DERBY, CT -- The Valley Community Foundation (VCF) is pleased to announce that $740,250 has been awarded as a result of its 2018 Responsive Grants process. This includes support for 11 new organizations as well as previous multi-year funding for 14 additional nonprofits. These grant dollars will help provide a reliable source of funding during a time of financial uncertainty.
“The VCF Board is pleased to serve as a catalyst and partner with local nonprofits to support worthwhile missions that serve our Valley communities,” said Alan Tyma, VCF Board Chair.
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 other field of interest funds, as well as VCF’s unrestricted and field of interest funds. Additionally, several of VCF’s donor advised fundholders contributed from their funds to help make these grants possible. Supporting donor advised funds included: the Agape Fund, the Salvatore and Linda Tiano Coppola Family Fund, the Konwerski Family Fund, the Mary Fund, the Palazzi Family Fund, the Smythe Family Fund, the Sally and Dominick Thomas Fund, the John Tyma Fund, and the Warichar Family Fund.
In addition, VCF was one of the recipients of the 2017 DiMatteo Group’s Annual Charitable Foundation Golf Tournament to support the 2018 Responsive Grant process. Working with VCF staff, the DiMatteo Group selected Valley Emergency Medical Services as the recipient of these funds.
The following is a list of the 2018 VCF Responsive Grant recipients:
BHcare*: to support a Medication Assisted Therapy program at clinics in Ansonia and Branford to address the opioid epidemic. $70,000 (VCF); $80,000 (TCF)
Capital for Change*: to support a program to provide technical assistance and loans to Greater New Haven nonprofit organizations for working capital, cash flow, building purchase, and/or renovations and energy efficiency improvements. $6,250 (VCF); $18,750 (TCF)
Derby Historical Society: to provide general operating support to preserve, maintain and celebrate the history of Derby. $30,000
Griffin Hospital: to support a 12-week education and exercise program to improve the health of individuals diagnosed with diabetes and pre-diabetes. $25,000
Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County: to support the Life-Prep Initiative which will provide financial education to K-12 students in Derby and Ansonia. $80,000
Lincoln Senior Housing: to support the purchase and installation of an emergency generator for its 34-apartment senior living facility to safeguard the safety and health of residents during power outages. $10,000
Naugatuck Valley Health District: to support A Matter of Balance, a fall prevention program for older adults in the Valley. $24,000
Rape Crisis Center of Milford, Inc.*: to provide general operating support for educational programming to end sexual assault and for comprehensive and culturally competent sexual assault victim services. $30,000 (VCF); $45,000 (TCF)
Valley Emergency Medical Services: to support the purchase of 2 Life Pak 15 Cardiac Monitors. $30,000
Wesley Heights, Inc.: to support Mentally Engaging through Technology, a new project that will provide multi-sensory stimulation through computer technology for elderly residents with early cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer's disease. $20,000
Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center: to support the Addressing Chronic Conditions in Elementary and Secondary Schools program which will improve the identification, management, and tracking of students with chronic health conditions in the Ansonia, Derby and Shelton public school districts. $30,000
*These specific grant recipients received funding from both the Valley Community Foundation and its partner in philanthropy, TCF, during the 2018 Responsive Grants cycle. Joint funding was awarded in consideration of the nonprofit organization providing services throughout TCF’s 20-town region, with a significant presence in the Valley.
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.
Photo caption: A senior citizen participates in the Mentally Engaging through Technology program to stimulate cognition and brain function.
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Contact:
John Ready
Donor Services & Communications Officer
Valley Community Foundation
203-751-9162
jready@valleyfoundation.org
Website: www.valleyfoundation.org