Donors, Nonprofit Partners and Community Leaders Applaud the CNE’s Array of Accomplishments
NORWALK, CT -- Ten years ago, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation (FCCF) introduced its vision to strengthen, support, train, expand, and fortify the region’s nonprofit community. This vision took shape in 2009 with the establishment of FCCF’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence. Dedicated to capacity-building and professional development, this community resource has served 3,282 nonprofit leaders, staff, and board members, from 1,142 local nonprofits over the past decade. The Community Foundation kicked off the 10th Anniversary celebration for its Center for Nonprofit Excellence Wednesday evening with a cocktail party held at The Westport Library.
FCCF’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) helps nonprofit leaders, staff, board members, and volunteers increase their knowledge, improve their effectiveness, cultivate collaboration, and deliver greater impact to the people and communities collectively served throughout Fairfield County and beyond. Each year, through free and low-cost educational workshops, webinars, expert coaching, professional development resources, fundraising support, and networking opportunities, the CNE supports hundreds of local nonprofit organizations.
“As we celebrate this 10-year milestone for the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, we are reminded of how much our nonprofit organizations contribute to making Fairfield County a better place for all our communities and residents,” stated Juanita James, President and CEO of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. She continues, “We are deeply grateful to each of the generous individuals, local businesses, family and corporate foundations, our region’s elected officials, our FCCF Board members and volunteers, and so many others whose support of the CNE allows us to innovate and expand our program offerings and offer high quality programs at affordable prices to the nonprofit sector.”
During the 10th Anniversary celebration at The Westport Library, the first inductees into the new FCCF Center for Nonprofit Excellence Hall of Fame were announced, honoring the achievements of nonprofit organizations, leaders, and benefactors who have benefited from the CNE and made important contributions to Fairfield County’s vibrant and vital nonprofit sector and the broad spectrum of issues, causes, communities, and people served.
FCCF’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence Hall of Fame inaugural honorees include Bank of America; The Carver Foundation of Norwalk; CIRI: The Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants; Harvard Business School Club of Connecticut Community Partners; JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Dan Levinson; Newman’s Own Foundation; Pro Bono Partnership; The Center for Nonprofits at Sacred Heart University; and SoundWaters.
“The Center for Nonprofit Excellence makes the nonprofit sector stronger by building capacity. While that may sound dry, it actually means that we learn things, we get challenged and we come out better able to respond to the challenges in our environment, our community and in our future,” commented Dr. Leigh Shemitz, President of SoundWaters, a CNE Hall of Fame honoree.
During the event a heartfelt moment was shared when the late Susan Ross, past President and CEO of FCCF, who was central in creating the CNE in 2009, was remembered in a video message from her husband, Charlie MacCormack who was traveling overseas. Mr. MacCormack, President Emeritus and former CEO of Save the Children who recently joined the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors, acknowledged that he and Susan shared the belief that the key to helping nonprofits maximize their impact is supporting their organizations in developing sustained leadership. In the video, he announced a special two-for-one challenge grant for The Susan M. Ross Fund for Great Leadership at FCCF, saluting the legacy of his late wife with the goal of adding at least $375,000 to the Fund. Created by Susan’s colleagues at the Community Foundation upon her retirement, the Fund supports the CNE, including partially underwriting the costs of the CNE’s Executive Leadership Program.
Fairfield County’s Giving Day, which is powered by FCCF through the CNE, has raised more than $7.6 million for more than 1,100 local nonprofits since its inception in 2014. Nonprofit registration is open for Giving Day 2020, which will take place on February 27, 2020.
The CNE is generously supported by FCCF’s charitable fundholders who have made significant gifts to CNE this 10th Anniversary year. They include The Robie and Scott Spector Charitable Fund; The Buckeye Fund; The McGrath Family Fund; The Herbert B. West Award Fund; The Hope Fund and The Horton Family Fund. Additionally, significant support has been garnered from donors and local foundations including Dan Levinson; Charlie MacCormack; Charlotte and John Suhler; Juanita James and Dudley Williams; Lone Pine Foundation; Newman’s Own Foundation; Near & Far Aid Association; and a host of other generous contributors.
Photo Caption: Members of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation and Hall of Fame honorees celebrate the 10th anniversary of FCCF’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence held at the Westport Library. From left to right Claudia Connor, President & CEO of the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants; John Gambardella,Managing Director & Commercial Bank Region Manager at JP Morgan Chase & Co.; William Hass, Director, Center for Nonprofits at Sacred Heart University; Jennifer Smith Turner Interim President & CEO of Newman’s Own Foundation; Maurice Segall, Esq., Director, NY & Fairfield County, CT Program of Pro Bono Partnership; Juanita James, President & CEO of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation; Tom Heckle, President & Co-Chair of the Board of Harvard Business School Club of Connecticut Community Partners; Novelette Perkin, Chief Executive Officer of the Carver Foundation of Norwalk, Inc.; William Tommins, Market President – Southern Connecticut of Bank of America; Leigh Shemitz, President, SoundWaters; Mendi Blue-Paca, Vice President of Community Impact at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation; Dan Levinson, Founding Donor & Champion FCCF Executive Leadership Group; Danielle Marchione, Manager of the Center for Nonprofit Excellence at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation; Elaine Mintz, Vice President of Operation at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. (Photo credit: Marilyn Roos)
About Fairfield County’s Community Foundation
Fairfield County’s Community Foundation promotes philanthropy as a means to create change in Fairfield County, focusing on innovative and collaborative solutions to critical issues impacting the community. Individuals, families, corporations and organizations can establish charitable funds or contribute to existing funds. The Community Foundation is in compliance with the Council on Foundations’ national standards and has awarded over $230 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond. As a trusted nonprofit partner and thought-leader, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation brings together community organizers, business experts, and philanthropists to close the opportunity gap. Our goal is to create a vital and inclusive community, where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.
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