The Valley Community Foundation Awards Community Grants to Support Local Programs

DERBY, CT (April 24, 2020) - The Valley Community Foundation (VCF) announced it has awarded a total of $19,592 in its annual Community Grants Program to 10 community groups serving the Valley. These grants will support health initiatives, students, athletics, and more in the region.

Sharon Closius, VCF President & CEO, said, "During a time when we are all adapting to a new normal, we are proud to be able to offer funding through our Community Grants Program to support volunteer groups and nonprofits with limited staff in our Valley's five towns. These 10 grants totaling nearly $20,000 will support meaningful, local endeavors."

Applications for the Valley Community Grants Program are considered through a request for proposal process. These grants are responsive to community groups that are volunteer or nonprofit in nature, serve Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and/or Shelton, and have less than two full-time or four part-time staff. Community Grants range from $250 to $2,500 and can be for new or recurring programs to support civic and community engagement efforts.

2020 Community Grant Recipients:

Adam Wysota Foundation - $2,500 to support a pilot program of grief education and peer support for college-aged young adults.

All-America Valley Basketball Club - $1,800 to support the purchase of basketballs and uniforms for club participants.

Annual Thanksgiving Basket Committee - $2,500 to support Valley families in need with a basket of food for Thanksgiving 2020.

Ansonia High School - $1,682 to support the publication of a multicultural cookbook created by students at Ansonia High School.

Derby Pop Warner - $2,000 to support the purchase of new cheerleading uniforms.

Music Mends Minds (Valley Chapter) - $500 to support the improvement of the lives of patients with dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and PTSD through the healing power of music.

Shelton CT Farmers Market - $2,500 to support the Shelton, CT Farmers Market 2020.

Southford Falls Quilters, LLC - $2,500 to support the Southford Falls Quilters programs for 2020-2021.

Town of Seymour - $2,500 to support ongoing programs (including remote and online) for senior citizens.

Valley Parish Nurses - $1,110 to support wellness programs and blood pressure clinics for seniors in the community.

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.