Regional Organizations Awarded more than $75,000 in First Round of Grants from Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund

The Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund will provide flexible resources to organizations throughout the Valley that serve the Valley region, especially to those who are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus and the economic consequences of the outbreak. Donate

April 20, 2020 - DERBY, CT - Representatives from Valley Community Foundation, Valley United Way, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Valley Council of Health & Human Services are pleased to announce that 19 grants totaling $78,800 have been distributed to 18 organizations from the Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.

The grants that have been awarded, which include funding for personal protective equipment (PPEs), food, operational support, and technological assistance, are among the first in a series of distributions providing funding to organizations whose staff is working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants awarded are made possible thanks to those generously supporting this Fund. The full list of grantees is available here.

David Kennedy, Valley United Way Interim President, noted, "Thanks to many very generous individuals, corporations, and foundations, we've been able to rapidly deploy their gifts to our community's nonprofits to support their workers' front line activities during this crisis. It is a humbling example of how our community Lives United. We look forward to additional gifts to continue what has begun as the needs in the community only increase."

Within one month of inception, the Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund has received nearly $175,000 thanks to the contributions of individuals, businesses, and VCF donor advised fund holders. Donations are still urgently needed as the Fund will be assisting a range of organizations serving the Valley throughout both the response and recovery phases of this pandemic.

Among the key funders to date is the Bassett Family Fund. William (Bill) C. Bassett, a founding member of the Valley Community Foundation Board of Directors and former owner of The W. E. Bassett Co., said, "When we owned our company, the Valley and its people were our family. They helped us make a great product and we wanted to make sure they were taken care of. That is why we are very happy to be a part of something that will be used to provide support both now as the Valley responds to the virus, and during the recovery phase while people get back on their feet."

A second round of grant funding is now open and will include eligibility for organizations that are implementing online programming and services that support the well-being of Valley residents. Applications for the second round of grants are due by Monday, April 27^th at noon. More information on eligibility criteria and instructions on how to apply can be found here.

Sharon Closius, Valley Community Foundation President and CEO, said, "We are delighted to see such an immediate outpouring of support for this Fund. There is still however a long road ahead of us in terms of how the Valley is able to come through these challenging times in a way that is stronger and more unified than before. If you, your business, or the company for which you work is looking to make an impact, I invite you to visit our website www.valleyfoundation.org and support this collective effort."

Bill Purcell, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce President, said, "All of us at the Chamber are deeply moved by the extraordinary acts of compassionate service demonstrated by each of the award recipients during this public health crisis. We offer our special thanks to the donors whose generosity has made these grants possible, and urge our member businesses and the community at large to support this Fund at whatever level possible."

To support the Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, visit www.valleyfoundation.org. Gifts via credit card are strongly preferred over checks to reduce processing time. Checks can however be made out to Valley Community Response and Recovery Fund and mailed to 253-A Elizabeth St., Derby, CT 06418.

The Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund was created in response to COVID-19 by the Valley Community Foundation, Valley United Way, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Valley Council for Health & Human Services. The Fund will rapidly deploy resources to organizations who support those in the Valley Region who are most significantly affected by the pandemic.

About The Valley Community Foundation

Established in 2004, the Valley Community Foundation distributes approximately $1.6 million in grants each year to support the local nonprofit sector and the people it serves. In addition to grantmaking, VCF works in strong partnership with The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven (TCF), to promote philanthropy in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton and receives funding from The Gates Fund and other preference funds at TCF that benefit the Valley. For more information, visit www.valleyfoundation.org.