The Branford Community Foundation, the leader in supporting a variety of local philanthropic needs, programs and services for more than 35 years, has distributed two grants to area not-for-profit organizations: $5,000 to VNA Community Healthcare, Inc. (VNA) in support of creating Health Chat, a locally televised health education series for Branford residents 60 and older, and $1,500 to Shoreline Arts Alliance to support two summer season theatre education outreach programs for Branford children and seniors.

Founded in 1910 as the Branford Visiting Nurse Association, the mission of what is today known as VNA Community Healthcare is to promote and preserve the health, safety, dignity and independence of individuals with acute and chronic medical conditions, and provide support to their families. Licensed VNA staff offer clients throughout the community clinical home healthcare services, specialty nursing care and a wide range of wellness, chronic disease and family caregiver support programs. Home healthcare services are available to anyone, regardless of gender, race or age.

As healthcare evolves and the population ages, the ever growing need for Branford residents to take control of their own healthcare and health choices expands. Equally important is the desire for the aging population to remain safely at home. In that light, VNA Community Healthcare is producing, and will broadcast on BCTV, a soon to be interview style health education television series called Health Chat. Viewers will learn tips and tools on topics including: healthy aging, dementia, managing medications, preventing falls, exercise, nutrition, adult day centers, diabetic management, lung health, cardiac health, joint replacement surgery, technology and home care. Health Chat is targeted to Branford residents, 60 years of age and older. Grant funding from the Branford Community Foundation will be used to help create, film, edit, evaluate and promote 12 broadcast programs of Health Chat.

Since 2002, Shoreline Arts Alliance, the regional leader in cultivating artistic activity of the highest caliber, has presented free, professional quality, outdoor summer theatre performances of Shakespeare on the Shoreline, drawing crowds from all over the community with engaging, entertaining and educational performances. In conjunction with the summer 2016 production of Two Gentlemen of Verona, and in collaboration with Shakesperience Productions, Shoreline Arts Alliance has developed two educational outreach programs for additional learning opportunities including: 1) a participatory August performance for children and families of Gulliver’s Travels at the James Blackstone Memorial Library, and 2) public Round Table forums at Evergreen Woods and the Blackstone Library to discuss Two Gentlemen of Verona, enjoy script readings and encourage main stage production performance auditions. Each program is designed to engage young and more seasoned theatre lovers with a greater appreciation of the arts through the timeless and universal message of classic theatre

The Branford Community Foundation benefits all residents by pooling contributions from like-minded citizens, managing these funds with professional guidance, and then carefully granting a portion of the income generated to local, nonprofit organizations. As a multipurpose permanent local charitable endowment, the Branford Community Foundation helps to build a healthy and successful community by supporting everything from basic needs and health services, to local environmental issues and education, to the arts and other programs.