For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ratasha Smith
Communications Officer
Phone: 203-777-7096
E-mail: rsmith@cfgnh.org
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANTS PROVIDE SUPPORT AMID 2017’S UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES
Reinforcing the Importance of Community, Now More Than Ever
New Haven, CT (November 20, 2017) – Against a backdrop of state budget reductions and federal policy shifts, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven has awarded $3,007,356 in grants to Greater New Haven nonprofits.
“Our community’s most vulnerable residents and the nonprofit sector that supports them are facing unprecedented challenges as a result of the state budget, new federal policy directions and the ugly and divisive mood that pervades the country,” says William W. Ginsberg, President & CEO of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. “Throughout 2017, The Foundation has worked with nonprofits, donors and others to understand their new challenges and to address them. These grants are part of The Foundation’s response to these unique times.”
Many nonprofits supported by The Community Foundation – particularly in the social service and mental health areas – are heavily reliant on State funding and have been deeply and negatively impacted by the State budget in 2017.
“We know that many organizations are going to continue to lay off staff, freeze or reduce salaries, eliminate programs, and stop taking in new clients. This grant docket reflects efforts to prioritize support to agencies that are taking state budget hits, recognizing that we can’t step-in every place the state is cutting or in amounts to replace diminished state funds,” says Sarah Fabish, Vice President of Grants & Scholarships at The Community Foundation. “The grant awards are geared toward providing multi-year general operating support to give organizations the greatest flexibility and the ability to plan for the unknown.”
Grants were awarded to support direct services to many groups including children, veterans, immigrants, formerly incarcerated individuals and older adults. In total, 46 grants were awarded in this grant cycle spanning across The Foundation’s eight issue areas, which include: arts & culture ($123,000), basic needs ($286,000), civic vitality ($308,853), economic success ($20,000), education ($485,000), the environment ($240,000), health & wellness ($1,202,700) and children & youth ($341,803).
For people who want to get involved and hear directly from nonprofits about how Connecticut’s budget paralysis and the dramatic Federal policy shifts are impacting their services, The Foundation is hosting a Convening on November 29 entitled Preserving Our Values and Commitments: A Look at the Challenges of 2017 and How Our Community is Responding. The event will take place at the New Haven Lawn Club, 193 Whitney Ave., New Haven from 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm. Registration is required and online at www.cfgnh.org/convening. This event is part of a series of ongoing engagements with Foundation donors and the broader community about 2017’s challenges and opportunities.
2017 Responsive Grant Recipients
GENERAL OPPERATING SUPPORT
All Our Kin
$90,000 to provide general operating support to train, support, and sustain community child care providers in Greater New Haven to ensure that children and families have the foundation they need to succeed in school and in life.
Arts Council of Greater New Haven
$75,000 to provide general operating support to promote, advocate and foster opportunities for artists, arts organizations and audiences.
$75,000 to provide general operating support to promote, advocate and foster opportunities for artists, arts organizations and audiences.
Bridges Healthcare, Inc.
$50,000 to provide general operating support for a comprehensive range of prevention, mental health and addiction recovery programs for adults, children and families.
$50,000 to provide general operating support for a comprehensive range of prevention, mental health and addiction recovery programs for adults, children and families.
Clifford W. Beers Guidance Clinic
$55,000 to provide general operating support for community-based mental health services and advocacy that promote healthy and resilient lives for children and their families.
$55,000 to provide general operating support for community-based mental health services and advocacy that promote healthy and resilient lives for children and their families.
Columbus House, Inc.
$164,000 to provide general operating support to serve people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless by providing shelter/housing, and fostering personal growth and independence.
$164,000 to provide general operating support to serve people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless by providing shelter/housing, and fostering personal growth and independence.
Community Soup Kitchen
$40,000 to provide general operating support for the provision of free, nutritious meals to New Haven residents in need.
$40,000 to provide general operating support for the provision of free, nutritious meals to New Haven residents in need.
Connecticut Veterans Legal Center
$50,000 to provide general operating support for free legal services for low-income veterans to help overcome legal barriers to housing, healthcare and income.
