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Grantmaking for the Valley Community Foundation (VCF) has truly evolved over the years. In 2020, over $1.9 million was awarded to support Valley nonprofits.

From our small community grants program to first time grants of $10-$15,000, to comprehensive multi-year grants for projects, capacity building, and general operating support, VCF has made a growing impact in the Valley throughout its ten years of existence.

These investments have included adult literacy, leveraging federal funds for economic development opportunities, addressing children’s behavioral and mental health and early education, preventing blindness, and ensuring children have safe, fun, and educational after-school opportunities.

The purpose of VCF’s grant program is to fulfill the first part of our mission statement: to make the Valley a better place to live and work, both now and in the future. We do this by supporting the nonprofits that directly and indirectly affect the quality of life for the people in the Valley.

There are two broad categories of grants: those that are directed by a donor to a particular nonprofit or specific cause, such as grants from Donor Advised, donor designated, and scholarship funds; the others are discretionary grants.

With our preference and unrestricted funds, the donor has entrusted the Board of VCF to use its discretion to direct the use of their fund to meet the critical needs of the community.

The Affiliation Agreement with The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven (TCF) outlines an annual transfer of unrestricted funds from TCF to VCF based on their Gates Fund's annual distributable revenue. This substantial donation from TCF becomes part of our discretionary grant pool.

Our mission is to make the Valley a better place to live and work, both now and in the future, by connecting private philanthropy to the long-term public good of the Valley.

Note: This data reflects grants made through the New Responsive, Needs and Opportunities, Multi-year, and Community Grants programs. It does not include $135,000 in capacity building and community initiative support. These grant programs would not be possible without the significant financial and staffing contributions provided by our partner in philanthropy, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.

Responsive Grants
VCF’s annual Responsive Grants program is open to requests for organizational support and projects that serve Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, Shelton, and/or Oxford. These grants are awarded to address a nonprofit’s operating, programmatic, or capacity-building needs.

The following is a list of the 2020 VCF responsive grant recipients:

Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley - To provide general operating support for cultural, recreational, physical, and educational programs to Valley youth. $160,000

Central Connecticut Coast YMCA - To provide general operating support for the Valley YMCA programming that builds a healthy spirit, mind, and body for Valley residents. $140,000

Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center - To support the renovation and expansion of the reptile and amphibian habitat exhibit at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center. $25,000

Housatonic Council, Boy Scouts of America - To provide general operating support for scouting programs for Valley youth. $130,000

Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven - To provide general operating support for adult literacy tutoring in Greater New Haven and the Valley. $60,000

Massaro Community Farm, Inc. - To provide general operating support to maintain a historic farm using organic practices, to provide fresh produce to the needy, and to build community through farm-based education and events. $4,400*

Online Journalism Project, Inc. - To provide general operating support for The Valley Independent Sentinel. $160,000

Oxford Historical Society, Inc. - To support renovations and repairs of Mr. Munn’s Schoolhouse. $12,400*

Shelton Historical Society, Inc. - To support repairs of the Shelton History Center complex. $13,100*

TEAM, Inc. - To provide general operating support for multigenerational service delivery system focused on support services, early childhood, and elderly services. $180,000

Please Note – All grants except those that are starred represent multi-year support.

Needs and Opportunities grants range from $250 to $10,000 and are designed to promptly address the needs of Valley nonprofits through a simplified application process.

The following is a list of the 2020 VCF needs and opportunities grant recipients:

Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut, Inc. - To support the purchase of groceries for Valley seniors who are living at 150% or less of the Federal Poverty Level and are isolated due to the pandemic. $2,500

Ansonia Dr. King Bust Committee -
To support technology costs and public outreach for Unity in the Community, a series of online, interactive events focusing on issues of equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice, and compassion for all. TEAM is acting as the fiscal sponsor. $5,000

Best Buddies Connecticut - To support virtual programming for individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. $2,400

Center Stage Theatre, Inc. - To support the purchase of equipment to sustain theatrical programming during the pandemic. $9,925

Connecticut Hospice, Inc. - To support the purchase of personal protective equipment to keep Home Care staff and patients from the Valley safe during the current pandemic and until its elimination. $5,620

