The Community Foundation awards more than $2.4 million to Greater New Haven nonprofits

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, the permanent endowment and largest grantmaker to nonprofit organizations serving the Greater New Haven region, announces that it has awarded $2,405,044 in one-year and multi-year grants to 43 nonprofits serving its 20-town region.

These grants are the culmination of The Community Foundation’s largest, annual competitive grants process, which began in March with 123 applicants requesting $9.2 million in total funding. This competitive process is only one element of The Foundation’s overall grantmaking, which is expected to exceed $20 million in total competitive and non-competitive grants in 2014.

“Each year The Community Foundation’s competitive grantmaking process highlights all the great work being done by nonprofits in our community and poses very difficult decisions for us in choosing which grants to support. As always, in making these decisions we have sought to find a balance among our community’s many opportunities and needs,” said William W. Ginsberg, president and CEO of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.

Grants broken down by category are as follows: protecting the environment (1 grant for $20,000), supporting arts and culture (3 grants for $120,500), promoting civic vitality (4 grants for $183,000), boosting economic success (4 grants for $170,000), nurturing children and youth (6 grants for $278,000), meeting basic needs (7 grants for $355,000) and providing quality education (9 grants for $350,000). Because The Community Foundation has a sizable number of preference funds that support health services, the largest number of grants was made in the category of ensuring health and wellness (9 grants for $882,544), as in years past.

In seeing greater evidence that there is a transition occurring in the manner in which homeless shelter services are funded and delivered, The Community Foundation awarded several grants to nonprofits serving the homeless population in the region to ensure individuals and families at risk of being homeless or who are chronically homeless do not experience an interruption in services. These grant recipients include: Christian Community Action, Columbus House, Community Soup Kitchen, Connecticut Veterans Legal Center, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen, New Reach and Youth Continuum.

In alignment with emerging strategies identified by The Foundation’s Board of Directors, two grants were awarded to address issues of 1) incarceration and community reentry and 2) immigration integration. The Connecticut Women’s Consortium received $160,000 to support trauma-informed, gender responsive training and technical assistance to four agencies that provide services to formerly incarcerated individuals reentering the Greater New Haven community. That grant follows a decision by the Board earlier in the year to award $50,000 to The Transitions Clinic Network to serve the reentry population. To support immigration integration, JUNTA, which ensures that the rights of immigrants are respected and protected and that the Latino population is better represented in all segments of the community, received $50,000 for its general operations.

“The Community Foundation is committed to making New Haven and the region a welcoming community to all including the most vulnerable among us. This means ensuring that nonprofit organizations are prepared to serve the most vulnerable populations like undocumented immigrants and those returning to the region after incarceration. We want to ensure that these individuals have access to well-coordinated and quality services and that they have the tools they need to become civically engaged citizens. The Community Foundation has a long history working in these two areas and is committed to making more strategic investments that will lead to positive outcomes for individuals and the community,” says Christina Ciociola, Senior Vice President for Grantmaking & Strategy.

Illustrating how preference funds are used to support requests that align with donor intent, distributions from the Konopacke and Phelps Funds were used to support a local animal shelter and services for the aging, respectively.

Thanks to the Lillian and Henry Konopacke Fund, a grant was awarded to Animal Haven Inc., a private, nonprofit no-kill shelter for homeless cats and dogs located in North Haven. The Konopacke Fund was created in 2013 by bequest of New Haven native Henry Konopacke, who worked as a machinist at the Winchester Repeating Arms Factory. The fund states a preference to assist nonprofit animal shelters in the Greater New Haven area. The grant will be used to train staff and upgrade Animal Haven’s facility to prevent disease, ensure animal health and wellbeing and serve as a model for other shelters in Connecticut.

The John P. & Cora E. Phelps fund was established in 1962 as a preference fund by bequest of Emma P. Pelton, in honor of her grandfather and mother. A grant to the Town of Hamden was made possible from the fund for the Hamden Phelps Community Project, which provides short-term or emergency support to needy senior residents.

