Supporting the Heart of Our Community

Dear Fellow New Canaan Community Residents,

As we enter this beautiful holiday season, we are reminded of how fortunate we are to live in this vibrant and active community we call home. New Canaan is centered around creating a safe and welcoming environment for its residents and neighbors, providing access to health, education, arts and a vast array of social services. The New Canaan Community Foundation (NCCF) sits at the center of many of these programs. It has established itself as a pillar in the community, providing guidance and funding to help not-for-profit organizations fulfill their missions and meet their funding needs.

The three of us are proud to be tri-chairing the 2025 NCCF Annual Appeal. We each came to New Canaan at differing points in our lives, but we are unified in our love of this town and the fabric of the community that surrounds us. We have seen our families and our neighbors benefit from the deep resources available to them, and where residents are quick to jump in and help support their favorite causes. We love the can-do attitude of this town. We love seeing the crowds that line the streets for the Memorial Day parade, the support of Mental Health Awareness, the NCCF spring luncheon, the Rotary Club Lobsterfest, the Mayfair, the NCM&HS Ice Cream Social, the opening of the Library, the Waveny Care gala, the GetAbout spring party, the YMCA Family Days…the list goes on and on!

As we reflect on our special community, we ask our fellow New Canaan residents to think about the critical role that NCCF plays in assisting so many of these organizations – both here in town and in the neighboring communities. In its 2025 main grant cycle, NCCF awarded $1.04 million to 94 nonprofits serving New Canaan and our neighbors, Stamford and Norwalk, to help them meet critical funding needs. Importantly, NCCF also provides guidance to these organizations through its grant review process; offers opportunities to network, collaborate, and work towards shared goals; and invests in their long-term capacity through workshops and technical assistance.

While we certainly encourage each of you to continue giving directly to your favorite local charities, we also ask you to consider supporting the community at the NCCF level via donating to our 2025 Annual Appeal. We have each committed to raising our giving levels this year, especially in light of the funding cuts for many programs at the national and state levels, and we ask you to consider doing the same. NCCF needs your support!

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Best regards,

Carolyn Silverman Crisafulli

Peter Herbert

Kathy Auda Skaperdas