At the annual Grant Awards reception on May 19th, the New Canaan Community Foundation (NCCF) awarded scholarship grants from the Anne and Anthony Sapienza Scholarship Fund totaling nearly $160,000, supporting educational efforts of seven local non-profit organizations and recognizing thirty seven individual New Canaan residents. Approximately 220 people came together at this event to celebrate the generosity of community spirit and local philanthropy in New Canaan.

The Anne and Anthony Sapienza Scholarship Fund was established at NCCF in 2006 through a bequest from New Canaan resident Anne Sapienza. In its fourth year of operation, the Sapienza Scholarship Fund generated awards at a record high level, as the endowed fund supporting this program continues to grow. According to Cynthia Gorey, Executive Director of the Community Foundation, Mrs. Sapienza wanted to allow New Canaan residents to further their education, and not be limited by financial obstacles. Mrs. Sapienza encouraged NCCF to support students of all ages wishing to attend not-for-profit educational organizations. Scholarship eligibility is therefore not limited to high school seniors applying to traditional four-year colleges. Mrs. Gorey added, “The timing of this increase in scholarship awards was so fortuitous with the downturn in the economy and the increased need among local residents for financial support for educational costs, as a result”. Selection criteria for this scholarship program were established by Mrs. Sapienza and include demonstrated involvement in the New Canaan community, academic achievements, and commitment to his or her preferred course of study.

There are two components to the Sapienza awards, with grants awarded both to not-for-profit organizations and to individuals. At the recent event, NCCF announced seven grants totaling $22,600 to local non-profit organizations that will in turn make their own scholarship awards, and to thirty seven individual awards totaling $37,444, in support of New Canaan residents furthering their education. The scholarship committee is made up of NCCF Board members Jean Grzelecki, Jennifer Purdy, Cindy Charas, and Lisa Wrenn, along with community volunteers Hazel Hobbs and Ted O’Hanlan and past Board member Tom Turrentine. Each member of the committee reads all of the nearly fifty individuals’ applications for financial assistance. The committee reviews each application anonymously, not knowing the identity of the applicant.

Organizational or “block” grants were made to the following organizations: Center for Contemporary Printmaking to support an artist for a two-week fellowship at their printmaking cottage in the 2010-2011 year; Domus for tuition assistance and tuition reimbursement for qualified staff wishing to take graduate level courses; Horizons Student Enrichment Program to support college scholarships to the most outstanding members of the Horizons Class of 2010; Laurel House to support their existing scholarship program for clients in their Supported Education Program as well as staff pursuing post-secondary education; Nursing & Home Care, to allow Home Health Aides and Certified Nursing Assistants to pursue Associates degrees in nursing at Norwalk Community College; SoundWaters to establish a scholarship program for college tuition, allocating awards to students in their high school internship program; and Westport School of Music to provide scholarships to local music students who need help to study at the School.

In the most inspirational portion of the evening, thirty seven individual New Canaan residents were acknowledged for their academic achievements, and received scholarship awards to attend a non-profit educational institution. Nearly all of the winners joined NCCF at the reception, along with members of their families. Award amounts ranged from $1,000 to $7,500 and will be paid directly to the student’s school.

Thirteen of the recipients had received scholarship awards from NCCF in past years, and were granted renewed scholarships based on their continued academic success in college. These scholarships went to Jon Aspinwall for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Jennifer Balogh for Coastal Carolina University, Ellen Fitzpatrick for Syracuse University, Hannah Guerrero for Cooper Union, Edward Kelting for Brown University, Bartlomej Kudrzycki for Washington University in St. Louis, Nicholas Lemoine for Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Jessica Marvin for University of Pennsylvania School of Design, Melissa Parrett for Marist College, Taylor Anne Potter for Duke University, Christopher Sciarretta for University of Utah, Sam Stryker for University of Notre Dame, and Candace Rooney for Loyola College.

First time Sapienza Scholarship winners included Jelani Alladin for New York University, Marie Aspinwall for University of Connecticut, Darryl Cummings for University of Connecticut, Julia Danforth for Colby Sawyer College, Segolene Dewey for Tulane University, Christopher Dombakly for Salisbury University, William Frick for Franklin and Marshall College, Shamiel Gonzalez for St. Lawrence University, Faith Grabarz for University of the South, Nicholas Horstmeyer for University of Vermont, Dylan Hsu for Syracuse University, Megan Joyce for Northwestern University, Amanda Langlais for Liberty University, Christopher Lemoine for University of Connecticut, Christian Manotok for Norwalk Community College, Nanette Melfi for Norwalk Community College, Harrison Nantz for Manhattan College, Noelle Power for Alfred State College, Jessica Rosa for Syracuse University, John Sauerhoff for University of New Hampshire, Joshua Strassman for University of Connecticut, Lorena Tamayo for Norwalk Community College, Isabella Trifero for Franklin and Marshall College, and Peter Tzul for Mitchell College.

Jean Grzelecki, Co-Chair of the Scholarship Committee said, “It is with deep and sincere gratitude that we thank Anne Sapienza, who has touched the lives of so many with her generous planning and her legacy gift. NCCF is fortunate to have been the recipient of her bequest, and it is indeed an honor for us to carry out her charitable wishes for her scholarship fund, year after year.”