Join us on Thursday, March 8, 2012 as we celebrate the unique spirit and character of our Town as we honor thee remarkable volunteers in our community: Wendy Hilboldt, Hazel Hobbs, and Bob Witt.  More information to come!

At the annual Grant Awards reception on May 18th, the New Canaan Community Foundation (NCCF) awarded scholarship grants from the Anne and Anthony Sapienza Scholarship Fund totaling nearly $159,000, supporting educational efforts of two local non-profit organizations and recognizing fifty seven individual New Canaan residents. The scholarship winners 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. 

New Canaan is home to several not-for-profit organizations that rely heavily on charitable contributions and volunteers who dedicate themselves every day to support hundreds of older residents living independently in our community.  These non-profits are supported by essential grant funds from the New Canaan Community Foundation (NCCF).

Meals on Wheels is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to providing a nutritious hot and cold meal five days a week to any resident of New Canaan who is unable to prepare the meals necessary to maintain their health and independence.  The majority of their clients are frail and elderly, although the service is available to anyone homebound by a disability.  Some clients rely on the service briefly while they recover from an accident or surgery, while other long-time recipients depend on this resource over an extended period of time.  Meals on Wheels feeds approximately 50 residents every day of the year, regardless of the client’s ability to pay for the meals, and many residents are unable to pay the full cost of the service.  Annually, Meals on Wheels delivers nearly 15,000 meals, and has been delivering nutrition to our homebound residents for over 37 years.  This visit by their volunteer driver may be the only personal contact for a recipient all day, and helps keep these residents connected to the support of our community. 

Getabout is another local non-profit agency serving residents who are homebound, either because of age or a physical disability.  They operate four vans, three of which can carry passengers in wheelchairs, from Monday to Friday.   Their vans drive passengers to recreational destinations in New Canaan such as the Library and Lapham Community Center, as well as to critical locations like essential shopping, the Food Pantry and medical offices in Town and in Darien, Norwalk, Stamford, and Wilton.   Annually, Getabout provides approximately 12,000 rides to transportation disadvantaged residents, regardless of their ability to pay.  The revenue they collect from the riders covers only about 10% of the cost of the transportation.  The bulk of their financial support comes from contributions.

Staying Put in New Canaan was established in 2007 to give Town residents aged fifty years and older the practical means and the confidence to live their lives to the fullest as part of the New Canaan community, in their own homes.  To meet the needs of their members, their staff and volunteers are a phone call away, linking callers to professional services, such as home repairs and health care, or to volunteer help for simpler household tasks.  Additionally, Staying Put coordinates educational and social programs to minimize the isolation often associated with aging at home.  Scholarships are available for those residents who cannot afford the membership fee to join their group.

In addition to a spirit of neighbors helping neighbors, all of these efforts have something else in common.  Each organization received essential grant funding from NCCF to help them keep working toward their mission.   NCCF supported every critical component of this collaborative effort to meet the basic needs of older New Canaan residents - providing nutritious food, transportation, and practical support and social connections.  This wonderful example of collaboration among local not-for-profit organizations and their staff and volunteers, working to help local people in need, is underwritten with grant funding from the New Canaan Community Foundation.  New Canaan is indeed a truly supportive Town for all its residents, the youngest to the oldest! 

The 200+ players of the New Canaan Women’s Platform Tennis League (NCWPTL) celebrated the end of the 2010-2011 paddle season with a spring luncheon at Waveny Lodge, Tuesday, April 12.  A silent auction and player donations garnered nearly $700 for the chosen charity this year, The New Canaan Community Foundation.   NCCF Board Member, Ann Lobdell, who gave a brief overview of the Foundation’s numerous area charity causes, graciously accepted the donation on behalf of NCCF.  NCWPTL and the New Canaan Men’s Platform Tennis League (NCMPTL), chaired by Mike Frankenfield, matched funds for a total donation of $2,700 to NCCF from New Canaan paddle leagues based at Waveny Park.

On May 5, 2011 between 6pm and 9pm, Moffly Media and atHome Magazine is bringing together top interior designers, architects, well-heeled homeowners and the stores they love for the ultimate New Canaan block party! The third annual Design District is open to the public and will include 10 high-end stores and businesses many of which focus on home design, architecture and fashion.  Throughout the evening, participating stores will be featuring designer presentations, book signings, cooking demonstrations, giveaways, and more! Shop ’til you drop with wine & hors d’oeuvres provided all evening long. A Grand Prize Drawing of a 3-night stay at The Vanderbilt Grace a luxury mansion hotel in downtown, historic Newport, Rhode Island will be open to all event attendees, just pick up your “passport” at any participating store the evening of the event.