$50,000 to provide general operating support for free legal services for low-income veterans to help overcome legal barriers to housing, healthcare and income.
Connecticut Voices for Children
$105,000 to provide general operating support to promote the well-being of all of Connecticut's children and families by identifying and advocating for strategic public investments and wise public policies.
$105,000 to provide general operating support to promote the well-being of all of Connecticut's children and families by identifying and advocating for strategic public investments and wise public policies.
Covenant to Care for Children
$42,000 to provide general operating support to advocate for, and provide direct assistance to Connecticut's children who are neglected, abused and/or impoverished.
$42,000 to provide general operating support to advocate for, and provide direct assistance to Connecticut's children who are neglected, abused and/or impoverished.
Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen
$70,000 to provide general operating support for free, nutritious meals for homeless individuals and families, and the working and non-working poor of the Greater New Haven area.
$70,000 to provide general operating support for free, nutritious meals for homeless individuals and families, and the working and non-working poor of the Greater New Haven area.
Fellowship Place
$135,000 to provide general operating support to help adults with mental illness lead more meaningful, fulfilling and healthy lives by offering resources, education, and opportunity.
$135,000 to provide general operating support to help adults with mental illness lead more meaningful, fulfilling and healthy lives by offering resources, education, and opportunity.
Guilford Art Center
$48,000 to provide general operating support for arts educational programming, exhibitions and outreach for Shoreline residents.
$48,000 to provide general operating support for arts educational programming, exhibitions and outreach for Shoreline residents.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven
$20,000 to provide general operating support for the creation of homeownership opportunities for low-income families.
$20,000 to provide general operating support for the creation of homeownership opportunities for low-income families.
Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven
$30,000 to provide general operating support for community-wide programming that helps people in need in Greater New Haven.
$30,000 to provide general operating support for community-wide programming that helps people in need in Greater New Haven.
LEAP
$150,000 to provide general operating support for year round, community-based programs designed to achieve positive academic and social outcomes for children living in high poverty urban neighborhoods in New Haven.
$150,000 to provide general operating support for year round, community-based programs designed to achieve positive academic and social outcomes for children living in high poverty urban neighborhoods in New Haven.
Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven
$90,000 to provide general operating support for adult literacy tutoring in Greater New Haven and the Valley.
$90,000 to provide general operating support for adult literacy tutoring in Greater New Haven and the Valley.
Massaro Community Farm, Inc.
$60,000 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 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.
New Haven Ecology Project
$110,000 to provide general operating support for a public charter school, an environmental education center and an urban farm.
$110,000 to provide general operating support for a public charter school, an environmental education center and an urban farm.
New Haven Family Alliance
$127,400 to provide general operating support for improving families' economic status, facilitating offender re-entry, offering job skills training; providing mental health services and reducing the criminalization of children and the incidence of gun violence.
$127,400 to provide general operating support for improving families' economic status, facilitating offender re-entry, offering job skills training; providing mental health services and reducing the criminalization of children and the incidence of gun violence.
New Haven Reads
$120,000 to provide general operating support for the promotion of literacy through tutoring, family engagement, college preparation and a free book bank.
$120,000 to provide general operating support for the promotion of literacy through tutoring, family engagement, college preparation and a free book bank.
'r kids, Inc.
$110,000 to provide general operating support for services to children and families in transition and to promote permanency, safety and stability for children by providing nurturing services to biological, foster, adoptive and relative care families.
$110,000 to provide general operating support for services to children and families in transition and to promote permanency, safety and stability for children by providing nurturing services to biological, foster, adoptive and relative care families.
Transitions Clinic Network
$65,000 to provide general operating support for health care for individuals from Greater New Haven with chronic conditions returning from prison.
$65,000 to provide general operating support for health care for individuals from Greater New Haven with chronic conditions returning from prison.
PROGRAMS
Ability Beyond Disability Inc.
$15,000 to support Workforce Opportunities, an unemployment intervention program for young adults in Greater New Haven with disabilities who remain without jobs three-to-five years after high school graduation.
Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut, Inc.