“Honoring donor intent is central to The Community Foundation’s grantmaking,” says Angela Powers, senior vice president for Development, Stewardship and Donor Services at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. “We are very pleased to have identified grants that will make our community stronger in ways envisioned by Mr. Konopacke and Ms. Pelton.”

This year, as in the past, the responsive grant process for the Lower Naugatuck Valley was carried out collaboratively with The Community Foundation’s affiliate, the Valley Community Foundation. In addition to The Community Foundation’s $2.4 million, 12 Valley grants totaling $420,304 were awarded by the Valley Community Foundation, including one joint grant by the two foundations to Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven to help reestablish its literacy program in the Valley.

A complete list of grant recipients is available at http://www.cfgnh.org/

This is a press release from Tricia Caldwell, communications manager for The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.

Valley agencies benefit from drive at Shelton shop

Needy children to go back to school in style

Pictured at J Cuts in Shelton are front row from left:  Tylice MacDonald, Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource Center; Jennifer Sneider, owner, J Cuts; Karen Martinez, Child FIRST Care Coordinator, LNV PCRC.  Back row from left:  Jen DeLeon, Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley; Jane Bailey, Shelton School Readiness Council; and Suzanne Reilly, Director,  Family Support Services, TEAM Inc. / Contributed photo 


SHELTON - When it comes to children in need, the Valley always comes through.

For the eighth consecutive year, an Annual Book Bag & School Supply drive has been a great success.  More than 100 book bags and an abundance of back to school supplies were collected this year. 

This drive was originally started by the owners of Luther's Garage, which is now closed. It continues on an annual basis through J Cuts at 505 Howe Ave.

Each year beginning July 1, Jennifer Sneider, owner of J Cuts, provides the main collection location for supplies such as book bags, book covers, rulers, pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, binders, glue, crayons, calculators, pencil sharpeners, paper, folders, and more.  

"The outpouring kindness of the community always warms my heart," Sneider said. “So many people stop by to drop off donations. Many of my customers do not hesitate to hand me five or 10 dollars so I can pick up what we are falling short on.  It is amazing how it all balances out for children in need.” 

Minuteman Press at 427B Howe Ave., donated collection posters again this year. 

For a third year the Shelton Community Lions Club collected supplies during weekly summer concerts on the Huntington Green.  As a result, they were able to contribute greatly to the drive.

The Shelton Community Lions Club purchases eye glasses for less fortunate children, coordinates pediatric eye screenings for daycare centers, and runs a poster contest for 11-13 year olds.

For the first time this year, Rehabilitation Associates, Inc. at 1931 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield, held a collection and dropped off supplies at J Cuts.
 In addition, members of the First United Methodist Church in Shelton held their own drive and dropped off some last minute donations.
 

As an added bonus this year, coordinators of the drive were contacted by Jackie Romaniuk, Dental Health Care Specialist with the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership (CTDHP), the dental plan for HUSKY Health. 

They provided oral kits each containing a tooth brush, toothpaste, floss and oral health education. 

The CTDHP is the dental plan for HUSKY Health and promotes good oral hygiene to more than 700,000 children and adults on the HUSKY Health plan. For the last two years, CTDHP has partnered with community agencies, primary care providers and OB/GYN offices across the state to share oral health kits with children and pregnant women who are HUSKY Health members.

“The oral health kits contain tips to keep the mouth healthy as well as the importance of maintaining a healthy mouth to maintain a person’s general health," Romaniuk said. "The beginning of the school year traditionally correlates with starting new routines and habits. This seems like the perfect opportunity to spread the oral health message of the importance of daily oral hygiene and scheduling a dental exam.”

HUSKY Health members can contact the CTDHP call center at 855- CT- DENTAL or visit www.ctdhp.com for help connecting to one of the 1,900 dental providers available.  

Children receiving donations from this community drive are served by TEAM, Inc.in Derby, the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Shelton School Readiness Program and the Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource Center, all in Shelton, and BHcare in Ansonia.

