Main Street Community Foundation

We are also grateful to our founders, boards of directors, volunteers, and community partners. You have made MSCF what it is today. From everyone here at MSCF, thank you for helping us reach another milestone!

Since 1995, a lot has changed, but MSCF has been there through it all as a steady, permanent resource for these towns and residents. In MSCF’s 31 years, a total of $33.6 million in grants has been invested into our communities thanks to the 337 funds established by our donors.

MSCF is celebrating its 31st anniversary! For over three decades, MSCF has worked tirelessly to achieve the vision of the Foundation’s founders: to make Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott better communities in which to live and work.

We all feel sad, mad or worried sometimes. Gizmo’s Pawesome Pledge for Mental Health can help you make a plan for what to do when you feel that way. You can take the pledge at gizmo4mentalhealth.org/mental-health-….

Transferred to MSCF in 2006, the Award was originally established in 1977 by David Kushlan, the nephew of Charles, to honor and carry on his humanitarian efforts in Bristol. This award is said to be one of the oldest consecutively given awards in Bristol. Congratulations, Josie!

As Youth of the Year, Josie also received the Charles Kushlan Memorial Award, which is awarded from a fund at Main Street Community Foundation.

Congratulations to this year’s @bbgc_ct's Youth of the Year, Josie K.! The Youth of the Year award, which is the highest honor a BBGC member can receive, recognizes outstanding leadership, service, academic excellence, and a commitment to living a healthy lifestyle.

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To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the first fundraiser for the Women and Girls Fund, some of the Early Leaders along with this year’s Wonder of Women (WOW) event Co-Chairs visited the Bristol Walmart.

The establishment of the Women & Girls Fund at MSCF began with a bake sale. In 2001, a group of visionary women, known as the Early Leaders, organized and held a bake sale at the newly-opened Walmart store in Bristol in order to help raise funds toward the $10,000 needed.

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, look no further!

Spent this morning at EC Goodwin Technical High School running a workshop on scholarships! Even if you do not go to high school in one of our towns but you are a resident, you still will qualify for some scholarships. The deadline to apply is in ONE WEEK - March 6 at 11:59pm!

Spending the day at Plainville High School talking all things scholarships - and there are 32 available to them! Thank you to PHS Guidance for having us in! (And yes, she is wearing a money costume!!)

A great way to start the day!

If you are a student be sure to contact your guidance office - they have all the information you will need about not only our scholarships but every one available to you. Our scholarships will open this Thursday - January 15!

Do you recognize some familiar faces from the local high schools?! This morning we hosted school and career counselors from all the local high schools for our annual Coffee & Conversation to discuss the Foundation’s 2026 scholarship program.

We wish everyone a safe, happy and healthy 2026! Our office will be closed tomorrow, January 1, but we will reopen on Friday. Thank you for an incredible 30th year!

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- Josh Therriault is a filmmaker. He was awarded $10,000 to support festival submission costs and marketing materials of his first feature-length documentary film, In Hines Sight, about a Waterbury-based artist named Francis Hines whose work was found in a dumpster and reclaimed.

The awardees are: -Lisa Corson, a mixed-media fiber artist, was awarded $2,025 to support her artistic expansion into pottery by attending workshops -Tina Fusco is an acrylic painter who was awarded $1,000 to purchase supplies as she transitions her business to be inventory-based

Three Bristol-based artists have been awarded grants to further their artistic growth from the Louise Lauretano DeMars Love of Art Fund at Main Street Community Foundation! To date, MSCF has awarded $23,025 from the Fund to five local artists.