$65,000 to support the Experience Corps program, which promotes inter-generational learning and volunteerism to better serve both students and older adults in Greater New Haven.
$65,000 to support the Experience Corps program, which promotes inter-generational learning and volunteerism to better serve both students and older adults in Greater New Haven.
Aid for Orphans Relief Foundation
$12,000 to support a comprehensive weekend food assistance program for food insecure children and their families attending the John C. Daniels Magnet School of International Communication in New Haven.
$12,000 to support a comprehensive weekend food assistance program for food insecure children and their families attending the John C. Daniels Magnet School of International Communication in New Haven.
American Cancer Society
$327,000 to support two Postdoctoral Fellowship grants for cancer researchers at the Yale University School of Medicine.
$327,000 to support two Postdoctoral Fellowship grants for cancer researchers at the Yale University School of Medicine.
Audubon Connecticut
$42,000 to support Urban Oases in New Haven: Creating Healthy Communities for People and Wildlife, which engages multiple stakeholders in the creation of healthy, sustainable communities in underserved neighborhoods in New Haven and Hamden.
$42,000 to support Urban Oases in New Haven: Creating Healthy Communities for People and Wildlife, which engages multiple stakeholders in the creation of healthy, sustainable communities in underserved neighborhoods in New Haven and Hamden.
Center for Children's Advocacy
$20,000 to support the Racial and Ethnic Disparities Reduction Project which is designed to reform the policies and practices of the education, law enforcement and juvenile justice systems that draw Black and Latino youth in New Haven out of school and deep into the juvenile justice system.
$20,000 to support the Racial and Ethnic Disparities Reduction Project which is designed to reform the policies and practices of the education, law enforcement and juvenile justice systems that draw Black and Latino youth in New Haven out of school and deep into the juvenile justice system.
Circle of Care for Families of Children with Cancer Inc.
$11,500 to support the Lifeline Emergency Fund which provides financial assistance to families in Greater New Haven with children in treatment for cancer and undergoing a financial crisis as a result of their child's treatment.
$11,500 to support the Lifeline Emergency Fund which provides financial assistance to families in Greater New Haven with children in treatment for cancer and undergoing a financial crisis as a result of their child's treatment.
Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance
$60,000 to support activities in Greater New Haven including the development of early childhood networks in towns that do not yet have one; the provision of data to better understand the infant and toddler population, and the development and provisions of advocacy training on early childhood issues.
$60,000 to support activities in Greater New Haven including the development of early childhood networks in towns that do not yet have one; the provision of data to better understand the infant and toddler population, and the development and provisions of advocacy training on early childhood issues.
Connecticut Foundation for Dental Outreach
$30,000 to support the Connecticut Mission of Mercy Free Dental Clinic on April 7 and 8, 2017 at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven.
$30,000 to support the Connecticut Mission of Mercy Free Dental Clinic on April 7 and 8, 2017 at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven.
Easter Seals Goodwill Industries Rehabilitation Center, Inc.
$108,000 to support the Community Reentry Program which reduces recidivism for New Haven residents by providing pre and post release case management and advocacy to remove barriers to employment, housing, and health resources in order to facilitate successful community reentry.
$108,000 to support the Community Reentry Program which reduces recidivism for New Haven residents by providing pre and post release case management and advocacy to remove barriers to employment, housing, and health resources in order to facilitate successful community reentry.
Foundation for the Arts and Trauma
$50,000 to support the Closing the Pipeline to Prison project which will provide preventive, trauma-informed services to middle school students at Barnard Elementary School in New Haven in order to reduce disciplinary actions and involvement with the criminal justice system.
$50,000 to support the Closing the Pipeline to Prison project which will provide preventive, trauma-informed services to middle school students at Barnard Elementary School in New Haven in order to reduce disciplinary actions and involvement with the criminal justice system.
Jumpstart for Young Children, Inc.
$25,000 to support the Jumpstart program in New Haven, which delivers early childhood education programming to develop and strengthen language, literacy, and social-emotional skills of preschool children.
