Grants

Young Philanthropists Fund

Young Philanthropists Fund (YPF) was established in 2007 and made its first grant awards in 2008. The YPF Steering Committee, comprised of high school aged students from New Canaan, thoroughly reviews each grant request with direction from the NCCF staff and board members. The Steering Committee’s final recommendations for funding are presented to the NCCF Board of Directors for approval.

Each year the YPF Steering Committee chooses a theme for funding. The RFP and grant applications are sent out to area non-profits based on the theme. The YPF grant application is due January 15th of each year.

Applications and guidelines are available on this site. Any questions regarding the process should be directed to the NCCF office at (203) 966–0231.

In 2008, The Young Philanthropist Fund awarded their first grants under the target areas of education and health to the following organizations:
Waveny Care Network – $550 was awarded to purchase a Nintendo Wii system for use in the New Canaan Inn as part of the program “Using Simple Technology to Promote Intergenerational Connectivity between the Community’s Youth and Seniors”.

• NC Volunteer Ambulance Corps -$1,000 was awarded to support building their new headquarters.

• Camp Horizons -$762 was granted to purchase equipment to laminate materials used repeatedly by campers with developmental disabilities.

• Person to Person -$500 was awarded to support four scholarships for students from low income households to attend Camp Hand in Hand in New Canaan.

• Childrens’ Connection -$750 was granted tofund forensic interviews for children who have been sexually abused or neglected.

• SPED*NET of New Canaan – $500 was granted to fund seminars to teach middle school and high school students with disabilities to self advocate and take charge of the school meetings (PPT’s) that determine their educational program.

In 2009 the YPF committee of 20 students from New Canaan High School, St. Luke’s School, New Canaan Country School and the Harvey School chose health and human services with a main focus on basic needs as their theme. The Committee received 13 proposals seeking more than $19,721 in grant support. After careful consideration, and with guidance from Community Foundation staff and Directors, they awarded $4719 in grants to six non-profit organizations serving our community.

YPF Grants were awarded to:
•AmeriCares Free Clinics to provide funding for 10 school physicals for young adults.

•Kids in Crisis to support Teen Talk, a Kids in Crisis program that places specially trained counselors in high school and middle school to help kids deal with personal problems, social and academic pressures and family conflict.

•New Canaan Chapter of the American Red Cross Purchase and installation of an antenna which will allow the Red Cross Disaster Action Team to communicate throughout New Canaan during a disaster or emergency.

•Person to Person to provide funding for their Emergency Assistance Program to provide financial emergency assistance to residents of New Canaan.

•Shelter for the Homeless to provide financial assistance with the rising cost of food to feed their clients.

In the YPF year 2009 – 2010, the Committee grew to 25 members representing a variety of local schools. The group chose “Strengthening Our Community” as their grant making theme. YPF disgtributed $6863 in grants to 10 non-profit organizations.

2010 YPF Grants were:
•Arts for Healing was awarded a grant for $300 is to purchase instruments for their music therapy program. Art for Healing impacts the lives of children and adults with special needs by offering innovative, integrated art and music therapy programs.

•Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County received a grant for $1,000 buy and distribute food at or below wholesale cost. The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County is the provider of nutritious food for non-profit organizations that feed the hungry in our area.

•New Canaan CARES was awarded a grant for $629 to purchase a power point projector for CARES’ many presentations. New Canaan CARES provides educational and skill building services and programs to multiple age groups in New Canaan.

•New Covenant House ‘s grant for $1,000 will be used to Purchase food for the children’s feeding program and soup kitchen. New Covenant House, located in Stamford, provides emergency food services to the poor, elderly and disabled.

•Nursing & Home Care received a grant for $500 to purchase 5 portable GPS units for use by the caregivers when travelling to see a patient. Nursing and Home Care provides quality compassionate home care to those in need, regardless of their ability to pay.

•Pegasus Therapeutic Riding was awarded a grant for $400 used to help cover the cost of the use of therapy horses for their program at New Canaan Mounted Troop. For over 35 years, Pegasus has provided the therapeutic benefits of horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities to physically, emotionally and developmentally challenged individuals at stables in Connecticut and New York.

•Shelter for the Homeless received a grant for $1,000 which will be used to help cover the cost of providing food for clients staying overnight at the shelter. Shelter for the Homeless is committed to providing a safe overnight shelter for men who are homeless.

•STAR Inc Lighting the Way was awarded a grant for $814 to purchase Assessment Tools to help establish proper eligibility for infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities in the Rubino Family Program. STAR provides services and programs for infants, children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families.

•Staying Put in New Canaan’s grant for $720 will provide two scholarships covering the cost of membership for one year. The mission of Staying Put in New Canaan is to give residents of New Canaan fifty years and over both the practical means and the confidence to live their lives to the fullest as part of the New Canaan community.

•Waveny Care Network received a grant for $500 to purchase a digital camera with video capacity and a printer for use in Waveny’s Rehab department. Waveny Care Network provides a comprehensive continuum of health care to serve the growing needs of adults in New Canaan and surrounding communities.