February 15, 2016

Lise Gazzillo

860-705-9223

Friends of Clinton Youth and Family Services Bureau Receives Grant from the Community Foundation of Middlesex County

Clinton, Connecticut: Friends of Clinton Youth and Family Services Bureau has received a $3000 grant from the Community Foundation of Middlesex County to fund community-wide conversations with Chris Herren and establish the THP Project Purple Initiative at The Morgan School and Jared Eliot Middle School.

Friends of Clinton Youth and Family Services Bureau is a not-for-profit organization working to improve the quality of life, health and safety of Clinton youth and families by providing a range of services including counseling, intervention and referral services.

The CFMC grant will be used to bring Chris Herren, former NBA basketball player, author and sobriety advocate, to speak with the students of Jared Eliot Middle School, the Morgan School, and an evening community-wide discussion with parents and care-takers. The goals of these events are to create awareness and educate the public on the epidemic of substance abuse while encouraging teens and people of all ages to make positive decisions. Given the rise in drug overdose cases along the shoreline -- this is a timely and very important issue for families to discuss.

Since 2009, Chris Herren has spoken to audiences nationwide sharing his story in the hopes of reaching just one person and making a difference in their lives. As a result of his public speaking efforts in addition to the publication of his memoir, Basketball Junkie and the ESPN Films documentary, UnGuarded, literally thousands of young adults and individuals have come forward asking for help for themselves or a loved one who may be struggling with issues of substance abuse.

For more information on how you can support this community outreach, contact Lise Gazzillo at 860-705-9223, or ldespres33@gmail.com, or like Friends of Clinton Youth and Family Services Facebook page to learn about upcoming events, https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfCYFSB.

Community Foundation of Middlesex County represents local people, giving locally to make an impact on the lives of others – not just for today, but forever. The Community Foundation works with charitably-minded individuals and organizations to build permanent endowments and other charitable funds. These funds support local nonprofit organizations through effective grant making to address community needs.

Since its founding in 1997, the Community Foundation of Middlesex County has provided 1,564 grants totaling more than $4.7 million to organizations for the arts, cultural and heritage programs, educational activities, environmental improvements, and for health and human services. For more information, contact the Community Foundation at 860.347.0025 or info@MiddlesexCountyCF.org.

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