By Lauren Patterson
How much does New Canaan mean to you? Are you just settling in after a move from the city or has it been home for generations? Do you count your friends here as family? Is it where you hope to see your children grow and thrive? Are you thankful to be in a place where community comes first? We are. We are the New Canaan Community Foundation; we support local nonprofits, foster engagement in our community, and encourage philanthropy. In 2024, we saw progress and uplifting examples of these goals across our community.
Partnerships are key to our success, and examples range from service delivery to collaborative donor giving. This year, The Newcomers Club of New Canaan was a great example of the latter, as they established a charitable fund at NCCF, contributing dollars raised from their Biennial Holiday House Tour, and partnered to jointly award grants with NCCF to the more than 100 local organizations seeking funding through our annual grants process. This was a great example of how donors and others count on the Foundation’s leadership and expertise on how and where to invest. As a result of the Newcomers’ partnership, 21 grants were awarded that were boosted by their co-investment, including leading local organizations like New Canaan Mounted Troop, New Canaan Cares, Waveny LifeCare and New Canaan Nature Center.
The Foundation is committed not just to helping periodically, but also to projects that require multiple year follow-through to ensure success. For example, we’ve prioritized several multi-year grant investments to support enduring cultural and educational projects in New Canaan. These investments include the New Canaan Library, Town Players of New Canaan, and New Canaan Museum & Historical Society, organizations that likely reach all corners of our community.
The Foundation also works deeply on critical issues as they arise. Behavioral health has been our longest running focus, dating back about seven years now. Following early groundwork by a special committee, moving additional grant resources into mental health services and a variety of programs both in New Canaan and in neighboring communities, our community was better positioned to respond to increasing demand during and through the pandemic. Efforts also include championing the launch of the Urgent Assessment Program at Silver Hill Hospital, which provides mental health assessments and referrals to New Canaan residents, and remains free of charge in part due to Foundation funding. Our mission continued alongside Silver Hill Hospital and the Town of New Canaan to organize the New Canaan Behavioral Health Alliance (NCBHA). In October of this year, the NCBHA administered the town’s first “Community Health & Well-being Survey” to gather data that can better inform our community’s collective work on this issue, tell us over time if we are moving the needle, and can potentially unlock state and federal funding for New Canaan. We are eager to release survey results through the NCBHA in early 2025 and continue a community conversation on this important work.
Today, we’re calling on you to support your friends, family, and community. NCCF’s Annual Appeal is almost over – but there are still so many ways to take part. Whether it’s that first step in learning more about NCCF, signing up for a volunteer opportunity or making a donation in any amount. If you’ve already been giving through NCCF, thank you. Now, take that next step in learning more about a Donor Advised Fund (a tax-smart and efficient way to partner in your philanthropy) or check with your company to see if they participate in corporate matching. We invite you to take the time this year to be a part of NCCF. Philanthropy isn’t just about giving – it’s about being a part of a community and accomplishing something greater than any of us could achieve on our own.
To learn more about what you helped us achieve this year, I invite you to check out our annual report at newcanaancf.org.
