CT Philanthropy Digest - OCTOBER 2019

  FEATURED PHILANTHROPY NEWS   

Foundation Bolsters Community Organizing in Waterbury

The Connecticut Community Foundation has awarded $13,000 in funding to support historically marginalized communities in the Waterbury area. The foundation intends to develop youth leaders and generate multi-generational cooperation among the Waterbury community. Julie Loughran, the president of CCF, said residents of impoverished communities are often left out of conversations around improving them. She emphasized that without the inclusion of the Waterbury residents, problems affecting its community could not be properly addressed. The funding was split between the Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS), Granville Academy, The Rainbow Diversity Club at UConn Waterbury, and Let’s Go Youth. The grants support a wide range of programs. The NHS grant helped established Girltrek, a group promoting walking in Waterbury neighborhoods as a way to facilitate exercise and community engagement. Granville Academy received funding for celebrating African American heritage through touring historically black colleges and visiting areas central to the Civil Rights Movement. Read more >>    

College Students in Eastern CT Hear from Journalists of Color

In the Thick, a podcast centering on politics and culture from the perspective of people of color (POC), recorded two live shows in Connecticut this month. They visited Three Rivers Community College (TRCC) in Norwich on October 16, to discuss mental health and addiction in communities of color. In the Thick hosts interviewed Recovery Coach Kelvin Young, Community Organizer Kenyatta Thompson, and Youth and Family Community Coordinator Taylor Ford. In the Thick headed to Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic on October 22 to discuss immigration, the Latino community, and undocumented youth in CT and in other parts of the nations. Featured guests were: Charles Venator-Santiago, University of Connecticut political science professor; Kica Matos, immigration attorney; and Lucas Codognolla, executive director of Connecticut Students for a Dream. A third live Connecticut podcast will be scheduled in 2020. The In the Thick podcast studio, which is based in Harlem, focuses on news stories and trends covering POC that are often missed by mainstream news outlets. The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut and the William Casper Graustein Memorial Fund have supported the live Connecticut shows. Read more >>

Read CT Day Coverage >>  

Community Voice Amplified with Get Out the Vote and Census Efforts

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has awarded 20 grants totaling $448,400 over eighteen months to support voter engagement in 2019 and 2020 as well as Census participation activities. Across the 20 grants, nonprofits will reach out to several underrepresented groups using a mix of strategies, including canvassing, phone banking, outreach at neighborhood events such as parades and festivals, internet and text messaging, special events such as voter registration drives, one-on-one assistance, and embedding conversations into ongoing operations.

“Our support of Census 2020 outreach efforts reflects how crucial it is to have a fair and accurate count of our residents,” said Hartford Foundation President Jay Williams. “Our communities, our region, and our state rely on a fair and accurate census to secure billions in federal funding to support our schools, social services, and infrastructure. These determinations ultimately impact policies and programs in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors.” Read more >>    

DanburyWorks 2nd Phase Improves Employment Prospects

Fairfield County's Community Foundation is supporting DanburyWORKS with a $22,000 grant to provide training, education, and employment to lower income residents. DanburyWORKS, a collaborative comprised of Danbury based organizations including the United Way of Western Connecticut, is committed to creating economic mobility for lower income residents, and is supported by the Boston Federal Reserve’s Working Cities Challenge Grant. "The funds are crucial to launching the second phase of the work, which focuses on jobs, education, and training," said Sandra Ferreira, Director of DanburyWORKS. “Now, with this support from FCCF, we are well poised to take the next steps toward improving employment for lower-income Danbury residents." Read more >>   

Early Literacy Initiatives to Increase Word Exposure

Programs and intitiatives in Hartford and New Britain are focusing on increasing the number of words children hear each day.

Bloomberg Philanthropies selected the City of Hartford as one of five American cities that will replicate Providence Talks, an early childhood education program that empowers parents and caregivers with tools to support language development at a critical age and help children enter kindergarten classroom ready. Partners from the Hartford Campaign for Grade-Level Reading participated in a planning process to launch Hartford Talks. Support is provided by the City of Hartford, The Fund for Greater Hartford, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut to replicate the LENA (Language ENvironment Analysis) professional development and home-visiting components.