Connecticut Radio Information System, Inc. - To support audio recordings of publications and originally produced interview programs for children, youth, and adults in the Valley who are blind or print challenged. $5,000

CT Audubon Society at Milford Point - To support the virtual Science in Nature outdoor environmental education program. $9,758

Echo Hose Hook and Ladder Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc. - To support the purchase of technology, student chairs, tables, and a full-size training mannequin for three additional classrooms at the Community Training Center in order to provide socially distant training opportunities. $9,866

Kadiwaku Family Foundation - To support investment in technology in order to reach its beneficiaries, and to offer an educative weekly series focusing on crisis and trauma support services to promote mental health and wellbeing. $2,100

Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven - To support the purchase of a Lexia PowerUp Literacy software license to enable distance literacy tutoring during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. $550

Mishkan Israel Day Camp - To support a summer day camp season for underprivileged children from the Valley. $1,400

New Haven Symphony Orchestra - To support the Shelton Pops Series and Online Digital Content series. $10,000

Operation Fuel, Inc. - To support emergency energy assistance to families who have been financially impacted by the coronavirus and are living in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton. $20,000 (Note: Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Operation Fuel received two separate $10,000 grants for this project.)

Read to Grow - To support the creation and publication of a multi-cultural picture book that children can read with their parents to learn about COVID-19 precautions. $8,700

Regional Data Cooperative (DataHaven) - To support a rapid-response wave of the next Community Wellbeing Survey. $3,500

Seymour Ambulance Association - To support the replacement of a mass casualty/ special operations trailer. $10,000

TEAM, Inc. - To support the annual Toys4Kids toy drive. $10,000

Valley Shakespeare Festival - To support its September production of Cyrano in Shelton as well as to continue to develop and expand its online series offerings to Valley residents. $5,000

Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center - To support the costs of a social marketing/change plan/campaign for the Community Health Improvement Plan Heart Disease Working Group. $7,500

The Community Grants application process recognizes smaller, volunteer, or neighborhood groups with grant awards of up to $2,500.

The following is a list of the 2020 VCF community grant recipients:

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

All-America Valley Basketball Club - To support the purchase of uniforms and basketballs. $1,800

Annual Thanksgiving Basket Committee - To support the purchase of perishable and non-perishable food items and supplies for distribution of Thanksgiving baskets to families in need. $2,500

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

Derby Pop Warner - To support the purchase of skorts for cheerleader uniforms. $2,000

Music Mends Minds - To support the improvement of lives of patients with dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and PTSD through the healing power of music, which is an area of scientific inquiry that has begun to garner the attention of the medical community. $500

Shelton Farmers Market - To support the Shelton CT Farmers Market 2020. $2,415

Southford Falls Quilters LLC - To support programs that focus on new trends, tools, and techniques in the art of quilting. $2,500

Town of Seymour - To support an ongoing program specifically for senior citizens. $2,500

Valley Parish Nurse Program - To support the St. Margaret Mary Parish Nurse Program screenings and programs only. $1,110

Nonprofit organizations can apply for support from VCF for up to $2,500 for special events, especially those events that inform the community about a particular cause.

The following is a list of the 2020 VCF sponsorship grant recipients:

Adam Wysota Foundation

To sponsor the 2nd Annual Dancing with the Stars benefit. $1,000
To sponsor the 5th Annual Mistletoe & Margaritas - a holiday shopping night to support Adam’s House. $500

American Legion, Sutter-Terlizzi Post 16
To sponsor a Bicycle Safety Rodeo for Children. $500

Ansonia Rotary Club
To sponsor the Annual Community Services Awards presentation dinner. $400

Ansonia School Readiness
To sponsor the Annual Kindergarten Registration program. $750

BHcare
To sponsor the 32nd Annual Bowl-2-Benefit The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services. $1,000

Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley
To sponsor the 18th Commodore Hull Thanksgiving Day 5K Road Race. $2,500

Center Stage Theatre, Inc.

