The Community Fund Of Darien Awards Record $790,500 In Grants
Community Corner
The Community Fund Of Darien Awards Record $790,500 In Grants This represents the largest grant volume in the organization's 73-year history.Information via The Community Fund of Darien
DARIEN, CT — The Community Fund of Darien hosted its annual grant awards celebration on Tuesday, July 16, and awarded its largest grant volume in its 73-year history.
Thirty-six local, nonprofit organizations focused on providing Darien, Norwalk, and Stamford neighbors access to food, housing, mental and physical healthcare, job and skills training, and youth success programs were awarded grants totaling $790,500. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $45,000.
The celebration was open to the public and held at The Meadowlands at the Darien Community Association. More than 130 guests attended, including grant recipients, dignitaries, donors, volunteers, board members, and guests.
"The $790,500 grant pool includes $715,000 in Community Grants, $15,500 in Youth Community Fund Grants, and a new Darien initiative that recently raised $60,000 to place a TeenTalk mental health counselor at Middlesex Middle School in collaboration with Kids in Crisis and The Darien Health Department," said The Community Fund of Darien Executive Director Janet King in a news release. "We are profoundly grateful that our donors generously responded to the growing needs of our neighbors."
The Community Fund of Darien distributed funds to carefully vetted, impactful, and efficient local organizations that were evaluated by 83 volunteer grants panelists who contributed 1,500 hours reviewing grant applications, making site visits, and assessing financial statements.
Since 1951, The Community Fund of Darien has distributed over $28 million to local nonprofits and community initiatives, impacting thousands of lives in the community.
Lisa Haas, grants director of The Community Fund of Darien, presented the grantees with their awards.
"The support from our donors makes today's celebration possible. Caring for our neighbors and investing in proven and impactful programs that address basic human needs strengthen the fabric of our community," Haas said in a news release. "We can all be very proud of this year's outpouring of support and generosity by donors and volunteers alike."
Community Grants were awarded to the following local nonprofits: