Valley Community Foundation Awards $595,000 in Single- and Multi-year Grants to Valley Nonprofits
Grants will impact basic needs, youth development, healthcare and performing arts.
Derby, CT (November 22, 2016) - The Valley Community Foundation (VCF) is pleased to announce it has awarded $595,000 in single- and multi-year grants to 13 nonprofits providing services to Valley residents. Grants were awarded through VCF's responsive grantmaking cycle, which is done with its partner in philanthropy, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven (TCF).
"There have been severe budget cuts to our nonprofits over the past number of years," says Sharon Closius, VCF President & CEO. "The programs they provide are critical in addressing some of the needs highlighted in the recently released 2016 Valley Community Index. VCF has a thorough application review process and, with the help of so many donors, we are able to support many of the requests received."
VCF's Responsive Grant Program is funded by a generous annual grant from TCF's Gates and field of interest funds as well as VCF field of interest funds. The Gates Fund, established in 1952, is one of the largest funds at TCF, which supports the residents of Derby and vicinity.
Additionally, 13 donor advised fundholders at VCF contributed funds to the amount allocated through this granting program. These funds include: Agape Fund, Bassett Family Fund, Salvatore and Linda Tiano Coppola Family Fund, D'Addario Fund, Haywood Fund, Kaplan Fund, Konwerski Fund, Mary Fund, Joseph A. Pagliaro, Sr. Family Fund, Palazzi Fund, Sally and Dominic Thomas Fund, John Tyma Fund, and Warichar Family Fund.
2016 Responsive Grant Recipients:
Area Congregations Together, Inc. to provide general operating support for the provision of food, shelter and support services to 4,000 Valley people in need; $120,000BHcare to support one-time merger costs with the Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource Center; $70,000
Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley to support capacity building in the areas of marketing, development, human resources and staff leadership to sustain growth of organization and prevent service disruption to its 2,717 members; $90,000
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Hartford to support the Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic for children which promotes the emotional, psychological, and physical well-being of the Valley's neediest children, adolescents, and their families; $60,000
Center Stage Theatre Inc. to provide general operating support for growth and education through performing arts programming, participation in and access to live theater; $55,000
Central Connecticut Coast YMCA to provide general operating support for the Valley YMCA; $25,000
Derby Day Care Center to support the purchase of playground equipment to meet national guidelines for physical activity, thus reducing incidences of obesity and creating a safe space for children; $20,000
Griffin Hospital to support the Advance Care Planning program which ensures that patients' choices at the end of their life are known and implemented; $20,000
Housatonic Council, Boy Scouts of America to provide general operating support for scouting programs for 1,000 Valley youth; $30,000
Naugatuck Valley Health District to support Freedom2Breathe which raises awareness about asthma and provides education about asthma to parents, caregivers and workers in childcare settings in the Valley; $55,000
Salvation Army, Greater Valley Corps to support the Client Choice Food Pantry to meet its increased demand for food assistance for 4,000 individuals annually; $20,000
Valley Emergency Medical Services to support the replacement of a Life-Pak 15 Cardiac Monitor, a life saving tool utilized in its response to close to 6,500 requests for emergency paramedic service; $20,000
Workplace, Inc. to support the Ansonia and Derby American Job Centers; $10,000
About the Valley Community Foundation:
Established in 2004, the Valley Community Foundation distributes hundreds of thousands of grant dollars 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. To learn how your gifts of cash, life insurance, appreciated stocks, bonds, real estate, and other assets can help to support the quality of life in the Valley, please visit the website at www.valleyfoundation.org or contact VCF President & CEO, Sharon Closius, at sclosius@valleyfoundation.org or 203-751-9162.