To sponsor a Teen Musical workshop. $1,000
To sponsor a Center Stage Christmas Show. $500

Connecticut Council for Philanthropy

To sponsor the 2020 Annual Conference. $1,000
To sponsor the CT Giving Report. $500

CT Audubon Society at Milford Point
To sponsor the Return of the Osprey Fundraiser. $500

Derby High School PTO
To sponsor a post-prom event. $750

Derby Historical Society

To sponsor the Annual Silver Tea. $850
To sponsor the Cultural Speaker Series. $650

Echo Hose Hook and Ladder Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc.
To sponsor a Socially Distant Career Fair at the Echo Hose Ambulance Training Center. $1,000

Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center
To sponsor the Earth Day celebration (Note: Canceled due to COVID-transferred for use as general operating support). $750

Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce
To sponsor the Valley’s Response to the Pandemic. $1,000

Griffin Hospital
To sponsor a virtual gala. $1,000

Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County
To sponsor the High School Business Challenge at Sacred Heart University. $1,000

Knights of Columbus Bernardo Council 1350
To sponsor a 5K Road Race. $500

Massaro Community Farm
To sponsor Valley Shakespeare Festival shows. $750

New Haven Symphony Orchestra

To sponsor the 2020 Vision Gala. $500
To sponsor the 2021 Gala. $1,000

Parent Child Resource Center
To sponsor a Chance to Shine. $1,000

Seymour Historical Society
To sponsor the 2020 Educational Speakers Series. $2,500

Seymour Pink
To sponsor the 9th Annual Pounding the Pavement for Pink 5K run/walk $2,500

Shelton Public Schools
To sponsor Strengthening the Bonds of Our Community. $2,500

Shelton Exchange Club Foundation, Inc.
To sponsor the 7th Annual Indoor Mini Golf Tournament. $500

St. Joseph High School
To sponsor the Maroon & Gold Gala. $500

TEAM, Inc.

To sponsor the 13th Annual Men Who Cook event. $1,000
To sponsor the annual Toys4Kids drive. $2,500

Town of Seymour
To sponsor a Health and Fitness WALKshop. $600

Valley Early Childhood Task Force
To sponsor the 13th Annual Read Across The Valley Event. $1,000

Grants from Donor Advised Funds are approved by the VCF Board of Directors upon request and with the participation of the Donor. Donor Advised Funds are one of the many ways fund holders can advise on an area they are passionate about while partnering with VCF to make an impact.

The following is a list of the 2020 VCF donor advised fund grant recipients:

A More Balanced World
Alliance for Prevention & Wellness
ALS Association, Connecticut Chapter
Alzheimer’s Association Connecticut Chapter
American Farmland Trust Farmer Relief Fund
American Red Cross, Connecticut Chapter
Ansonia Public Schools
Ansonia Rescue Medical Services
Area Congregations Together, Inc.
BHcare
Boy Scout Troop 3 Derby
Boy Scouts of America Troop 34
Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley
Capri Christian Church
Catholic Academy of Waterbury
Center Stage Theatre Inc.
Clark Memorial Library
New Haven Ecology Project (Common Ground)
Connecticut Burns Care Foundation
Connecticut Forest & Park Association
Connecticut Hospice, Inc.
Cornell College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Cub Scout Pack 3
Daughters of the American Revolution
Derby Historical Society
The Foundation School
Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center
Girl Scouts of Connecticut Inc.
Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce
Griffin Hospital
Griffin Hospital Development Fund
Housatonic Council, Boy Scouts of America
Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County
Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource Center
Master’s Table Community Meals Inc.
Mishkan Israel Day Camp
National Right to Work Legal Defense
and Education Foundation, Inc.
Our Daily Bread Food Pantry
Our Lady of Assumption Church
Read to Grow
Recreation Camp Inc.
Ronald McDonald House of CT, Inc.
Yale-New Haven Hospital
Saint Raphael Campus
Salvation Army, Greater Valley Corps
Seven Angels Theatre
Seymour High School
Seymour Oxford Rotary Club
Seymour Pink, Inc.
Shelburne Farms
Shelton Economic Development Corp.
Shelton High School
Shelton Historical Society, Inc.
Shelton Public Schools
St. Vincent de Paul of the Valley
Sweaters and Sustenance, Inc.
TEAM, Inc.
University of Connecticut Foundation, Inc.
University of Nebraska Foundation
University of New Haven
University of New Hampshire
Valley YMCA
Working Lands Alliance
Yale-New Haven Hospital

Designated Funds are established by a donor(s) to benefit one or more specific nonprofit(s). In addition, VCF manages the endowment and reserve funds of several local nonprofit organizations.

