Valley Community COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund assists nonprofits

DERBY - Representatives from Valley Community Foundation, Valley United Way, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Valley Council of Health & Human Services are pleased to announce 19 grants totaling $78,800 have been distributed to 18 organizations from the Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.

The grants that have been awarded, which include funding for personal protective equipment (PPEs), food, operational support, and technological assistance, are among the first in a series of distributions providing funding to organizations whose staff is working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants awarded are made possible thanks to those generously supporting this Fund.

The full list of grantees is available here.

David Kennedy, Valley United Way Interim President, noted, “Thanks to many very generous individuals, corporations, and foundations, we’ve been able to rapidly deploy their gifts to our community’s nonprofits to support their workers’ front line activities during this crisis. It is a humbling example of how our community Lives United. We look forward to additional gifts to continue what has begun as the needs in the community only increase.”

Within one month of inception, the Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund has received nearly $175,000 thanks to the contributions of individuals, businesses, and VCF donor advised fund holders. Donations are still urgently needed as the Fund will be assisting a range of organizations serving the Valley throughout both the response and recovery phases of this pandemic.

Among the key funders to date is the Bassett Family Fund. William (Bill) C. Bassett, a founding member of the Valley Community Foundation Board of Directors and former Owner of The W. E. Bassett Co., said, “When we owned our company, the Valley and its people were our family. They helped us make a great product and we wanted to make sure they were taken care of. That is why we are very happy to be a part of something that will be used to provide support both now as the Valley responds to the virus, and during the recovery phase while people get back on their feet.”

A second round of grant funding is now open and will include eligibility for organizations that are implementing online programming and services that support the well-being of Valley residents. Applications for the second round of grants are due by Monday, April 27^th at noon. More information on eligibility criteria and instructions on how to apply can be found here.

Sharon Closius, Valley Community Foundation President and CEO, said, “We are delighted to see such an immediate outpouring of support for this Fund. There is still however a long road ahead of us in terms of how the Valley is able to come through these challenging times in a way that is stronger and more unified than before. If you, your business, or the company for which you work is looking to make an impact, I invite you to visit our website www.valleyfoundation.org and support this collective effort.”

Bill Purcell, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce President, said, “All of us at the Chamber are deeply moved by the extraordinary acts of compassionate service demonstrated by each of the award recipients during this public health crisis. We offer our special thanks to the donors whose generosity has made these grants possible, and urge our member businesses and the community at large to support this Fund at whatever level possible.”

To support the Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, visit www.valleyfoundation.org. 

Gifts via credit card are strongly preferred over checks to reduce processing time. Checks can however be made out to Valley Community Response and Recovery Fund and mailed to 253-A Elizabeth St., Derby, CT 06418.

The Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund was created in response to COVID-19 by the Valley Community Foundation, Valley United Way, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Valley Council for Health & Human Services. The Fund will rapidly deploy resources to organizations who support those in the Valley Region who are most significantly affected by the pandemic.

About The Valley Community Foundation
Established in 2004, the Valley Community Foundation distributes approximately $1.6 million in grants 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 that benefit the Valley. 

For more information, visit www.valleyfoundation.org.

This is a press release from the Valley Community Foundation.

Applications are open now for Leadership Greater Valley program

Leadership Greater Valley combines leadership skill building with community education.
It is a nine-week program where participants get a bird’s-eye view of the issues facing the community, begin developing the leadership skills necessary to assume leadership roles, and are exposed to involvement opportunities in the community.

Applications are now being accepted for the Class of 2019!

Space is limited. Click here to learn more now.

Valley Council to host 25th annual awards breakfast in Shelton

 Last year's breakfast at Brownson Country Club in Shelton.

SHELTON -The Valley Council for Health & Human Services will hold its 25th Annual Breakfast Meeting and Awards Presentation at 8 a.m. Dec. 4 at Brownson Country Club. 

Jack Walsh, former VUW President and Marilyn Cormack, former President Birmingham Group Health Services/BHcare will be keynote speakers.

Established in 1993, the Valley Council for Health & Human Services has initiated and supported numerous initiatives to improve life in the Valley through successful collaboration among their member agencies and community partners.  
The joint contributions of their member agencies have enabled the Council to spearhead key regional initiatives.  
Their many accomplishments include: The Early Childhood Task Force, Valley Early Childhood Regional Council, Leadership Greater Valley, Senior Services Council, Healthy Valley, Valley CARES Quality of Life Report, Food Security Task Force, Youth Recognition Committee, Membership & Communications Committee. 

The Council is a partnership network of over 40 non-profit organizations working to improve the quality of life for residents in the Lower Naugatuck Valley.  

Each year the Council presents awards to people and agencies whose significant contribution has improved the quality of life for Valley residents. 

This year’s honorees are Robert D. Scinto. He was selected to receive the prestigious Richard O. Belden Community Service Award, in honor of the late state Rep. Richard O. Belden. This award is for an individual or organization outside the non-profit sector whose efforts have made a significant contribution to improving the quality of life of residents in the Lower Naugatuck Valley.  

John Yeager was selected to receive the Lewis Savitsky Staff Excellence Award. 
This award is presented to an individual for extraordinary service as an employee in the non-profit community who has made a positive impact on the quality of life of residents in the lower Naugatuck Valley. The award is named in honor of Lewis Savitsky, a long-time employee of Valley United Way.  

The Food Security Task Force was selected to receive the Program of the Year Award.
This award is presented to a non-profit agency, or a program within a non-profit agency, whose staff and volunteers exemplify excellence in the community, and, whose services have made a significant and lasting contribution to the health and well being of the residents of the lower Naugatuck Valley. 

The meeting and awards presentation is sponsored by Valley Community Foundation.   

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. 
For more information on how to register please call Linda Milardo at Valley United Way, 203-926-9478 or visit Valley Council for Health & Human Services at www.valleycouncil.org. 


This is a press release from the Valley Council.