In New Britain, LENA Start will be offered to help parents use regular feedback from LENA technology. The curriculum focuses on techniques to encourage increased use of language with children, especially through the use of books provided at each session. Initial funding and matching grants from LENA, The Fund for Greater Hartford, and Farmington Bank Community Foundation has allowed the program to be introduced this fall.    Read more >>      

Regional Wellbeing Illuminated in Four New Reports

This month, Data Haven released four 2019 Community Wellbeing Indexes with support from CCP members and other partners. The Indexes illuminate the complex issues facing neighborhoods and towns, and paint a picture of where each region is headed. The most recent release is the 2019 Valley Community Index. “The 2019 Valley Community Index aims to help local leaders understand and proactively address issues impacting the health and wellbeing of our communities, said Sharon Closius, Valley Community Foundation President & CEO. The more that we know about our region, the better we are able to engage with each other in meaningful dialogues about the pulse of the Valley and what actions are needed to create a more vibrant community.”

The Fairfield County Community Wellbeing Index 2019 was co-funded by Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, United Way of Western Connecticut, and the Connecticut Health Foundation and other partners. The Greater Hartford Community Wellbeing Index 2019, was co-funded by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, and other partners. The Greater New Haven Community Wellbeing Report 2019 was co-funded by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, NewAlliance Foundation, and Connecticut Health Foundation, and other partners. The 2019 Valley Community Index includes support of Valley Community Foundation and Connecticut Community Foundation, and other partners.

397 Young People Connected to Housing in 100 Days

A group of service providers from across Connecticut announced that they housed 397 youth and young adults in 100 days, April 30 through early August. This effort, part of Connecticut’s 100-Day Challenge to End Youth Homelessness in Connecticut, is the first statewide effort of its kind, bringing together homeless service providers, child welfare, justice, and education staff from across the state to make their response systems more effective. “We know it takes collaboration and innovation to end youth homelessness and that’s exactly what these 100 Day Challenge Teams did,” said Stacey Violante Cote, chair of the Youth and Young Adult Homelessness Workgroup of the Reaching Home Campaign, a statewide campaign to end youth homelessness in Connecticut. “They made new connections and came up with innovative solutions. We can all learn from their work.”

The 100-Day Challenge was supported by funding from HUD, with an outpouring of philanthropic support from funders across Connecticut. Led by the Melville Charitable Trust, this collaborative funding effort has included supporting stipends for young adult coaches with lived experience to be full members of local 100-Day Challenge teams. Funders include: American Savings Foundation, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Connecticut Community Foundation, Fairfield County's Community Foundation, Farmington Bank Community Foundation, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Liberty Bank Foundation, Main Street Community Foundation, Middlesex United Way, Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation, Webster Bank, and other partners. Read more >>     

Webster Bank is proud to announce that Kathy Luria, senior vice president, director of Philanthropy and Community Affairs, has been named the 2019 winner of the American Bankers Association Foundation’s George Bailey Distinguished Service Award. This national award is in recognition of her efforts to enhance the bank’s commitment to supporting the people and communities Webster serves throughout its footprint. She will be honored at ABA’s Annual Convention in Seattle on Oct. 29. Established in 2014, the George Bailey Distinguished Service Award is given to a non-CEO bank employee who demonstrates outstanding initiative, commitment to their customers and community, and the ability to inspire others. The ABA Foundation selects the winner after a review of nominations submitted by banks of all sizes across the country. The ABA Foundation honors seven banks annually for their commitment to their communities. This is the only award given to an individual. “Since our founding in 1935, Webster has been a values-guided, community-minded bank. Our bankers demonstrate this throughout our everyday interactions in the communities we serve,” said John R. Ciulla, President and CEO. “We are honored to receive this prestigious award on behalf of our 3,400 bankers and congratulate Kathy on this well-deserved recognition.” Luria is also the board chair of the Connecticut Council of Philanthropy (CCP) and has served as a board member since 2014. Read more >>

