Holidays, 2012 

 
Our offices will be closed on Monday, December 24 and Tuesday, December 25 to allow our staff to share their holidays with their families.

In the wake of the horrible events and tragic loss of life at the Sandy Hook Elementary School there are few words left to express our own sympathy and hopes for all those involved. The United Way of Western Connecticut and the Newtown Savings Bank have stepped forward to establish the Sandy Hook School Support Fund which will be used to provide support services to the families and community that has been affected.

In similar fashion to the relief efforts with Hurricane Sandy, we are urging people who want to make donations to the fund established and operated by the United Way closest to the event. Their knowledge of their local community will go a long way in ensuring that the money will be used effectively, and we salute the United Way of Western Connecticut for taking on the role. Click on the candle to visit their website to make a donation.

We also want to salute 2-1-1 which was activated by Governor Malloy to help with counseling services and for the American Red Cross which provided on-site support services.

Lastly, we want to recognize Father Robert Weiss, pastor at St. Rose Lima Church in Newtown, who was such a good friend to everyone in the Valley during his tenure at St. Joseph's in Shelton, for his compassionate work throughout the week. Janet Robinson, Superintendent of Schools in Newtown, who served in the same capacity in Derby prior to going to Newtown, has also provided incredible leadership during a most difficult time.

Our Corporate Volunteer Council always manages to bring out the best in corporate citizenship, and this season is no exception. Last week our Lavietes Conference Room looked more like Santa's workshop than a conference room, and not just with toys. The CVC was coming through as they always do to help needy families in the Valley at this special time of year. Corporations adopted needy families throughout the Valley and purchased and wrapped gifts for them all. Check out the video, or go directly to our website for the complete story and listing of all the companies who helped out this year.

CVC Chrismas 2012

...And Some More Good News...

 Four Valley agencies who provide support for the most basic needs in life - food and shelter will be receiving over $61,000 in grants from this year's FEMA Phase 30 program. Though the money is coming very late in the year, and is slightly less than a year ago, it is coming at a good time as we head into winter when needs always seem to escalate. Valley United Way coordinates the local application process for the Valley which is part of both the larger New Haven and Bridgeport regions. You can learn more about the grants and the agencies providing service here.

...And an Update on Some Earlier Good News

In our last newsletter we told you about an emergency grant of $24,000 made to area food banks on behalf of United Way, the Valley Community Foundation, R.D. Scinto and the Prudential Foundation, and we are happy to report that it has gone better than expected. In a follow-up meeting with the agencies, we discovered that they have not had to use all of the money as quickly as expected! And the good news about that is that when the story broke about the special grant, there was an outpouring of additional community support that helped to fill the shelves at the food banks. Rest assured that all of the food will go to good use, but it will last a bit longer, and that's a good thing.

If Sara Geman, Director of Resource Development, seems to have a big smile on her face from her recent visit to Energizer, she has a good reason. She had just received the great news that Energizer's combined corporate and employee giving for the year will be over $167,000.

 

A day later, Jack Walsh took this snapshot at BIC moments before they concluded the last event of their 2012 campaign with a raffle that turned these tables of prizes into $4,724.00 for their campaign. They raised $10,419 from special events this year! Full campaign results will be available soon.

These are just two of the latest reports that have campaign chair, Joe Pagliaro smiling. In fact, he was so excited, that we are giving him time off from his Where in the Valley is Joe Pagliaro video series this newsletter, but he'll be back with a new installment in January!

However, you can read more about how Energizer and BIC achieved their results along with many other reports by going here! 

Valley United Way's Youth Leadership Program members are currently putting their leadership training skills to work as they seek to distribute small venture grants to community organizations in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton. The Youth Leadership Venture Grant Program is targeted at assisting organizations that either have or are planning on implementing programs or services that serve the needs of Valley youth. The total pool of funding is $2,000 this year.

Read more and complete an application here  

 Updated Website Coming in 2013 

 YMCA Completes Enhancements to Wellness Center

Congratulations to the Valley YMCA which just cut the ribbon on its newly renovated Wellness Center and expanded Strength Training Center. Stop by the State Street, Ansonia facility to see the Valley's oldest continuously operating nonprofit continue to evolve to better serve the community. Check out their website here.