.

The Bradley Henry Barnes and Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust was established in 1973 to provide funds for local organizations that work to improve the health and well-being of Southington residents.

The Main Street Community Foundation was appointed trustee in 2004, and since that time a total of over $13.8 million has been awarded from the Trust to local organizations.

For more information on the Bradley Henry Barnes and Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust, or Main Street Community Foundation, call 860-583-6363 or visit mainstreetfoundation.org.