Free Concert in Seymour May 6

Valley Residents Can Apply for Financial Aid at Music School

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Neighborhood Music School (NMS) invites residents from towns located in the Naugatuck Valley to apply for financial aid for its lessons, classes and ensembles. Funds are available to those who qualify through a generous grant from the Katharine Matthies Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee.

 

Eligible towns are: Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton.

 

Neighborhood Music School, a non-profit organization located in the Audubon Arts district of New Haven, was established in 1911. It is one of the 10 largest community arts schools in the country. NMS offers private music lessons on more than 30 instruments for both children and adults; group music classes; classical, rock and jazz ensembles; and a Suzuki program. The school’s dance program offers classes for adults and children in ballet, modern, tap, jazz, hip-hop and yoga. Summer offerings include weeklong workshops in rock, jazz and chamber music.

 

Interested students can learn about NMS’s program offerings by visiting the website at NeighborhoodMusicSchool.org. Financial aid applicants can fill out an application form online and will be contacted by the school’s financial aid coordinator.

 

NMS programs are made possible with support from the Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development - Office of the Arts and the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, along with many other generous foundations and individuals.

 

About the Katharine Matthies Foundation

The Katharine Matthies Foundation was established in 1987 to support and promote quality educational, human services, and health care programming for underserved populations. The Matthies Foundation specifically serves the people of the Lower Naugatuck Valley.

 

 

 

                                                                           

Katharine Matthies Foundation splits $900K among nonprofits in Valley

By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
Register Correspondent

The Katharine Matthies Foundation has awarded nearly $900,000 in grants to benefit nonprofit organizations serving the Lower Naugatuck Valley.

According to Kate Kerchaert, vice president of US Trust for Bank of America, 71 grants were distributed to organizations in Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton.

The foundation was established in 1987 following the death of prominent Seymour resident and philanthropist Katharine Matthies. The foundation annually marks Matthies’ spirit of philanthropy by awarding grant money to Valley organizations that meet social and community needs.

Valley Emergency Medical Services Executive Director Robert Pettinella was grateful for the $30,000 grant which will help purchase a new, lifesaving heart monitor/defibrillator.
Read more here.

Foundations assist TEAM to serve Shelton fire victims

Three major Valley funders, the Valley Community Foundation, Valley United Way and the Katharine Matthies Foundation, are helping Derby-based TEAM Inc. serve the Jan. 6 Shelton fire victims.
 

Shortly after the Jan. 6 blaze that destroyed a city block along Howe Avenue in Shelton TEAM Inc. became the lead agency in helping resettle the fire victims.
The fire displaced 29 people who were living in 23 low-income apartments above the stores destroyed in the fire.

BHCare is helping secure housing for their clients who were affected by the fire and the Red Cross helped fire victims find immediate short-term housing. The majority of the fire victims are being assisted by TEAM Inc.

TEAM Inc. staff has worked tirelessly to help fire victims identify potential housing sources, find donated furniture and clothing and secure security deposits on new apartments.
The work has taken precedence over TEAM's daily operations and has created a significant ripple effect in the amount of work needed to be completed by the Derby-based nonprofit.

As a result, the Valley Community Foundation and the Valley United Way each committed $5,000 and the Katharine Matthies Foundation, for which Bank of America serves as Trustee, donated $7,500 towards TEAM's work to help fire victims cover the costs of initial rent payments and security deposits, which are often double or triple the cost of one month's rent.

 TEAM Inc. also received assistance from The Howe Avenue Relief Fund (created by the Echo Hose Hook & Ladder Company 1 that responded to the fire), the state Department of Social Services and New Haven Home Recovery to help fire victims cover move-in costs.
The total estimated cost for helping the fire victims is $20,000.

Thanks to TEAM's tireless work, seven fire victims have already found new apartments, and more are in the process of securing apartments. TEAM has collected enough furniture to help individuals replace what they lost in the fire.

"The United Way is pleased to be able to help the displaced tenants get back on their feet," said Jack Walsh, President and Chief Operating Officer, Valley United Way.
"The efforts of the firemen and other first responders have been incredible and the outpouring of support from the community was exceptional. We are pleased to support TEAM, whose effort is now focused on bringing some normalcy back to the lives of the displaced by getting them into permanent housing."

"Shortly after learning how devastating the fire was, Jack Walsh and I were on the phone to figure out where our resources could best be put to use to help the fire victims. Our Board of Directors quickly agreed that it was important to support TEAM while they take on this unexpected task without diverting their much-needed resources from the community they serve," said Valley Community Foundation President and CEO Sharon Closius.

"We at TEAM were so impressed to see how quickly the entire Valley rallied around the fire victims," said TEAM Inc. President & CEO Richard Knoll.
"We are especially grateful to the Valley's three biggest funders for coming together to help us recover the costs of resettling the victims, which will allow us to continue our regular work of serving the area's economically vulnerable."

About the funders

Thanks to the generosity of Valley donors, hundreds of thousands of grant dollars each year are distributed from the Valley Community Foundation (VCF). In addition to grantmaking, VCF works in strong partnership with The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven toward building a stronger community by: working closely with donors to grow and deepen the impact of their philanthropy; identifying and supporting grassroots leadership; and strengthening nonprofits and promoting philanthropy through technical assistance programs.

For more information, visit www.valleyfoundation.org; find VCF on Facebook and Twitter. 

   

The Katharine Matthies Foundation was established in 1987 to support and promote quality educational, human services, and health care programming for underserved populations.
Special consideration is given to organizations that work to prevent cruelty to children and animals. The Matthies Foundation specifically serves the people of the Lower Naugatuck Valley. KMF is administered by Bank of America.

Valley United Way is the leading philanthropic resource for the Valley towns of Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton matching the needs of the community and the interests of donors to improve the quality of life in the community. United Way supports and creates initiatives addressing youth, families and people in crisis.

Each year Valley United Way funds programs and organizations that make a measurable difference in the lives of people living and working in the Valley.

This is a press release from The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.

Derby library to hold Family Place workshops in May

       DERBY - The spring session of Family Place Parent/Child Workshops will be offered 10-11:15 a.m. May 6, 13, and 20 at Derby Public Library.

   
       This innovative program is a time for families to share together with their one to three-year olds. Siblings age five and under are also welcome to attend. 

The workshops feature puzzles, books, blocks, a craft, dramatic play and more.
Parents/caregivers will also be introduced to some of the many resources available to them to assist in the raising of their toddlers and have an opportunity to meet new friends in an educational and creative environment.

       Each workshop will focus on a different topic and will feature a professional from the community who will be available to discuss parenting questions and concerns.  Topics will include child development, nutrition, immunization and more. 
        Do not miss the opportunity to consult with experts on a no-fee basis while your child enjoys a wonderful play experience. Space is limited; registration is requested.  Families are encouraged to attend all the workshops to obtain the full benefits.

        For more information or to register, stop by the Library at 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482 or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.

       The Family Place is a national initiative of Americans for Libraries Council and Middle Country Library. 
      The Family Place of Connecticut is made possible through the generous support of the Katharine Matthies Foundation.


This information is taken from a press release from Derby Public Library.