First Years First Grants

Geographic Scope: Berlin, New Britain, Plainville, and Southington, Connecticut

Focus Areas: Early childhood development and school readiness

Program Goals:

• Improve kindergarten readiness
• Increase school readiness skills for children to progress successfully from pre-K through Grade 3 (age 8)
• Reduce chronic absence
• Reduce impact of "summer slide"

First Years First is the Community Foundation's signature early childhood development initiative. In 2016, the program surpassed $2 million in overall grants and investment since its establishment in 2005. The initiative has supported programs including:

• Literacy Volunteers of Central Connecticut
• Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington
• Coalition for New Britain's Youth
• Tunxis Community College Early Childhood Educators Consortium
• Family Resource Center programs

Contact Information:

• Phone: 860.229.6018
• Website: cfgnb.org
• Mailing Address: 74A Vine Street, New Britain, CT 06052

Background: Established in 1941, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain manages grants and charitable assets to improve quality of life in the service area.