Hartford Foundation Awards $40,000 Grant For South Windsor Senior Center Renovations

There are over 3,800 residents of South Windsor over the age of 60 and the South Windsor Senior Center provides a wide variety of services and activities to around 1,300 members. The Senior Center offers a range of activities and services for older adults, connecting them to vital community services and giving them social interactions that can help them stay healthy and independent. The Senior Center recently obtained new space previously utilized for a preschool program run by the town's Recreation Department and is currently planning major renovation project on the new a space.

To assist in this effort the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has awarded the Town of South Windsor a $40,000 grant to support renovations to this newly acquired space to ensure that the area is accessible and safe for older adults who participate in Senior Center programming. The Center's Senior Advisory Council of 14 senior center members is providing input on the use of various rooms in the new space to ensure programming is expanded in areas of most interest to the membership.

"We are excited about the funding from the Hartford Foundation because while the space that is available now can increase our programming," said Andrea Cofrancesco, South Windsor's Adult and Senior Services director. "The space needs improvement; sound panels to improve the acoustics, better lighting and overall aesthetics of the room that will make the experience more pleasurable for those who attend our programs. We are thrilled with the Foundation's generosity and look forward to enhancing this space and providing programming for more South Windsor residents."

Most of the programs and activities provided at the Senior Center are offered during the day, the addition of new space will now make it possible to offer some activities in the evening hours such as exercise classes to allow seniors who work during the day to participate.

"We are pleased to award this grant to support the South Windsor Senior Center renovation effort, said Hartford Foundation Community Investments officer Erika Frank. "The Hartford Foundation's grant will improve the senior center's accessibility and expand and enhance services for more South Windsor seniors."

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is the community foundation for Hartford and 28 surrounding communities. In 2015, the Foundation celebrated ninety years of grantmaking in the Greater Hartford region, made possible by the gifts of generous individuals, families and organizations. It has awarded grants of more than $680 million since its founding in 1925. For more information about the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, visit www.hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888.