Written by Sigrid Kun, Guilford Events Magazine

Supporting Well-Being Across Our Community.  From mental health and grief services to programs that promote independence and care for seniors and individuals with special needs, The Guilford Foundation (TGF) awarded more than $27,000 to the organizations featured below, as part of $117,900 in grants distributed to 35 nonprofits through its 2025 annual grantmaking.

Clifford Beers Clinical Care Services provides outpatient mental health services for children and families, including trauma-informed care, case management, and care coordination, which are often not covered by insurance. Support from TGF helps ensure local families can access critical mental health services during a time of increasing need.

The Connecticut Hospice delivers home-based care for patients facing serious illness, supporting both medical needs and emotional well-being. Grant funding helped equip visiting nurses and care teams with specialized carry bags to safely transport medical supplies and deliver high-quality, compassionate care to patients in their homes.

The Cove Center for Grieving Children organizes peer-based grief support programs for children and families coping with the loss of a loved one. The grant supports its Guilford site, where families participate in guided discussions and expressive activities that help children process grief in a safe, supportive environment.

Gavin & Friends (SARAH Tuxis) provides day programming, recreation, life skills development, and respite opportunities in Guilford for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  TGF funding helped sustain this growing program, ensuring participants continue to access activities and services that promote independence, connection, and quality of life.

Orchard House Medical Adult Day Center supports individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia through its TGF grant, which funds the introduction of robotic pet therapy. The interactive companions help reduce stress and agitation while encouraging social interaction, emotional connection, and a sense of comfort for participants.

Shoreline Village CT helps older adults age in place by connecting members with volunteers who provide services such as transportation, household help, and social activities. TGF’s grant supported membership events programming to keep seniors active and engaged in their communities.

The Soundview Family YMCA directed its funding to specialized wellness programs for individuals facing serious health challenges, including LIVESTRONG for cancer survivors and fitness programs for those living with Parkinson’s disease. These programs help participants improve strength, manage symptoms, and build supportive connections.

Special Olympics Connecticut’s Central Shoreline program offers year-round sports training and competition opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Grant dollars helped local athletes participate in practices, state competitions, and unified sports events, while also assisting with equipment, facility use, and expanding access to new sports.

Syd’s Book Shack gives hands-on job training and skills development for young adults and adults with special needs. The TGF grant supports its vocational training mission through store-based activities, including inventory management, graphic design, social media marketing, and online sales. The goal is to build skills and confidence for future employment opportunities.

For a complete list of The Guilford Foundation’s recent grant recipients, click here.