Tolland fund announces grant awards

Matthew Verrilli, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·1 min read

Feb. 7—TOLLAND — The Tolland Greater Together Community Fund has doled out a combined $33,000 in grants as part of its third grant cycle.

Jerry Griffin, co-chairman of the Tolland Greater Together Community Fund Advisory Committee, said that the committee is doing one grant cycle per year.

Within each grant cycle, applicants send specific requests based on the maximum amount allowed. The most recent grant cycle had a maximum request of $15,000 per award.

Griffin said all grants are funded by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

"The committee looks for application projects that will have a significant impact on Tolland residents," Griffin said.

The two largest grant recipients are the Hockanum Valley Community Council and the Tolland ALICE Enrichment Partnership, with $10,000 awarded to each organization.

Hockanum Valley will use the money to provide more transportation options for disabled and elderly residents in Tolland. This would allow extended travel hours and locations, including the addition of weekend group shopping.

The ALICE Enrichment Partnership, an organization that works to help community members who are working on a limited income, plans to use the funding to subsidize fees for activities, including instrument lessons, dance classes, sports enrollment, and field trip fees.

The newly established PFLAG Mansfield-Tolland Chapter received $6,000 to aid in the purchase of educational materials, event organization, promotional materials, and materials for a lending library.

The Tolland Recreation Department received $2,500 to organize an outdoor community movie night that would be free to the public.

The Tolland Senior Center was awarded $1,800 to purchase a two-year software license and scanner to create a more efficient sign-in process.

Matthew covers Stafford and Tolland for the Journal Inquirer.