DERBY, CT -- The Valley Community Foundation (VCF) is pleased to announce that $881,000 has been awarded to 11 organizations as a result of its 2017 Responsive Grants process. This is the largest multi-year grant commitment in VCF’s history. With governmental budgets in flux and an ever-growing need for services, there has never been a more important time for VCF to support organizations committed to this region. These grant dollars will help provide a reliable source of funding during a time of financial uncertainty.
This grant distribution reflects a commitment by the VCF Board to provide support to organizations serving the Valley. Many of these local nonprofits are currently challenged by both state and federal budget crises, which are projected to have a short and long term effect on services.
Grants were awarded through VCF’s responsive grantmaking cycle, which is done with its partner in philanthropy, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven (TCF). The program is funded by a generous annual grant from TCF’s Gates and field of interest funds, as well as VCF’s unrestricted and field of interest funds. Additionally, some of VCF’s donor advised fundholders contributed from their funds to help make these grants possible. The funds included support from the Agape Fund, the Salvatore and Linda Tiano Coppola Family Fund, the Mary Fund, the Sally and Dominick Thomas Fund, the John Tyma Fund, the Warichar Family Fund, and the John and Laura Zaprzalka Family Fund.
“We are proud to serve as a continued source of stability for these organizations that are providing key services to those in need,” said Alan Tyma, VCF Board Chair.
The following is a list of the 2017 VCF Responsive Grant recipients:
Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley: to provide general operating support for cultural, recreational, physical, and educational programs to Valley youth. $120,000
Central Connecticut Coast YMCA: to provide general operating support for the Valley YMCA programming that builds healthy spirit, mind, and body for Valley residents. $90,000
Griffin Hospital: to support the update of radiation oncology equipment at the Center for Cancer Care. $25,000
Housatonic Council, Boy Scouts of America: to provide general operating support for scouting programs for Valley youth. $100,000
Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven: to provide general operating support for adult literacy tutoring in Greater New Haven and the Valley. $60,000
Massaro Community Farm, Inc.: to provide general operating support to maintain a historic farm using organic practices, to provide fresh produce to the needy, and to build community through farm-based education and events. $60,000
Online Journalism Project, Inc.: to provide general operating support for The Valley Independent Sentinel. $120,000
Salvation Army, Greater Valley Corps: to support the Emergency Assistance program which includes a Client Choice Food Pantry, Bread and Pastry Program, Thanksgiving food distribution, Back-to-School backpack distribution, clothing and furniture vouchers, and rental and utility assistance. $60,000
Shelton Economic Development Corporation: to provide general operating support to advance the economic development and public welfare of the City of Shelton. $10,000
Shelton Historical Society, Inc.: to provide general operating support for the preservation of items of Shelton's history, educational programming and the maintenance of a museum and its collections. $34,000
TEAM, Inc.: to provide general operating support for multigenerational service delivery system focused on support services, early childhood, and elderly services. $160,000
Valley Council for Health and Human Services: to support the establishment of a Valley Food Bank Network that will raise awareness of food insecurity in the Valley, implement best practices amongst Food Pantries, enhance services/outcomes for individuals accessing these Food Pantries, and galvanize increased community-support toward the work of established Food Pantries. The Valley United Way is acting as the fiscal sponsor. $42,000
About the Valley Community Foundation
Established in 2004, the Valley Community Foundation distributes hundreds of thousands of grant dollars 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. To learn how your gifts of cash, life insurance, appreciated stocks, bonds, real estate, and other assets can help to support the quality of life in the Valley, please visit the website at www.valleyfoundation.org or contact VCF President, Sharon Closius, at sclosius@valleyfoundation.org or 203-751-9162.
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Contact:
John Ready
Donor Services & Communications Officer
Valley Community Foundation
203-751-9162
jready@valleyfoundation.org
Website: www.valleyfoundation.org