By Jane Fox
The Rotary Club of New Canaan is delighted to announce that the net proceeds from last year’s LobsterFest have been donated to fund vitally needed programs and services at over forty local non-profit organizations. Each organization continues to see increased levels of need among the populations they serve.
Grant Allocations Chair Charles McCool led three teams with a total of twenty-four Rotarians who reviewed applications from the organizations. Carolyn Corcoran, Rotary Club of New Canaan’s 2023-2024 President, joined Charlie McCool in presenting the awards at two luncheon meetings held at Waveny House that were just bursting with good feelings and the warmth of dedication to the community by so many!
Supporting local communities’ non-profit organizations is a major part of the Rotary Club’s “Service Above Self” mission. The club’s efforts each year focus on fulfilling this goal with grants each year from funds raised at LobsterFest. This year’s Lobsterfest will be held on September 27th and 28th at the Steve Benko Pool at Waveny Park.
In all, 40 organizations serving the healthcare and education needs of New Canaan and the surrounding communities received grants.
Recipient at the June 6th luncheon included Friends of Bristow Park, Building One Community, Carver Center, Circle of Friends, Danbury Grassroot Academy, Domestic Violence Crisis Center, Domus Kids, Future 5, Horizons at NC Country School, Kids Empowered by Your Support (KEYS), New Canaan Cares, New Canaan Chamber Music, New Canaan Museum and Historical Society, STAR – Stand Together Against Racism, Boys and Girls Club, Waveny Park Conservancy, Women Empowering Women
Grant recipients at the June 13th luncheon included ABC House New Canaan, AmeriCares Free Clinics, Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, Filling in the Blanks, Food Rescue, GetAbout, Kids in Crisis, Laurel House, Liberation, Meals on Wheels, New Canaan Mounted Troop, New Canaan Parent Support Group, Person to Person, Special Olympics, St John’s Lutheran/Little Free Pantry, St Mark’s Gospel Garden, Staying Put in New Canaan, VOICES Center for Resilience, Waveny Life Care, Umbrella Club.
In addition, the club awards annual grants to the NCHS Scholarship Foundation, Dorrico Scholarship, and Rotary’s national and international causes including the Polio Plus eradication program and HALO Trust which works to clear landmines in countries recovering from conflict.
For information on attending a meeting of the Rotary Club of New Canaan, please contact incoming Club President Rob Fryer at robinafryer@gmail.com.
