WEST HARTFORD – August 2022 – The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford’s giving circles, JewGood Hartford for young professionals, and the Lillian Fund for women, awarded their annual grants to three local nonprofits that make an impact in the lives of women and children in our community.
The Lillian Fund awarded a $10,000 grant to Girls for Technology.
Founded in 2015,Girls for Technology (GFT) helps Black and Brown women in Connecticut to engage in innovative, sustainable program solutions that catalyze wealth creation and economic success for Black and Brown families. By increasing access to higher-paying jobs and small business ownership opportunities, GFT helps build more equitable communities. The Hartford-based nonprofit will use its grant to support its Building For Equity Accelerator & Pitch, a six-week program that helps Black and Brown female entrepreneurs overcome obstacles with access to education, resources, and funding. Through a curriculum led by Black and Brown women entrepreneurs, participants will learn how to start and grow their businesses, pitch their businesses to investors, and access capital.
JewGood Hartford awarded two grants of $5,000 each to Hartford Performs and Prudence Crandall Center.
Hartford Performs brings teaching artists into Hartford Public Schools to provide arts-based programming in Pre-K to 8th-grade classrooms. These programs empower students to learn and express themselves through the arts. Hartford Performs will use its grant to fund Arts Integration at Dwight-Bellizzi Dual Language Academy, a community school on Hartford’s South End.
Based in New Britain,Prudence Crandall Center (PCC) provides a full spectrum of shelter, housing and support services needed for practical, long-term solutions to the challenges faced by domestic abuse victims. The grant will fund the expansion of PCC’s Supportive Housing Program, which will add 15 more units in the coming year. The program willhelp more victims and families experiencing domestic violence move into newly available safe, stable, and affordable long-term housing— where they can continue to receive PCC’s vital services–empowering them to break cycles of homelessness and abuse.
“We are so inspired by giving circle members and their commitment to spur positive change through philanthropy,” says Elana MacGilpin, Development Officer at the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford. “Our giving circles bring people together who share similar interests to explore social issues, and let them decide how their collective generosity will make the biggest impact in our community.”
A giving circle is a model of collective philanthropy where like-minded individuals donate their time and money to a pooled fund and decide together which organization will receive their grant. Members learn, volunteer and engage on issues that matter most to them. The power of collaborative grant-making allows for greater impact. Every voting circle member has an equal voice in deciding where and how the grant will benefit nonprofits and community members.
The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford operates two giving circles, JewGood Hartford and the Lillian Fund, and encourages a minimum gift of $100 to become a voting member. For more information about our giving circles, please email Elana MacGilpin at emacgilpin@jcfhartford.org, or visit them online www.jcfhartford.org or on Facebook and Instagram.