Regional Organizations Awarded more than $50,000 in Fourth Round of Grants from Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund

December 14, 2020 – DERBY, CT – Representatives from Valley Community Foundation, Valley United Way, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Valley Council of Health & Human Services are pleased to announce that grants totaling $53,100 have been distributed to 12 organizations in a fourth round of funding from the Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.

These grants include funding for personal protective equipment (PPE) and support for telehealth, virtual wellness, and remote access programming for organizations whose staff is working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants awarded are made possible thanks to those who continue to generously support this fund.

Sharon Closius, Valley Community Foundation President and CEO, said, “As a second wave of the pandemic arrives and the most vulnerable face mounting challenges, we are pleased to be able to address the diverse needs in our region with funding from those who have generously supported the Valley’s response and recovery efforts. Together with our community partners, we remain committed to ensuring the nonprofits in the Valley serving on the front lines of COVID response have the resources to help those affected.”

Since the Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund was established in March, nearly $145,000 in grants have been awarded. The Fund is continuing to assist a range of organizations serving the Valley throughout both the response and recovery phases of this pandemic.

Grants awarded include:

Abundant Life Ministries - $5,000 to distribute 200+ health and wellness kits to Valley seniors.

BHcare - $5,000 to support the purchase of PPE and cleaning supplies.

Center Stage Theatre - $2,000 to support the purchase of PPE and cleaning supplies.

Derby Historical Society - $5,000 to support the education of Valley students and families through online programming and website upgrades.

Echo Hose Hook and Ladder Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc. - $5,000 to provide support for increased emergency staffing due to rising cases of the pandemic.

Griffin Hospital - $5,000 to provide support for PPE equipment and supplies for hospital staff.

Julia Day Nursery - $4,400 to support an internet upgrade for staff to work with Valley children and families in a hybrid education model.

Life Health and Wellness Center - $5,000 to provide science, technology, engineering, and mathematical educational assistance for elementary students in Ansonia impacted by COVID-19.

Seymour Ambulance Association - $5,000 to provide support for PPE and operations.

Seymour Land Trust - $4,200 to provide support for continued operation of an emergency blood drive site for the Valley.

TEAM, Inc. - $5,000 to provide support for the 2020 Toys4Kids Holiday Toy Drive.

Valley Shakespeare Festival - $2,500 to provide support for live and remote theatrical performances.

A full list of grants that have been awarded from the COVID-19 Fund to date is available here.

To support the Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, visit www.valleyfoundation.org. Gifts via credit card are strongly preferred over checks to reduce processing time. Checks can however be made out to Valley Community Response and Recovery Fund and mailed to 253-A Elizabeth St., Derby, CT 06418.

The Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund was created in response to COVID-19 by the Valley Community Foundation, Valley United Way, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Valley Council for Health & Human Services. The Fund will rapidly deploy resources to organizations who support those in the Valley Region who are most significantly affected by the pandemic.

About The Valley Community Foundation
Established in 2004, the Valley Community Foundation distributes approximately $1.6 million in grants each year to support the local nonprofit sector and the people it serves. In addition to grantmaking, VCF works in strong partnership with The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven (TCF), to promote philanthropy in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton and receives funding from The Gates Fund and other preference funds at TCF that benefit the Valley. For more information, visit www.valleyfoundation.org.