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12/19/2023 12:18 PMOn most days, the Guilford Free Library is a quiet and reserved space for patrons to study and read. Last week, however, applause and excitement overtook the bookstacks as The Guilford Foundation (TGF) announced the 34 awardees of $1 million in federal grant monies. The money, appropriated by the town directly to the TGF, is from the town’s share of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and specifically focuses on charities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to TGF Executive Director Liza Petra, “The ARPA Review Committee, comprised of TGF Board Members, community representatives, and a Connecticut-based ARPA expert, established a process, reviewed the applications, and allocated the available funds. It was a thorough and competitive review process.”
According to a statement from the TGF, the Guilford Board of Directors unanimously approved the ARPA Review Committee’s recommendation for 34 grants totaling $1 million, with awards ranging from $5,000 to $75,000.
Guilford was in a unique position in that they could fully control how their ARPA allotment was disbursed, as the town did not fall under the criteria threshold that restricts how the town’s ARPA allotment can be spent, according to First Selectman Matt Hoey.
“We were granted an exemption because the amount of money was underneath the $10 million threshold, so we had complete authority to do pretty much what we wanted with these funds,” said Hoey. “Many of my peers around the state immediately said, ‘We’re going to use this for capital projects,’…but we felt we needed to do something to help the nonprofit sector, who had been devastated during the pandemic by their inability to raise funds, hold events, and to drive more value into the community because they didn’t have the funds to do it.”
Guilford was also unique in that they turned over the allocation process to an outside entity, according to Hoey, rather than trying to dole out the funding themselves. Hoey said that the move saved money, time, and the appearance of any favoritism by partnering with the TGF.
“This could’ve turned into a political nightmare. As a political actor, the thought of saying ‘yes to you’ and ‘no to you’ scared me to death,” said Hoey. “So, the obvious choice was the Guilford Foundation. There is no more trusted organization in town…their integrity is beyond question, their discretion is immaculate, they just do it right all the time, and they really know how to do this,” said Hoey.
Petra said the funding will have an immediate and long-term positive impact in Guilford and across the shoreline, as some organizations receiving funds are not located in Guilford but serve town residents.
“The $1 million allocation is an investment in the well-being and prosperity of our town. By supporting local nonprofits, we are advancing the resilience and strength of our community. The Foundation staff is working with the town to disburse the funds in a timely manner to facilitate the swift implementation of the organization’s programs and initiatives,” Petra said in a statement.
Hoey spoke at the event and praised TGF for their diligence and the funding recipients for their efforts in ensuring Guilford and the shoreline remain a place that serves the basic needs of its residents.
“It is always a good day to be in Guilford, but there are days that make it greater. When we can celebrate something like this, it really epitomizes what our community is all about and why so many of us do what we do…to make other people’s lives better. This is just a manifestation of one of those ways that we can impact people’s lives, so I am thrilled to be a part of this,” said Hoey. “The ARPA funding will positively impact our community as it fortifies nonprofits focused on delivering critical resources to our residents. We thank The Guilford Foundation for their trusted leadership and the ARPA Review Committee for bringing experience and rigor to the process.”
Hoey added that the funds were a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to help the community.
TGF ARPA Review Committee Chair Alex Sulpasso said the committee’s task focused on spreading the funds across as many areas of concern as could be achieved.
“The scope and scale of the ARPA funding are significant for nonprofits serving Guilford. In forming the committee, we looked for various areas of expertise and skills, including community service, business, youth, philanthropy, finance, and law. We leveraged our grantmaking experience and methodology to guide our decision-making. We thank the committee for its diligence and hard work.”
The organizations receiving funds ranged from the Community Dining Room to the Faulkner’s Island Light Brigade. Of the 34 entities, 17 received the full funding they requested in their applications, according to Petra.
The entire list of nonprofits and their grant amounts are as follows; APK Charities-$35,000*, BHcare-$25,000*, Soundview Family YMCA-$25,000, The Community Dining Room-$35,000*, Community Nursery School-$52,000*, Faulkner’s Island Light Brigade-$26,000, Guilford Agricultural Society-$30,000*, Guilford Arts Center-$75,000*, Guilford Center for Children-$23,000*, GCTV-$37,000, Guilford Fund for Education-$55,000, Guilford Interfaith Volunteers (which includes Meals on Wheels, Charlie’s Closet, and the Food Bank)-$75,000*, Guilford Keeping Society-$26,000, Guilford Performing Arts Festival-$50,000, Guilford Sailing Foundation-$5,000, Junior Achievement of SW New England-$25,000, Knights of Colombus Council #3928-$10,000, Legacy Theatre-$18,500, Move to Heal-$15,000, Meighborhood Music School-$20,000, North Guilford Nursery School-$10,000*, Orchard House-$20,000*, Paul Dostie KARE Foundation-$15,000, Read to Grow-$10,000, Shoreline Arts alliance-$18,000, Shoreline Village-$10,000*, Starship Dance and Theatre Co.-$35,000*, CT Hospice-$75,000*, Cove Center for Grieving Children-$5,000*, Dorothy Whitfield Historical Society, $26,000, The Dudley Farm Museum-$26,000, Ethan Miller Song Foundation-$25,000, The Witness Stones Project-$7,500, and the Women and Family Life Center-$50,000* (*-denotes organizations receiving the full funding of their application request.)
The Guilford Foundation is a trusted philanthropic partner established in 1975 when five friends organized an effort to beautify the area around the town green. To ensure the perpetuity of their vision, the founders established a source for long-term funding. Over the past four decades, this endowment has expanded in scope and impact and now exceeds $6 million, awarding over $2.2 million in grants and scholarships. The mission of The Guilford Foundation is to enrich the quality of life in the community by connecting people who care with causes that matter.
For more information about The Guilford Foundation, visit www.guilfordfoundation.org.