Designated Grants and Organizational Fund Transfers

The following is a list of the 2020 VCF donor designated funds grant recipients:

Ansonia Public Schools
Ansonia Rotary Club
Assumption Church
Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley
Center Stage Theatre, Inc.
Central Connecticut Coast YMCA
City of Derby
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
Derby Neck Library
Derby Public Library
Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce
Griffin Health Services, Inc.
Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource Center
Massaro Community Farm, Inc.
Oak Cliff Cemetery Association
Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Parish
Oxford High School
Planetree, a Subsidiary of Griffin Health Services, Inc.
Plumb Memorial Library
Recreation Camp Inc.
Seymour Oxford Food Bank
Seymour Oxford Rotary Club
Seymour Pink, Inc.
Shelton High School
Shelton Historical Society, Inc.
Shelton Public Schools
Storm Engine Company Ambulance Corps, Inc.
Rowland R. Strong & Edith H. Strong Memorial Scholarship Fund
TEAM, Inc.
Town of Seymour
Trinity Cemetery Association
Trinity Episcopal Church
Valley United Way
Valley YMCA
Woodbridge Town Library

Scholarship Funds provide awards and scholarships to students chosen through a selection process at individual high schools, elementary schools, or community organizations.

The following is a list of the 2020 VCF scholarship funds grant recipients:

Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall
American International College
Amity Regional High School
Ansonia High School
Assumption School
Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley
Bunnell High School
Central Connecticut State University
Derby High School
Emmett O’Brien Regional Technical School
Fairfield University
Hamden High School
Oxford High School
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Sacred Heart University
Seymour High School
Shelton High School
University of Connecticut
University of Delaware
University of New Haven
University of Vermont
West Haven High School

Unrestricted and Preference Funds allow the VCF Board of Directors to address a pressing need of an organization or community.

The following is a list of the 2020 VCF unrestricted and preference funds grant recipients:

Area Congregations Together, Inc.
BHcare
Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Hartford
Christ Episcopal Church
Connecticut Hospice, Inc.
Derby Historical Society
Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County
Rape Crisis Center of Milford, Inc.
Regional Data Cooperative (Data Haven)

The Valley Community Foundation (VCF) is pleased to announce that $860,400 has been awarded as a result of its 2019 Responsive Grants process. This includes support for 7 new organizations as well as previous multi-year funding for 16 additional nonprofits. These grant dollars will help provide a reliable source of funding during a time of financial uncertainty.

"The VCF Board is proud to serve as a continued source of stability for these local nonprofit organizations that are providing key services to those in need throughout the Valley," said Lynne Bassett Perry, VCF Board Chair.

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). The program is funded by a generous annual grant from TCF's Gates and other field of interest funds, as well as VCF's unrestricted and field of interest funds. Additionally, several of VCF's donor advised fundholders contributed from their funds to help make these grants possible. Supporting donor advised funds included the Agape Fund, the Alesevich Family Fund, the Mary Fund, the Joseph A. Pagliaro Sr. Family Fund, the Palazzi Family Fund, the Sally and Dominick Thomas Fund, the John Tyma Fund, and the Warichar Family Fund.

The following is a list of the 2019 VCF Responsive Grant recipients:

Area Congregations Together, Inc.: to provide general operating support for the provision of food, shelter, and support services to Valley people in need. $120,000

Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley: to support the enhancement of the safety and well-being of facilities, staff, volunteers, children and teens. $64,000

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Hartford: to support the Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic for Valley children, adolescents, and families. $75,000

Center Stage Theatre Inc.: to provide general operating support for theatrical productions and performing arts education. $60,000

Christ Episcopal Church: to provide general operating support for the Kathleen Samela Food Pantry. $75,000

Griffin Hospital: to support Phase 2 of a surgical expansion project to increase surgical capabilities and expand capacity to better serve surgical patients. $50,000

Shelton Economic Development Corporation: to support the administration of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the Naugatuck Valley Corridor/Economic Development District. $45,000

*These specific grant recipients received funding from both VCF and TCF during the 2019 Responsive Grants cycle.

