above: Cube by blessing 123 – stock.adobe.com; origami by butenkow – stock.adobe.com
In this season of gratitude and giving, the New Canaan Community Foundation and the Community Fund of Darien invite you to add the well-being of your neighbors to your holiday giving list.
As many express gratitude for the countless blessings and opportunities that abound in their households, our community also finds our neighbors seeking access to services that address basic needs such as food, shelter, physical and mental healthcare, job training and youth success programs.
Last year, combined, the Community Fund of Darien and the New Canaan Community Foundation granted more than $1.6 million to 100+ carefully vetted, local agencies and programs delivering successful outcomes and changing lives. Our community organizations each pool donors’ funds to support local nonprofits for greater collective impact.
A general donation to the Community Fund of Darien or the New Canaan Community Foundation enables you to support multiple agencies. You can also make a directed gift via the “Guide to Giving” link at communityfunddarien.org/givingguide or by using the QR code below.
PROMOTING YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH
CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER OF SOUTHERN CT is dedicated to improving the mental and behavioral health of children and teens. CGC offers a broad range of individualized mental health diagnostic, assessment and treatment services. Families can access services regardless of ability to pay.
$175 PROVIDES one hour of therapy for a child or teen
$500 PROVIDES one mobile crisis intervention for a high-risk youth and their family
$1000 PROVIDES the safe and supportive forensic interview for a child who is the suspected victim of abuse and the follow-up services of a victim advocate
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SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRISIS CENTER’S mission is to prevent and eliminate domestic violence by educating communities and supporting individuals in building safer lives. DVCC offers 24-hour crisis intervention, emergency safe housing, counseling, legal/financial advocacy and housing. Last year, DVCC served 3,600 victims and provided prevention education to 10,000 individuals. All services are free, confidential, multilingual and multicultural.
$100 PROVIDES transportation costs to bring victims fleeing into the safe house
$500 PROVIDES one day of service for the 24-hour hotline
$1,000 PROVIDES approximately ten hours of counseling
$2,500 SUPPORTS one week of legal advocacy at the Stamford Courthouse, helping victims navigate the legal system.
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FIGHTING CHILDHOOD HUNGER
FILLING IN THE BLANKS fights childhood hunger by providing children in need with meals on the weekends. In addition to distributing their weekend meal kits at schools and camps, FITB offers a mobile food pantry, in-school pantries and backpacks with school supplies at the beginning of the school year and around the holidays.
$10 PROVIDES one child with a weekend meal bag
$250 PROVIDES one child with six months of weekend meal bags
$1,000 PROVIDES two children with one year supply of weekend meal bags
RESCUING VALUABLE FOOD
FOOD RESCUE US – FAIRFIELD COUNTY is dedicated to reducing wasted food and increasing food access. With their proprietary web-based app, Food Rescue engages volunteers and food donors to directly transfer nutritious excess food to social service agencies serving people experiencing food insecurity. By keeping food out of landfills, they also reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.
$25 PROVIDES 400 meals to social service agency partners
$50 RECOVERS 1,000 lbs. of surplus food
$100 KEEPS two tons (2,400 lbs) of CO2eq out of the atmosphere
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PREPARING UNDERSERVED STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE
HORIZONS AT NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL works to ensure underserved local students graduate from high school prepared for college/career by providing year-round academic and enrichment programs to inspire learning, encourage success, and close the opportunity gap.
$500 PROVIDES transportation for two students to the 6-week summer program
$1,000 PROVIDES a year of academic coaching for one high school student
$3,800 PROVIDES Horizons summer program for one student
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IMPACTING THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS
HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL fosters programs that educate, safeguard, and empower people in our community. HSC’s core programs address critical issues such as homelessness, senior living, child abuse, and the mental and physical health of children. Funding supports the school-based health clinics and child advocacy and abuse prevention.
$25 PROVIDES a backpack and school supplies for a child in need
$250 PROVIDES a child-friendly forensic interview that helps a victim of abuse start the healing process
$750 SPONSORS an annual mentor/ mentee match
CREATING A SAFE HAVEN FOR OUR KIDS
KIDS IN CRISIS builds healthy communities where children and families thrive. Kids In Crisis provides emergency shelter, crisis counseling and prevention programs to nearly 170,000 children. Offerings include school-based TeenTalk counselors, a 24/7 helpline and SafeHaven shelter.
$100 PROVIDES nourishing meals for all the children in their shelter
$250 PROVIDES one day of service for KIC’s vital helpline (203-661-1911)
$2,500 PROVIDES a master’s level TeenTalk counselor in schools for an entire week
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SUSTAINING MENTAL HEALTH
LAUREL HOUSE helps individuals and families achieve and sustain mental health to lead fulfilling lives. Its core purpose is social inclusion, early intervention and recovery. Its rehabilitative programs include education, employment, cognitive remediation, supportive housing and skill building.
$300 PROVIDES social and skill-building activities for 60 supportive housing participants
$500 PROVIDES program fees, books and transportation for supported education participants seeking vocational certification
$1,000 PROVIDES ten cognitive remediation sessions for a participant
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ASSISTING FAMILIES IN NEED
PERSON TO PERSON supports families and individuals as they move toward stability with healthy food, clothing, housing assistance and a path to economic opportunity. P2P strives to meet both the immediate and long-term needs of the low-income population in our area.
$100 PROVIDES a family of four with a week’s worth of groceries
$700 SENDS a child to camp for the entire summer
$2,000 PROVIDES a college scholarship to a first-generation student
HELPING TO OVERCOME ADDICTION
LIBERATION PROGRAMS helps individuals and families overcome addiction in order to restore their lives. The program strengthens our communities by providing treatment and prevention services for substance use and mental health disorders. Liberation offers inpatient programs, outpatient and intensive outpatient services, education and prevention efforts, harm reduction services, mobile outreach and supportive housing to more than 1,000 individuals each day.
$250 PROVIDES five NARCAN kits to prevent overdoses and save lives
$1,000 PROVIDES transportation, daycare or other costs for up to ten clients to attend weekly counseling sessions for a month
$5,000 SPONSORS the Recovery Employment Program for clients at Liberation House for one year
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ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE
THE ROWAN CENTER counsels and advocates for victims and survivors as they process their experiences of sexual violence and provides community education to prevent sexual violence in the future.
$500 PROVIDES art supplies and toys for children’s counseling room
$1,000 PROVIDES short-term crisis counseling for one child
$2,500 PROVIDES training for 20 sexual assault crisis advocates
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EMPOWERING THOSE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
STAR, INC., LIGHTING THE WAY… empowers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through personalized support services. They partner with the individual and their families to create pathways to independence, community engagement and fulfilling lives.
$300 PROVIDES recreational opportunities for three adults with IDD within the community
$500 PROVIDES art materials for five classes of ten adults with IDD
$2,500 PURCHASES new children’s furniture for STAR Rubino Pediatric Therapy Center