The oral kits were given to students who received back to school donations, as well as kindergarten students at Irving School in Derby and the Milford Department of Children & Families office.

Monkey Love Drive

J Cuts will be the main collection site beginning Jan. 1 for the Ninth Annual Monkey Love Valentine Drive.  

Although this community drive officially kicks off on Jan. 1, donations are accepted at any time.  Donations must be new, stuffed monkeys with tags.

This drive will benefit the same groups of children in need as the Back to School Book Bag & School Supply Drive.

The more stuffed monkeys collected, the more the donations will be shared with additional agencies who assist needy children.

Any individual, group, business or organization is welcome to join in the Annual Monkey Love Valentine Drive by holding a collection. 

Call Sneider at 203-924-4107 with questions or for more information.

This post is taken from a lightly edited press release from the drive organizers.

'Great Give' starts today in Valley, New Haven

Foundations sponsor online event 

Valley non-profit organizations – the agencies that shore up the cracks in community services – are appealing to potential donors for support during The Great Give^® annual fundraising campaign.

The Great Give^® 2014 is a 36-hour online giving event today and Wednesday on giveGreater.org®, with presenting sponsors the Valley Community Foundation and The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.

Non-profits can increase the funds they receive during the drive through matching grants and prizes the foundations have coordinated.

The Great Give^® will begin at 8 a.m. May 6 and end at 8 p.m. May 7. Donations must be made online at www.thegreatgive.org with MasterCard, Visa or American Express credit cards to count toward matching grants.

“Last year, Valley residents gave more than $60,000 to non-profits in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton,” said Sharon Closius, VCF President and CEO. “That was triple the amount donated in 2012 – a wonderful response that allowed non-profits to continue providing much-needed services.”

With the Valley still struggling economically, Closius said, the services non-profits provide make a crucial difference to the quality of life for our residents. 
“Whether the non-profit helps people feed their families, find jobs, and recover from abuse or addiction, or supports education, health and culture, all are essential elements of any thriving community,” she said.

This year’s giving campaign coincides with a national day of giving, Give Local America, established to celebrate the centennial anniversary of community foundations. Give Local America has engaged communities across the country that are urging their residents to support local non-profits. “When you support a local non-profit, you know your gift is directly benefiting your community,” Closius said. 

For more information about The Great Give 2014, visit givegreater@cfgnh.org or call 203-777-2386.

This video was created by John Corraro, a college student who has interned with Center Stage in Shelton and the Valley Community Foundation.

Center Stage is one of nearly 40 non-profits in the Valley participating in the online giving event.


This is a press release from the Valley Community Foundation.

Oxford Historical Society to take part in giving challenge

OXFORD - The Oxford Historical Society will participate in the Give Local Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills online giving program.

This event is sponsored by the Connecticut Community Foundation.

Twitchell-Rowland Homestead /Photo from website

The challenge seeks to inspire people to support local nonprofit organizations during a 36-hour online giving period between 7 a.m. Nov. 12 through 7 p.m.Nov. 13.

Historical Society Preservation Chair, Dorothy A. DeBisschop said the Society looks forward to participating in the challenge.
The Connecticut Community Foundation will amplify every penny of every dollar donated during the 36 hour campaign with matching funds and prizes.

"Our next major project will be the paving of the Twitchell-Rowland Homestead driveway," DeBisschop said.  Last winter, the Society had to cancel some scheduled open houses because the driveway was too muddy for parking.
Through public support of the Give Local Online Giving Challenge, funds will be raised so that the Museum is accessible in all weather.

The online donation challenge is important because the Connecticut Community Foundation will cover all the processing fees. Every penny donated will go directly to the Society.
Joining CCF in this effort are the Naugatuck Savings Bank as Presenting Sponsor, Crystal Rock as Website Sponsor and WATR as Media Sponsor.


This is a press release from the Oxford Historical Society.  

Nonprofit in Seymour to hold diaper drive Saturday

Organization's founder commended for helping community

SEYMOUR - Meghan Tarby, executive director of the nonprofit Connecticut Partnership for Children, is holding a diaper collection Saturday to assist local families struggling to make ends meet.