Adam Wysota Foundation
– To sponsor the Dancing with the Stars benefit. $1,000
– To sponsor the 4th Annual Mistletoe & Margaritas - a holiday shopping night to support Adam’s House. $500

American Legion, Emil Senger Post 10
To sponsor one boy and one girl from Seymour to attend the Boys/Girls State Program. $700

American Legion, John Collins Post 24
To sponsor one boy and one girl from Derby to attend the Boys/Girls State Program. $700

American Legion, Sutter-Terlizzi Post 16
To sponsor one boy and one girl from Shelton to attend the Boys State and Girls State Program. $700

Ansonia Rotary Club
To sponsor the Annual Community Services Awards presentation dinner. $400

Association of Fundraising Professionals, Fairfield County Chapter
To sponsor the National Philanthropy Day Celebration. $900

BHcare
To sponsor the 31st annual Bowl-2- Benefit The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services. $1,000

Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley
– To sponsor The John “Red” Larsen Golf Classic. $500
– To sponsor the 18th Commodore Hull Thanksgiving Day 5K Road Race. $2,500

Celebrate Shelton
To sponsor the Mamas & Mimosas, Downtown Sounds Summer Concert Series, Food Trucks on the River, and the Community Tree Lighting events. $2,500

Center Stage Theatre, Inc.
To sponsor a Center Stage Christmas Show. $1,000

Central Connecticut Coast Young Men’s Christian Association, Inc.
To sponsor the Valley YMCA Annual Sunset 5K & 2 Mile Fitness Walk. $2,500

Christian Counseling & Family Life Center
To sponsor the 5K Health Body, Healthy Mind race. $500

Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps, Inc.
To sponsor a drum and bugle corps competition at Seymour High School. $500

Derby High School PTO
To sponsor a post prom event. $750

Derby Historical Society
– To sponsor the Annual Silver Tea. $750
– To sponsor the Autumn Tavern Night. $850
– To sponsor the 29th Annual Fundraising Appeal. $800

Friends of the Ansonia Library
To sponsor the performance of Osaki-san: William Gillette’s Gentleman Valet, in partnership with the East Haddam Stage Company. $425

Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center (FANCI)
– To sponsor the Earth Day celebration. $600
– To sponsor Autumn Fest. $500

Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce
To sponsor the annual Holiday Breakfast Club and Awards Celebration. $1,000

Griffin Hospital
To sponsor the Annual Griffin Gala. $1,000

Hidden Acres Therapeutic Riding Center –
To sponsor the 2nd annual Kentucky Derby Party and Fundraiser. $500

Housatonic Council, Boy Scouts of America
To sponsor the 25th Annual Valley Good Scout Award Ceremony. $1,000

Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County
- To sponsor the High School Business Challenge at Sacred Heart University. $1,000
– To sponsor the 19th Annual Golf Invitational. $250
– To sponsor the Business Hall of Fame. $1,000

Knights of Columbus Bernardo Council 1350
To sponsor a Family Mini-Golf Outing and a Banquet at St. Margaret Mary Church Hall to benefit Masters Table, St. Vincent de Paul, and Spooner House. $250

Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven
To sponsor the 18th Annual Scrabble Challenge. $500

Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource Center
To sponsor the Ride/Walk for Children at Quarry Walk. $1,000

Massaro Community Farm
To sponsor Valley Shakespeare Festival shows and additional fall-themed activities at the Farm. $1,000

Master’s Table Community Meals
To sponsor the 4th annual fundraiser, “At the Hop”. $500

Naugatuck YMCA
To sponsor the 1st Annual Bewitching Night. $250

Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut, Inc.
To sponsor the 37th Annual Winter Conference. $1,000

Oxford High School Booster Club, Inc.
To sponsor a Senior Night Lock-In event the evening before graduation. $750

Polish American Foundation of Connecticut, Inc.
To sponsor the 7th Annual International Folk Dance Festival. $500

Recreation Camp, Inc.
To sponsor the 103rd Annual FOBAL Feast at the Camp. $500

Seymour Christmas Parade Association
To sponsor the 47th Annual Seymour Christmas Parade. $1,000

