2020 Grant Awardees
Cook & Grow
Chef Mona Jackson
Cook and Grow is a Junior Chef program for children 8-13 years old. The program teaches kitchen safety, food preparation, cooking, nutrition, and how to be an informed consumer. It is designed to address the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and the dramatic increase of childhood obesity.
Focus Area:
Food
Location:
Fairfield County
Kingdom International Economic Development Corporation (KIEDC)
Metashar Dillon
KIEDC aims to attack the problems of poverty, hunger, and provide relief from the food insecurity caused by the pandemic. Since the onset of the pandemic KIEDC has fed over 52,000 families. Our weekly lines are getting longer as a result of the job loss and food insecurity being at an all time high.
Focus Area:
Community Engagement
Location:
Hartford County
New Haven County Chapter, Links, inc.
Elsie Chapman
The New Haven Chapter of The Links, Incorporated was Chartered in 1972 and represents the longest standing chapter in Connecticut. The Chapter has a legacy of lasting contributions and has worked tirelessly toward enhancing the quality of life and serving the needs of Greater New Haven.
Focus Area:
Community Engagement
Location:
New Haven County
Telehealth Access for Seniors
Aakshi Agarwal
Telehealth Access for Seniors provides seniors and low-income communities with devices, instructions, and free tech-support to connect them to their physicians via TeleHealth, friends and family using digital connectivity, and wellness tools via apps.
Focus Area:
Healthcare
Location:
New Haven County
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Lisa Willis
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren is a ministry that exists to provide support and community for Grandparents who serve as guardians or the primary care givers for their grandchildren. This support group provides Christ-centered community and helpful resources for grandparents raising Grandchildren.
Focus Area:
Education
Location:
New Haven County
Kiyama Movement
Mike Jefferson
The Kiyama Movement, (TKM), was with a focus on self-improvement as a means to enhance society and improve our world as a whole. TKM is designed to support Black people in American society given the unique challenges they face. TKM emphasizes on the development and resurrection of Black males.
Focus Area:
Community Engagement
Location:
New Haven County
Project Overcome
Brandon Figliolino
Project Overcome, Inc., (POI), is a non-profit organization that seeks to improve the lives of youth and families by offering learning opportunities and educational assistance. POI aims to work collaboratively with local churches and community providers in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
Focus Area:
Education
Location:
Fairfield County
The Hord Foundation, Inc.
Kelly Mero, Ph.D.
The Hord Foundation has provided higher education financial assistance and post-secondary support to students for 27 years. They have awarded close to $5M in scholarships ranging from $1000 to $5000 per year for a maximum of 4 years.
Focus Area:
Education
Location:
Fairfield County
Interruptions Disrupting the Silence, LLC
Rev. Odell Montgomery Cooper
“Interruptions” tells the story of Reverend Odell Montgomery Cooper and the loss of her son, Jonathan Cooper, to gun violence in 2016. This film shows how her family coalesces, channels their anger and partners with local broad-based and municipal government organizations to rid a community of weekly gun violence.
Focus Area:
Media
Location:
New Haven County
Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship
New Haven (NFTENH)
Elaine Thomas-Williams
The mission of NFTE NH is to provide, free entrepreneurial education, experiential activities and financial resources for the New Haven School District in order to motivate young people to develops key skills and explore entrepreneurship as a viable career.
Focus Area:
Entrepreneurship
Location:
New Haven County
Queen Ann Nzinga Center, Inc.
Dayna R. Snell, LCSW
Queen Ann Nzinga Center is a non profit organization named for a prominent 15th century African queen. The center is an umbrella for three distinct youth programs, a professional music group and an annual series of concerts & events.
Focus Area:
Media
Location:
Hartford County