$25,000 to support the Jumpstart program in New Haven, which delivers early childhood education programming to develop and strengthen language, literacy, and social-emotional skills of preschool children.
Lyme Connection
$25,500 to provide Connecticut residents financial assistance for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases from a doctor following the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society guidelines.
$25,500 to provide Connecticut residents financial assistance for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases from a doctor following the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society guidelines.
New Haven Farms
$33,000 to support the expansion of the Farm Based Wellness Program into additional New Haven neighborhoods.
$33,000 to support the expansion of the Farm Based Wellness Program into additional New Haven neighborhoods.
New Haven Land Trust, Inc.
$28,000 to support the expansion of youth programming and environmental education programming, using community gardens and nature preserves as outdoor classrooms for New Haven youth.
$28,000 to support the expansion of youth programming and environmental education programming, using community gardens and nature preserves as outdoor classrooms for New Haven youth.
Pro Bono Partnership
$15,000 to support the provision of expert legal advice and free to low-cost educational services that are designed to inform nonprofits of legal obligations and improve their operations.
$15,000 to support the provision of expert legal advice and free to low-cost educational services that are designed to inform nonprofits of legal obligations and improve their operations.
Reach Out and Read
$35,000 to support the Greater New Haven Rx for Success! Initiative which incorporates books into pediatric care and encourages families to read aloud together.
$35,000 to support the Greater New Haven Rx for Success! Initiative which incorporates books into pediatric care and encourages families to read aloud together.
Town of Hamden
$135,000 to support the Elderly Services Department in the provision of short-term or emergency support to needy senior Hamden residents.
$135,000 to support the Elderly Services Department in the provision of short-term or emergency support to needy senior Hamden residents.
Yoga4Change
$6,300 to support mindfulness-based yoga programming to low-income residents of New Haven, particularly seniors and those recovering from trauma and addiction.
$6,300 to support mindfulness-based yoga programming to low-income residents of New Haven, particularly seniors and those recovering from trauma and addiction.
CAPACITY BUILDING
Animal Haven, Inc.
$58,853 to support the purchase and installation of new indoor and outdoor kennels addressing the immediate and long-term health and wellbeing needs of dogs in its care.
JUNTA for Progressive Action
$30,000 to support leadership transition activities including a national Executive Search, a staff retreat and board development.
$30,000 to support leadership transition activities including a national Executive Search, a staff retreat and board development.
Marrakech, Inc.
$14,000 to support consulting costs for a strategic planning process to pursue its mission and develop an increased understanding of its funding and operating environments.
$14,000 to support consulting costs for a strategic planning process to pursue its mission and develop an increased understanding of its funding and operating environments.
Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Southern CT., Inc.
$30,000 to support interior building renovations to its future new location at 1389 Chapel Street.
$30,000 to support interior building renovations to its future new location at 1389 Chapel Street.
Youth Continuum
$24,803 to support the purchase of furniture for Winchester Manor, a supportive housing facility for homeless youth.
$24,803 to support the purchase of furniture for Winchester Manor, a supportive housing facility for homeless youth.
Thanks to the generosity of three generations of donors, The Community Foundation forGreater New Haven awarded $21 million in grants and distributions in 2016 from an endowment of more than $530 million and comprising hundreds of individually named funds. In addition to its grant-making, The Community Foundation helps build a stronger community by taking measures to improve student achievement, reduce New Haven’s infant mortality rate, promote local philanthropy through www.giveGreater.org® and encourage community awareness at www.cfgnh.org/learn. The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven’s 20 town service area includes: Ansonia, Bethany, Branford, Cheshire, Derby, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Oxford, Seymour, Shelton, Wallingford, West Haven, Woodbridge. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.org/cfgnh or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cfgnh.
Click here to view this press release on our website.
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Ratasha Smith
Communications Officer
70 Audubon Street
New Haven, CT 06510
Main: 203-777-2386
Direct: 203-777-7096
Fax: 203-787-6584
Twitter: @cfgnh
JOIN US on November 29th for our next Convening - Preserving Our Values and Commitments: A look at challenges in 2017 and how the community is responding.
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