After serving more than 20 years as president and CEO of the Connecticut Health Foundation, Patricia Baker plans to retire in June 2020. Baker has led the private foundation since its creation in 1999, forming what is now Connecticut’s largest independent health philanthropy dedicated to improving health outcomes for people of color. In that time, the foundation has awarded more than $63 million in grants, supported research and coalitions focused on finding ways to improve the health of Connecticut residents, and helped to inform policy and health care delivery. “It would be difficult to overstate the role Pat has played in advancing the health of Connecticut residents and making sure that eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities are on the agenda for policymakers and health systems,” Connecticut Health Foundation Board Chair David Newton said. “Pat has a wealth of knowledge. She constantly pushes the foundation, grantees, and policymakers to think about the ways to achieve the greatest, most enduring changes that can improve people’s lives. We are grateful for her leadership and her deep commitment to the mission of the foundation, ensuring that everyone has the ability to be as healthy as possible.” Read more >>

As the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County prepares to celebrate its 99th anniversary and continues to grow its powerful collective impact work, several key leaders have announced their retirement. At the end of 2019, President and CEO Merle Berke-Schlessel, Esq. will retire along with Chief Operating and Major Gift Development Officer David R. Kennedy. Cathy DeCesare, senior vice president, strategic initiatives, will transition to part time and fully retire in June 2020. Ms. Berke-Schlessel has served as President and CEO for over 18 years. She has transitioned the United Way from a federated fundraiser to a dynamic catalyst for social change. Ms. Berke-Schlessel was the first non-profit leader in the region to shift focus from managing chronic problems to solving them. David Kennedy celebrated 30 years of service to the United Way System this year. He was the President and CEO of the United Way of Norwalk and Wilton, which merged into the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County. Cathy DeCesare, who will retire from her full-time position, has been responsible for improving systems work around early childhood and literacy. Together, the leadership team has created transformational change in breaking down barriers for better early childhood outcomes and meeting basic needs. Chairman of the Board Samuel Tingley noted that the retirement of these leaders marks the end of an era. He and the board expressed their gratitude for the combined wisdom and dedicated service of this powerful team. Read more >>

Fairfield County’s Community Foundation welcomes two business and community leaders to its Board of Directors, Charles MacCormack, a resident of Easton, and Neil Marcus, a resident of Redding. Charles MacCormack, is president emeritus and former CEO of Save the Children. Currently, he is the Senior Fellow for NGO Futures at Interaction, the national association of over 200 U.S. Humanitarian and Development organizations. Mr. MacCormack recently served as a Senior Fellow at The Jackson Institute for Global Affairs as well as an Advanced Leadership Fellow at Harvard University. Neil Marcus is a principal at Cohen and Wolf’s Real Estate, Land Use & Zoning, Municipal and Family Law Groups. He practices in the areas of commercial and residential real estate, planning & zoning and family law. He is admitted to practice law in Connecticut; the U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut; and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. “The Community Foundation is privileged to engage talented, philanthropic individuals who are truly committed to joining us on our mission to close the opportunity gap in Fairfield County,” stated Juanita James, President & CEO, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. Read more >>

Three new trustees have been elected to the Board of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford (JCF): Carolyn Gitlin and Elysa Graber-Lipperman of West Hartford, and Joshua Gottfried of Hartford. Ms. Gitlin is the current Chair of the Board of The Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, and also serves on the boards of the Jewish Federation of North America National Women's Philanthropy and the Max Cares Foundation. Mr. Gottfried serves on JCF’s Investment Committee, and serves on Beth El Temple of West Hartford's endowment committee. Ms. Graber-Lipperman currently the board chair of the Emanuel Synagogue's board and serves on its endowment and finance committees. Read more >>   

Eric Galvin has been named chair of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut’s 2019 Community Campaign. Galvin is president of ConnectiCare, with more than 20 years of experience in the health care industry. In his new role as chair, he’ll serve on United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut’s Board of Directors. “I’m proud to continue my service to children and families in the community as chair of this year’s United Way Community Campaign,” said Galvin. “United Way is the power and support behind many of our most critical community organizations and programs. Read more >> 

  JOB LISTING

• Director of Communications - Connecticut Community Foundation >>
• Chief Financial Officer >>
• Director of Workforce Solutions - United Way of Central and Northeastern CT >>
• Women United Manager - United Way of Central and Northeastern CT >>
• Executive Assistant to the President and Chairman - The Tow Foundation >>
• Development Director - Community Access to the Arts >>
• Development Associate - Community Access to the Arts >>

Have an opening at your organization? Contact Laurie Allen to include your position in CCP's Jobs Bank. Learn more >>