Guilford Foundation Donates $109,200 To 20+ Local Groups

GUILFORD, CT – Over 20 foundations received $109,200 from the Guilford Foundation.

The awards distributed to the foundations from the Guilford Foundation ranged from $1,000 to $12,500 to support vital area programs and services utilized and valued by Guilford residents.

Alexander Sulpasso, community investment committee chair, said this year, their applications were up 37 percent from 2022.

"We approach the grantmaking process judiciously. Every committee member reads all the applications with a smaller team assigned to do a deeper dive for each request. The goal is to find the programs and services that align with our mission and create the most meaningful impact for the Guilford community," Alexander Sulpasso said, community investment committee chair.

Of the grants given out, $17,000 went to four organizations focused on mental health (awareness, prevention and treatment), 25,500 to five organizations addressing basic needs (food, shelter and emergency assistance) and $66,700 to 19 organizations that strengthen the community (child and youth development, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, arts and culture and other innovative initiatives)

"This year's theme is well-being with key focus areas of mental health, basic needs, and strengthening our community,” Sulpasso said.

Liza Janssen Petra, executive director of Guilford Foundation, said the 2023 grant recipients are working hard to move the community forward by offering diverse services and programming to Guilford residents.

“Grantmaking is really at the heart of what we do as a community foundation,” she said. “We form trusted relationships with charitably minded donors who give back, intended to enrich the quality of life in our remarkable town. A heartfelt thanks to our compassionate supports who truly make a difference.”

How much funding is available for organizations depends on the Guilford Foundation’s endowment. Since 2018, Guilford Foundation’s assets have grown from $2.9 million to the current value of $6.5 million. As a result of the larger endowment, The Guilford Foundation doubled the number of grants given to the community.

“As we look to the future, our goal is to continue to grow our endowment to enable us to invest more into our community through our grants, sponsorship awards, and scholarship opportunities,” Petra said.

The following are the Guilford Foundation 2023 Grant Recipients (in order of grant size)

• Women and Family Life Center ($12,500): Guided Assistance Program (GAP)
• Clifford W. Beers Guidance Clinic ($7,500): Outpatient Mental Health Program
• Guilford Art Center ($7,500): Operating Support
• Guilford Center for Children Before and After School Care Program ($6,000): Tuition Assistance
• Guilford Center for Children Early Education ($6,000): School Year Tuition Assistance
• Guilford Anti-Bias Anti-Racist (ABAR) Alliance ($5,000: Equity-Focused Professional Development for Guilford Teachers
• Guilford Performing Arts Festival ($5,000): GreenStage Guilford Performing Arts Festival
• Guilford Social Services ($5,000): Back to School Program
• Recovery Move™ ($5,000): Recovery Move ™
• Special Olympics Connecticut ($5,000): Central Shoreline Local Program Funding
• The Ethan Miller Song Foundation ($5,000): Guilford Gun Buyback and Safe Giveaway
• Shoreline Village CT ($3,900): Strategic Planning
• The Dudley Foundation/The Dudley Farm Museum ($3,750): Operating Expenses
• Community Dining Room ($3,500): Food Expenses for Nutritional Programs
• Camp Hazen YMCA ($3,000): Financial Assistance to Support Guilford Youth
• Lifelinx Corporation ($3,000): Recovery Management Support
• The Cove Center for Grieving Children ($3,000): Guilford Family Program
• Guilford Interfaith Ministries ($2,500): Technology Upgrade
• Shoreline Arts Alliance ($2,500): General Operating Expenses
• Orchard House Medical Adult Day Center ($2,300): Music Therapy Program
• Guilford Garden Club ($2,000): Greening of Guilford
• Guilford Social Services ($2,000): Holiday Basket Program
• SARAH Foundation ($2,000): Gavin and Friends by SARAH Tuxis
• Jordan Porco Foundation ($1,500): Guilford 4 What's Next- Suicide Prevention Program
• The Connecticut Hospice ($1,500): Community Grief Support Services
• Legacy Theatre ($1,250): Operating Expenses
• Neighborhood Music School ($1,000): Guilford Student Tuition Subsidy Program
• UR Community Cares ($1,000): Guilford Community Cares,