Tarby is a remarkable young woman who is active in the community.
In addition to running the nonprofit organization she founded in 2009, she owns Looking Glass Events, LLC, and The Mad Hatter Boutique, 5 Bank St.
Looking Glass Events recently donated more than $13,000 toward renovation costs of the Strand Theater marquee, which made its debut last week. Tarby, through Looking Glass Events, produced two burlesque shows at the theater at 165 Main St. to raise the funds.

According to a story written by my colleague, Register correspondent Jean Falbo-Sosnovich, "The drive is scheduled for Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to noon outside the Connecticut Partnership for Children office at 135 Main St. Donors won’t even need to get out of their cars, as the volunteers will be ready to collect items as you ‘drive by.’ 

"Tarby said new, unopened packages of diapers and baby wipes, as well as Pull-ups in sizes 2T-5T, are needed. Gift cards to area grocery stores or retailers such as Target and Walmart are also welcome."

Tarby is to be commended for her dedication to helping others and giving back to the community.



For information, contact Tarby at meghan@ctpfc.org or 203-881-1804.

Stand down to assist veterans

ANSONIA - No Vet Left Behind, Inc., a nonprofit that serves all veterans, will hold a stand down next month. The organization assists active duty, National Guard, homeless and retired veterans and their families and holds stand downs twice a year.

The veterans fair will be held from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 17 at the organization’s Stars and Stripes Thrift Shoppe, 14 Jewett St.

The free event includes clothing, medical assessment, dental screening, haircuts, toiletry kits, information about wills, life insurance, legal aid/child support, assistance applying for DD214 and more.

For faster registration have DD214 or VA ID available. If a VA ID is not available along with the DD214, a photo identification must be provided.

Free breakfast and lunch will be available. Volunteers are encouraged and donations are welcomed.

Some free transportation will be available. To obtain a schedule and pickup times, call Mary Porter, No Vet Left Behind President, at 203-906-0533 or 203-732-7800.

 

United Way awards $532,000 to Valley agencies

Valley United Way's Board of Directors has announced the awarding of $532,000 in allocations for the next 12 months. 

The Board decision came at the end of a two month process that started with agencies submitting budget requests in May. 

Twenty-nine allocations committee volunteers working under the leadership of committee chair Adrienne Cabral then visited with the applicants to review their programs and budgets. 

Following the visits, the volunteers met to review their findings and to make their recommendations to the Board of Directors which approved the allocations which cover the period from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013.

Board Chair Fred Ortoli said United Way was pleased with the wide range of services being offered by the funded programs. 

He said, “The agencies and programs represented in these allocations meet a wide cross section of needs in the Valley, and we know that these programs have a major impact on the quality of life in the Valley.”

Agency                                                             Allocation

2-1-1 Statewide Information & Referral         12,000

American Red Cross                                        21,000

Big Brothers Big Sisters                                     6,000

Boy Scouts- Housatonic Council                      43,500

Boys & Girls Club                                            93,900

Catholic Charities (Ansonia)                            40,000

Derby Day Care Center                                      3,000

Domestic Violence Center (BHcare)                29,000

Family Resource Center (TEAM Inc.)             10,000

Girl Scouts- CT Trail Council                            6,000

International Institute                                          1,400

Julia Day Nursery                                                2,000

Meals on Wheels (TEAM Inc.)                         10,000

N.H. Legal Assistance                                         2,000

Parent Child Resource Center                           50,000

Rape Crisis Center                                            23,000

Recreation Camp                                               10,000

SONCCA                                                             1,500

Spooner House (Area Congregations Together)30,000

St. Vincent DePaul                                               8,750

U.S.O.                                                                      450

Valley YMCA                                                     45,000

Visiting Nurse Association of SCC                    12,000

Volunteer Center                                                 53,500

Wellmore Inc.                                                     18,000

                                                
                    Totals:                                           $532,000

The above was taken from a release from Valley United Way.