NCCF is grateful to the Corporate Sponsors of the 6^th annual Philanthropy Luncheon, held on November 18, 2010 at Woodway Country Club.  The generous support of these sponsors was a key component to the success of the Luncheon.  Top Gold Level sponsors US Trust, Bank of America, Private Wealth Management and Merrill Lynch, New Canaan Office. The Silver Level Sponsors were Hawthorne, Ackerly & Dorrance, LLP; Long Meadow Investors and Robinson & Cole  LLC.  The Luncheon Bronze Level Sponsors included Bank of New Canaan; BlumShapiro; Harrigan Insurance and
HTG Investment Advisors, Inc
 
Proceeds, of over $20,000 from the Luncheon, benefitted the Young Philanthropist Fund at NCCF. The Young Philanthropist Fund is a committee of 30 high-school-aged New Canaan residents who learn about non-profit organizations and experience a grant making process by funding programs that address community needs.
 
In the photograph are left to right:  Elizabeth Ker, New Canaan Community Foundation; Bo Harrigan, Harrigan Insurance; Liz Cahill, US Trust Bank of America Private Wealth Management; George Moore, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management; Susannah Hansley, HTG Investment Advisors; Lawrence Mannix, Hawthorne, Ackerly & Dorrance; and Jon Old, Long Meadow Investors.   Sponsors not pictured:  BlumShapiro, Robinson and Cole and Bank of New Canaan.   

 There is a beehive of charitable activity tucked in the back of St. Mark’s Church in New Canaan.  The area is home to our local food pantry, located underneath Morrill Hall.  More than 160 clients come to “shop” every two weeks to stock up on food and critical supplies, with the help of volunteers.   Generous residents in Town donate food to keep the shelves full, and the regional Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County in Stamford supplements these contributions through regular deliveries using their refrigerated van.  Just steps away is a recently established vegetable garden and fruit tree orchard sited on the level property below the parking lot.  This compact, productive garden was established by volunteers who tend the crops in an effort to supply food pantry clients with healthy fresh fruits and vegetables during the growing season.   Gardening volunteers include numerous parish members, but also a diverse group from our area including local Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and clients with developmental disabilities from STAR, Inc. Lighting the Way.

 In addition to a spirit of neighborly goodwill, all of these efforts have something else in common.  Each organization received essential grant funding from the New Canaan Community Foundation.   NCCF supported every critical component of this cooperative effort to meet the basic human need of providing nutritious food to needy New Canaan residents.  This work is a wonderful example of collaboration among local not-for-profit organizations and their staff and volunteers, all working to help local people in need. 

 Pictured in the photo of the vegetable garden are Brian Hollstein in the blue hat in the vegetable garden with volunteers from STAR Inc., Lighting the Way.

On Thursday, November 18th, NCCF will hold the 6th Annual Philanthropy luncheon to benefit the Young Philanthropists Fund at Woodway Country Club. This year’s speaker is Claire Gaudiani, an Adjunct Professor in the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University and former President of Connecticut College. Gr. Gaudiani is a passionate and provocative speaker about the fundamental importance of generosity in America. Her stories are guaranteed to inspire everyone who cares about our communities and our nation. She is a widely quoted expert on the economics of American philanthropy. Her insights have appeared in USA Today, The Financial Times, The New York Times, the Chronicle of Philanthropy and the Associated Press wire service just in the past year.

After completing her fourth book on philanthropy in 2009, “Social Entrepreneurship in America:Women Building a more Perfect Union”, Gaudiani received an appointment at the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at NYU.

From 2004-2009, Gaudiani served as clinical professor at the Heyman Center for Philanthropy at New York University, where she directed the graduate program in philanthropic studies. From 2001-2004 at the Yale Law School, she wrote “The Greater Good: How Philanthropy Drives the American Economy and Can Save Capitalism”. This widely-cited book argues that Americans are not generous because we are rich, but rich because we are generous. Gaudiani asserts that citizen generosity is the defining American value, and urges that we leverage this legacy through the coming, post-boomer wealth transfer.

Gaudiani served for 13 years as President of Connecticut College, where she was also Professor of French. Under her leadership from 1988-2001, Connecticut College quintupled its endowment and rose to the top 25 liberal arts colleges in the nation.

Gaudiani holds a PhD and master’s degree in French literature from Indiana University and a bachelor’s degree, also in French, from Connecticut College. Recent publications include “Values-Centered Financial Planning’ in the Journal of Practical Estate Planning, (June/July, 2006), “The Transformative Power of Women’s Philanthropy” in Women and Giving ( Jossey Bass, 2006), “Internal Board Communication Strategies’ in the National Association of Corporate Directors Journal ( June, 2007), and “Intangible Asset Planning” in Trusts and Estates (June, 2007).

She is married to David Burnett, PhD, her partner in Gaudiani Associates and they have two married children and three grandchildren.

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.

Mark your calendars!
Sunday October 17th at 12pm in Waveny Park

A benefit for the Spencer’s Run Endowment Fund at the New Canaan Community Foundation!
Help fund improvements and special projects for Spencer’s Run.

Tell your friends (and your best friend).
After the walk, cool down with some cider and bones

To Register please go to: http://www.spencersrun.org/
or download the registration form here, complete and mail to NCCF, 111 Cherry Street, New Canaan.