DERBY, CT -- Representatives from Valley Community Foundation, Valley United Way, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Valley Council of Health & Human Services are pleased to announce that grants totaling $50,900 have been distributed to 12 organizations in the second round of funding from the Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.
These grants include funding for personal protective equipment (PPE) and operational support for telehealth, virtual wellness, and remote access programming for organizations whose staff is working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants awarded are made possible thanks to those who continue to generously support this Fund.
Within six weeks, the Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund has received more than $210,000 in contributions. The Fund will be assisting a range of organizations serving the Valley throughout both the response and recovery phases of this pandemic. This round of grants follows more than $75,000 in COVID-19-related support that was awarded to area organizations on April 24th. Details for the next round of grant application will be announced shortly.
Donald Smith, Jr., Valley Community Foundation Board Chair, said, “As a testament to the Valley’s enduring spirit in light of this pandemic, the VCF Board of Directors has increased its support of the Valley Community COVID-19 Fund, to $50,000 since the Fund’s inception. The contributions by VCF, businesses, VCF donor advised fund holders, individual donors, and other organizations are what make these grants possible. The need is great and additional donations are still urgently needed.”
Bill Purcell, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce President, said, “These worthy organizations and their employees represent the vanguard in the Valley's response to this crisis, and we are truly grateful for their extraordinary service. All of us at the Chamber are heartened by the outpouring of generous gifts, both large and small, that are making these critical grant awards possible.”
Grants awarded include:
American Federation of State County & Municipal Employees - $5,000 to support the purchase of personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies for members of the Derby Police Union, officers in the Derby Police Department.
American Red Cross, Connecticut Chapter - $5,000 to support the purchase of personal protective equipment and technological equipment for staff and volunteers to use in response to Valley emergencies.
Ansonia Rescue Medical Services - $5,000 to support the purchase of personal protective equipment, infection control tools and equipment, disinfectant, and cleaners to keep staff and patients safe.
BHcare - $5,000 to support the purchase of telehealth equipment to address client health.
Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley - $5,000 to support remote technology needs for staff, personal protective equipment for childcare/camp startup, and dinner for the 30 children and families that they had been servicing prior to the pandemic.
Central Connecticut Coast YMCA - $5,000 to support the purchase of personal protection equipment and disinfecting supplies for the residents living in the Valley YMCA's facility in Ansonia, and to support telewellness programs for Valley YMCA members and Ansonia students.
Christian Counseling & Family Life Center - $5,000 to support a minimum of 77 telehealth/teletherapy sessions to alleviate patients choosing between accessing mental health care and buying food.
Cornell Scott Hill Health Corporation - $2,500 to support the purchase of plastic barriers at medical and behavioral health registration centers in Ansonia.
Family and Children's Aid - $5,000 to support the purchase of equipment, supplies, and to provide technical support in order to enable the telehealth sessions for at-risk Valley children and teens.
Girl Scouts of Connecticut Inc. - $1,000 to support the development of transitioning to online resources for academic learning, recreation, and mental health for girls and their families in the Valley.
Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource Center - $2,400 to support the purchase of additional telehealth and wellness equipment and applications necessary to continue serving its clients.
Seymour Ambulance Association - $5,000 to support the costs associated with serving Seymour residents during the pandemic, including but not limited to, personal protective equipment, fuel, vehicle repairs and volunteer support.
To support the Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, visit www.valleyfoundation.org. Gifts via credit card are strongly preferred over checks to reduce processing time. Checks can however be made out to Valley Community Response and Recovery Fund and mailed to 253-A Elizabeth St., Derby, CT 06418.
A full list of grants that have been awarded from the COVID-19 Fund to date is available here.
The Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund was created in response to COVID-19 by the Valley Community Foundation, Valley United Way, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Valley Council for Health & Human Services. The Fund will rapidly deploy resources to organizations who support those in the Valley Region who are most significantly affected by the pandemic.
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.
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Contact:
John Ready
Donor Services & Communications Officer
Valley Community Foundation
203-751-9162
jready@valleyfoundation.org
Website: www.valleyfoundation.org