Seymour High School Post Prom
To sponsor a post prom event. $750

Seymour Historical Society
To sponsor the 2019 educational speaker series. $2,500

Seymour Pink
To sponsor the 8th Annual Pounding the Pavement for Pink 5K run/walk. $2,500

Seymour Public Schools
To sponsor the Dialed Action Sports BMX team to present an anti-bullying, anti-substance abuse prevention program. $2,000

Shelton Exchange Club Foundation, Inc.
To sponsor the 7th Annual indoor mini golf tournament. $500

Shelton High School PTSO – To sponsor a post prom event. $750

Shelton High School Robotics Team – To sponsor the Shelton Robotix FLL Competition. $1,000

Shelton Historical Society – To sponsor its 2019 educational programs and events. $1,000

Shoreline Arts Alliance – To sponsor the 125th Anniversary Gala. $500

St. Joseph High School
– To sponsor a post prom event. $750
– To sponsor the Maroon & Gold Gala. $500

St. Mary St. Michael School
To sponsor the 11th Annual Housy River Duck Race. $500

St. Vincent de Paul of the Valley
To sponsor three holiday performances to benefit St. Vincent de Paul, TEAM’s Meals on Wheels Program, and Adam’s House. $1,000

TEAM, Inc.
– To sponsor Unity in the Community Dinner & Cabaret. $750
– To sponsor the 12th Annual Men Who Cook event. $1,000
– To sponsor the 3rd Intergenerational Fashion Show and Luncheon. $750
– To sponsor the Toys4Kids Kick-Off Breakfast. $1,000

The Kennedy Center
To sponsor the Annual Brewfest Fundraising Event. $1,000

Treasured Time
To sponsor the 3rd Annual Driving for Memories Golf Outing. $500

Troop 3 - Derby BSA Alumni & Friends Foundation, Inc.
To sponsor the 95th Annual Scout Gang Show. $500

United Methodist Homes
To sponsor the Wesley Village 50th Anniversary Extravaganza. $500

Valley Council for Health and Human Services
To sponsor the Annual Meeting. $500

Valley Early Childhood Task Force
To sponsor the 11th Annual Read Across The Valley Event. $1,500

Valley United Way
To sponsor the following events: Annual Fundraising Kickoff, Communitini, and Harvest House. $2,500

VCF announces more than $17,000 in community grants to eight local community grants.

Annual Thanksgiving Basket Program
To support the purchase of perishable and non-perishable food items and supplies for distribution of Thanksgiving baskets to families in need. $1,250

Derby Historical Society
To support Valley schools to defray the partial cost of their transportation to "A Day in 1762", a hands-on living history program at the General David Humphreys House. $2,500

Music Mends Minds (Valley Chapter)
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. $1,500

Oxford Senior Center Singers
To support the purchasing of a keyboard/synthesizer and accessories so that the Senior Center Singers will have accompaniment during their rehearsals and performances. $2,110

Seymour Soccer Association
To support an indoor winter activity that promotes physical activity, education, and soccer foot skills such as dribbling and ball handling. $2,500

Shelton Historical Society
To support an exhibit of rarely seen artifacts, photographs and documents throughout the Shelton History Center for the 50th anniversary of the Historical Society's founding as well as the 100th anniversary of the naming of the City of Shelton. $2,415

Shelton Youth Service Bureau
To support sending high school students to the Youth to Youth Eastern States Conference in Rhode Island. The conference focuses on a comprehensive approach to drug education and information, personal growth through decision making, environmental change, and drug free fun. $2,500

Southford Falls Quilters, LLC
To support demonstrations of techniques by members, and promotion and display of personal and charitable quilt making. $2,500

Charles L. Flynn Humanitarian Award – Valley United Way

Susan Coyle – Grant to the Valley United Way

Gold Seal Awards – Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce

Alan Tyma (Platinum) – Grants to BHcare, Griffin Hospital, Shelton Economic Development Corporation, and the John Tyma Fund at the Valley Community Foundation

Jason Carlucci (Gold) – Grants to the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley and St. Vincent de Paul of the Valley

Eric Hendlin (Gold) – Grant to the Shelton High School Marching Gael Parents Association

Nicole Herlot Mikula (Gold) – Grants to the Adam Wysota Foundation and Center Stage Theatre

Valley Soul Gospel Choir (Silver) – Grant to TEAM, Inc.

