Shelton High School, Valley Community Foundation partner to grow scholarship fund

Shelton High School Headmaster Beth A. Smith, right, presents a check to Valley Community Foundation President and CEO Sharon Closius. / Contributed photo

Shelton High School and the Valley Community Foundation are pleased to announce a new partnership in which the management of all scholarship and award funds will be entrusted to the Foundation.

The purpose of this partnership is to sustain and build a substantial scholarship and recognition program benefiting the students of Shelton High School in acknowledgement of their hard work and accomplishments as they move on to pursue higher education.

Beth A. Smith, Headmaster of Shelton High School, said, “This decision was made after very careful consideration and with the full support of the superintendent of schools and the Shelton Board of Education. Shelton High School is a learning community with high academic and behavioral expectations. We believe it is important to celebrate student achievement and to recognize those students who have met our standards. It is my firm belief that this move will achieve my goal of sustainability for our awards programs, which will continue to benefit the students of Shelton High School.”

School leaders routinely communicate to students the importance of community service and of giving back to their community. 
“The donors who have continuously supported the student recognition programs are a true testament to the importance of not only caring for our students but the future generation as well,” Smith said.

She added, “The Valley Community Foundation’s consistent average return will maximize the value of our scholarship and award donations. Instead of sitting in a savings account, our funds will now be professionally managed. Donors will have a choice to set up a permanent award or one that will be spent down over time. I want to emphasize that the criteria and selection process will not change. The Shelton High School staff will continue to coordinate the selection committees and recipient notification.” 

Sharon Closius, Valley Community Foundation President & CEO, said, “We are honored to partner with Shelton High School to ensure the scholarship and award funds remain a viable philanthropic vehicle benefitting Shelton students for years to come and to expand the opportunities to grow the pool. I am especially pleased that the Valley Community Foundation has the ability to assist people who want to give back to the community and benefit Shelton students.”  

An added benefit of this partnership is the Foundation’s capacity to accept different forms of assets to grow existing and new funds for the high school. 

With VCF’s relationship with The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, gifts of securities, real estate and insurance policies can now be accepted. VCF can assist in estate planning ideas such as designating a scholarship or award as the beneficiary of a retirement plan, life insurance and/or bank accounts. Life income gifts such as charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts are also options to help build the program.

This partnership with VCF is a major step of collective public philanthropy to support the quality of Shelton’s education programs. 
Superintendent of Schools Freeman Burr envisions a collection of philanthropic funds that will be dedicated to impacting the quality of education in Shelton. The funds provide financial support broken down into four pillars of investment: student award and scholarships; teacher creativity, innovation and resources; early childhood; quality time (such as before and after school programs, summer programs, etc.). 
This framework will allow interested members of the community to fund specific areas that they are passionate about and want to support.

If you would like to support Shelton High School, please call VCF at 203-751-9162. 

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 grant-making, 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, visit www.valleyfoundation.org or contact VCF President, Sharon Closius, at sclosius@valleyfoundation.org or 203-751-9162.

This is a press release from the Valley Community Foundation.