On August 29, 2010, New Canaan Dog Days of Summer comes to the Cherry Street East Village. Between 12pm and 4pm, the area will be turned into a pet-friendly environment filled with Dog Contests, Vendors, Pet Adoptions, Kid’s Activities, Food and Fund! The fun event will benefit the local First Ib.l.a.s.t. Fund at the New Canaan Community Foundation, as well as Strays and Others and the New Canaan Police K-9 Fund. Sponsors of the event are the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce, Village Critter Outfitters and Aetheria Spa. For more information, please visit http://www.newcanaandogdays.com.

On April 29, 2010, Moffley Media converted downtown New Canaan into a fantastic block party featuring the best in home decor and fashion. The 2010 sponsors of the evening were Cobble Court Interiors, Kitchens by Deane, MASON and Pimlico. The evening also included numerous other retail participants. Photographs from the evening can be viewed under the special events tab to the left or at: http://www.mofflymedia.com/Design-District/DD-New-Canaan-2010/New-Canaan/.

Representing NCCF that evening were Board Members Diane Hanauer, Susie Repkoand Ben Bilus, Director of the NC Chamber of Commerce, Tucker Murphy and NCCF Office Manager Kristin Faig.

On Tuesday, February 9, 2010 the Women’s Initiative of the New Canaan Community Foundation hosted the 4th Annual Touch A Life Fund Luncheon at the Roger Sherman Inn. Almost $19,000 was raised to provide financial emergency assistance to New Canaan residents through the Foundation’s Touch A Life Fund. This Fund was established in 1998 and to date, over $80,000 has been distributed from the Fund to assist residents in need with fuel, rent and medical bills, tuition for camperships and summer school, clothing and school supplies expenses and many other essential items. The Touch A Life Fund recently made a $500 grant to the New Canaan Food Pantry.

Luncheon guests were educated and inspired by a moving and insightful speech by Elaine Zimmerman, Executive Director of the Connecticut Commission on Children, about the short- and long-term impact of the recession on children.

NCCF would like to acknowledge the generous support of HTG Investment Advisors, Inc. for their corporate sponsorship of the Luncheon. Additional thanks are extended to Tom Doyle of Springdale Florists and to the Roger Sherman Inn for their support. We would also like to thank the members of the Women’s Initiative, Dorcas Hills, Liza Pohle, Paula Addeo, Cindy Charas, Jeanne Gnuse, Diane Hanauer, Kim Healey, Hope Hetherington, Sara Hunt, Cathy Irwin, Kristen Leopold, Deb Perron, Susie Repko and Patricia Russo for their invaluable help on the luncheon committee.

Residents with financial need who wish to be considered for an emergency funding grant from the Touch A Life Fund should contact either the New Canaan Department of Human Services (203–594-3076) or Person to Person in Darien (203–655-0048) for evaluation and referral. All requests for assistance are kept strictly confidential.

NCCF would like to acknowledge all the individuals who made generous contributions to the Fund the day of the luncheon. The Touch A Life Fund allows residents to reach out and help their neighbors in need.

Pictured in the photo are members of the NCCF Women’s Initiative and Touch A Life Luncheon Committee members:front row left to right: Sarah Hunt, Jeanne Gnuse, Cindy Charas. Second row left to right: Kristin Leopold, Liza Pohle, Dorcas Hills, Diane Hanauer, Cathy Irwin, Paula Addeo and Susie Repko. Missing from the photo are Hope Hetherington, Kim Healey, Deb Perron and Patricia Russo.

NCCF will once again benefit from a donation from Moffley Media and the proceeds of the second annual Design District event. AtHome magazine is kicking off the spring season with its second annual Design District, offering the best in home décor with top interior designers/decorators, art galleries, landscape designers and fashion retailers. Design District is open to the public and will be held in downtown New Canaan from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 29.

The event will include 17 high-end stores and businesses, many of which focus on home design, real estate, landscaping and/or fashion. Throughout the evening, participating stores will be featuring designer presentations, book signings, cooking demonstrations, charity auctions and giveaways. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be provided all evening long.

A grand prize of a three-night stay for two at the recently refurbished Ocean House in Watch Hill, R.I, will be up for grabs.

Sponsors include Cobble Court Interiors; Kitchens by Deane, and Mason and Pimlico, and other participants Boxwood Home and Interiors; Comina; Country Design; Family Britches; Keith E. Simpson Associates; KL Designs; Littlejohn’s; The Linen Shop; New Canaan Alliance of Business Professionals; Rockwell Art and Framing; The Summer House; William Pitt Sotheby’s International, and WAVE.

To enter to win a gourmet dinner for eight, courtesy of Culinary Works, LLC, to be held at the newly renovated Kitchens by Deane showroom in Stamford, a $800 value, visit Kitchens by Deane at 189 Elm Street. There will be a special drawing for the prize at 8 p.m. April 29.

Along with a donation by Moffly Media, 100 percent of the blind/silent auction proceeds will benefit the New Canaan Community Foundation. The following stores will be auctioning off the following items:

• Boxwood Interiors: Large Sunburst Mirror approx 54“D

• Cobble Court Interiors – Hunter Green luxurious cashmere throw has a brushed surface with a buttery feel that is nothing short of exceptional. Hand finished with 2” self-fringe.

• Pimlico – gorgeous decorative pillow. It’s a 15” x 30” brown linen pillow with hand embroidered detailing and sequins for a bit of sparkle.

• Keith E. Simpson Associates, Inc. – 2-Hour Landscape Architectural Consultation with Keith E. Simpson, FASLA. Includes two hours of on-site design consultation. Offer valid for one year from auction date.

• Kitchens By Deane: A percentage of the proceeds from John Barricelli’ book will be donated to the New Canaan Community Foundation: The SoNo Baking Company Cookbook – The best sweet and savory recipes for every occasion

For more information, call Laurinda Finelli at 203–571–1614.

NCCF will hold its annual grant distributions meeting on Wednesday, May 19th, 2009 at 7pm at Morrill Hall at St. Mark’s Church, New Canaan. Grant awards from the Community Impact Fund, Neighbors United Program, Young Philanthropists Fund and many donor advised funds will be distributed. Recipients of award from the Sapienza Scholarship Fund will be announced and the first award from the Joseph Dorrico Rotary Scholarship Fund will be given.