Good Scout Award – Housatonic Boy Scout Council

Thomas D’Addario – Grant to the Housatonic Council, Boy Scouts of America

Dr. John Ireland Howe Award – Derby Historical Society

Marian O’Keefe – Grant to the Derby Historical Society

Raymond P. Lavietes Service to Youth Award

Karen Bentlage – Grant to the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley

Silvia Rodriguez – Grant to the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley

Women Making a Difference – Valley Women’s Health Initiative

Barbara Casagrande – Grant to the Valley Breast Health Care Fund at the Valley Community Foundation

Dr. Joyce Chung – Grant to the Griffin Hospital Development Fund to support the Department of Radiation Oncology

Elizabeth Kennard – Grant to TEAM, Inc.

Elizabeth Johnson – Grant to Area Congregations Together, Inc.

Kathy Radin – Grant to the Valley Breast Health Care Fund at the Valley Community Foundation

Maggie Sessa – Grant to the Griffin Hospital Development Fund to support the food bank for people receiving cancer treatment

In Recognition for their Service

Fred Ortoli – in honor of his retirement after years of capturing all the memorable events in the Valley. Grants to the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Lower Naugatuck Parent Child Resource Center, and TEAM, Inc.

American Red Cross, CT Chapter
Animal Haven, Inc.
Ansonia Public Schools
Ansonia Rescue Medical Services
Area Congregations Together, Inc.
Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley
Boy Scout Troop 3 Derby
Bridgeport Hospital Foundation, Inc.
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Hartford
Center Stage Theatre, Inc.
Christ Episcopal Church
Clark Memorial Library
Connecticut Hospice, Inc.
Connecticut Forest & Park Association
Cornell College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Doctors Without Borders
Derby Historical Society
Derby Running Club
DonorsChoose.org
Eagle Hose #6
East Haven Food Pantry at Epiphany Church of Christ
Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center (FANCI)
Girl Scouts of Connecticut, Inc.
Griffin Hospital
Griffin Hospital Development Fund
Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce
Housatonic Council, Boy Scouts of America
IRIS - Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services
Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County
Literacy Volunteers of Southern Connecticut
Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource Center
Massaro Community Farm, Inc.
Master’s Table Community Meals, Inc.
Mishkan Israel Day Camp TEAM, Inc.
National Right to Work Legal Defense
and Education Foundation
Pathfinders Associates, Inc.
Recreation Camp, Inc.
Ronald McDonald House of CT, Inc.
Salvation Army, Greater Valley Corps
Seymour High School
Seymour Oxford Food Bank
Shelburne Farms
Shelton Economic Development Corporation
Shelton High School
Shelton Historical Society
Shelton Land Conservation Trust
Southbury Land Trust
St. Vincent de Paul of the Valley
Susanna Wesley School
TEAM, Inc.
The Foundation School
Working Lands Alliance
University of New Haven
Valley YMCA
Yale-New Haven Hospital Saint Raphael Campus

Ansonia Public Schools
Ansonia Rotary Club
Assumption Church
Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley
Center Stage Theatre, Inc.
Central Connecticut Coast YMCA
City of Derby
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
Derby Neck Library
Derby Public Library
Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce
Griffin Hospital
Housatonic Council, Boy Scouts of America
Lower Naugatuck Valley
Parent Child Resource Center
Oak Cliff Cemetery Association
Oxford High School
Planetree, a Subsidiary of
Griffin Health Services, Inc.
Plumb Memorial Library
Recreation Camp, Inc.
Seymour Oxford Rotary Club
Seymour Pink, Inc.
Shelton High School
Shelton Historical Society
St. Mary’s Church
Storm Engine Company Ambulance Corps, Inc.
TEAM, Inc.
Town of Seymour
Trinity Cemetery Association
Trinity Episcopal Church
Valley YMCA
Valley United Way
Woodbridge Town Library

Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall
Amity Regional High School
Ansonia High School
Assumption School
Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley
Bunnell High School
Central Connecticut State University
Delaware Valley University
Derby High School
Derby Public Schools
DeSales University
Emmett O’Brien Regional Technical School
Fairfield University
Hamden High School
Johnson and Wales University
Oxford High School
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Sacred Heart University
Seymour High School
Shelton High School
The Culinary Institute of America
University of Bridgeport
University of Connecticut
University of Delaware
University of New Haven
University of Vermont
West Haven High School

BHcare
Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley
Central Connecticut Coast YMCA
Derby Historical Society
Griffin Hospital
Housatonic Council, Boy Scouts of America
Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven
Online Journalism Project, Inc.
Salvation Army, Greater Valley Corps
TEAM, Inc.
Valley Council for Health and Human Services
Valley Emergency Medical Services

The Valley Community Foundation (VCF) is pleased to announce that $740,250 has been awarded as a result of its 2018 Responsive Grants process. This includes support for 11 new organizations as well as previous multi-year funding for 14 additional nonprofits. These grant dollars will help provide a reliable source of funding during a time of financial uncertainty.

"The VCF Board is pleased to serve as a catalyst and partner with local nonprofits to support worthwhile missions that serve our Valley communities," said Alan Tyma, VCF Board Chair.

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). The program is funded by a generous annual grant from TCF's Gates and other field of interest funds, as well as VCF's unrestricted and field of interest funds. Additionally, several of VCF's donor advised fundholders contributed from their funds to help make these grants possible. Supporting donor advised funds included: the Agape Fund, the Salvatore and Linda Tiano Coppola Family Fund, the Konwerski Family Fund, the Mary Fund, the Palazzi Family Fund, the Smythe Family Fund, the Sally and Dominick Thomas Fund, the John Tyma Fund, and the Warichar Family Fund.

In addition, VCF was one of the recipients of the 2017 DiMatteo Group's Annual Charitable Foundation Golf Tournament to support the 2018 Responsive Grant process. Working with VCF staff, the DiMatteo Group selected Valley Emergency Medical Services as the recipient of these funds.

The following is a list of the 2018 VCF Responsive Grant recipients:

BHcare*: to support a Medication Assisted Therapy program at clinics in Ansonia and Branford to address the opioid epidemic. $70,000 (VCF); $80,000 (TCF)

Capital for Change*: to support a program to provide technical assistance and loans to Greater New Haven nonprofit organizations for working capital, cash flow, building purchase, and/or renovations and energy efficiency improvements. $6,250 (VCF); $18,750 (TCF)

Derby Historical Society: to provide general operating support to preserve, maintain and celebrate the history of Derby. $30,000

Griffin Hospital: to support a 12-week education and exercise program to improve the health of individuals diagnosed with diabetes and pre-diabetes. $25,000

Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County: to support the Life-Prep Initiative which will provide financial education to K-12 students in Derby and Ansonia. $80,000

Lincoln Senior Housing: to support the purchase and installation of an emergency generator for its 34-apartment senior living facility to safeguard the safety and health of residents during power outages. $10,000

Naugatuck Valley Health District: to support A Matter of Balance, a fall prevention program for older adults in the Valley. $24,000

Rape Crisis Center of Milford, Inc.*: to provide general operating support for educational programming to end sexual assault and for comprehensive and culturally competent sexual assault victim services. $30,000 (VCF); $45,000 (TCF)

Valley Emergency Medical Services: to support the purchase of 2 Life Pak 15 Cardiac Monitors. $30,000

Wesley Heights, Inc.: to support Mentally Engaging through Technology, a new project that will provide multi-sensory stimulation through computer technology for elderly residents with early cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer's disease. $20,000

Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center: to support the Addressing Chronic Conditions in Elementary and Secondary Schools program which will improve the identification, management, and tracking of students with chronic health conditions in the Ansonia, Derby and Shelton public school districts. $30,000

*These specific grant recipients received funding from both the Valley Community Foundation and its partner in philanthropy, TCF, during the 2018 Responsive Grants cycle. Joint funding was awarded in consideration of the nonprofit organization providing services throughout TCF's 20-town region, with a significant presence in the Valley.

*These specific grant recipients received funding from both VCF and TCF during the 2018 Responsive Grants cycle.