The Valley Community Foundation earlier this month announced $420,304 in single and multi-year grants to nonprofit groups helping Valley residents.
The grants were awarded through its responsive grant-making cycle, which is done with its partner in philanthropy The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.
“These are all wonderful programs,” said Sharon Closius, President & CEO of the Valley Community Foundation. “We are pleased to provide resources to the nonprofits doing great work in our Valley region to address some of today’s most significant issues.”
Education and support services for youth in the Valley were a major focus for nonprofits applying for financial support in 2014.
As a result, approximately $226,600 of the total grant funding will go to the Ansonia Public Schools (Human Relations Club), the Ansonia School Readiness-Discovery program, the Boys & Girls Club of Lower Naugatuck Valley, the Derby Early Childhood Council, and Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven for programs serving early childhood development, services for older youth, and adult literacy programs.
In the area of health-related grantmaking, VCF awarded Griffin Hospital’s Valley Parish Nurse Program and the Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut more than $34,000 for community programs and in-home care to Valley residents.
“Our continued commitment to health care issues is evident as well,” Closius said. “We recognize that some of the most important work done in the health field isn’t taking place in the doctor’s office. Education and support within the community are key components to having a healthy Valley.”
Other grants addressed issues such as basic needs, economic success, civic vitality and supporting arts and culture throughout the Valley community.
The Valley Community Foundation is continuing its support of core services to Valley nonprofits with the awarding of multi-year grants to five organizations this year, providing the ability to strategically plan their programs.
“This year, twelve grant applications were funded,” said Valerie Knight-Di Gangi, program officer at the Valley Community Foundation.
“In 2013, VCF awarded ten multi-year grants to nonprofits, which includes a $390,000 commitment through 2016. This year’s multi-grant awards will add another $168,000 to VCF’s funding commitment in coming years,” Knight-Di Gangi said.
Responsive grants were awarded to:
- Ansonia Public Schools-Human Relations Club ($16,600)
- Ansonia School Readiness-Discovery ($25,000)
- Area Congregations Together ($50,000)
- Boys & Girls Club of Lower Naugatuck Valley ($105,000)
- Derby Early Childhood Council ($20,000)
- Griffin Hospital ($22,504)
- Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven ($60,000)
- Shelton Economic Development Corporation ($40,000)
- Shelton Historical Society ($45,000)
- Valley United Way ($9,200)
- Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut ($12,000)
- Workplace Inc. ($15,000)
For the full description of 2014 responsive grants, visit www.valleyfoundation.org.
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, to promote philanthropy in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton.
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 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 203 – 751-9162.
