Community Corner

Wilton Groups Awarded $45k in Community Grants

The Fairfield County Community Foundation provided 12 separate grants to some of Wilton's most notable community organizations in 2010.

Though Fairfield is one of the wealthiest counties in the country, there remain some 52,000 families in it that cannot afford to rent a simple two-bedroom apartment.

That fact is atop the mission statement of the Fairfield County Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1992 that focuses its philanthropic efforts on southwestern Connecticut. Twelve Wilton organizations were the beneficiaries of the FCCF's work this year, to the tune of almost $45,000.

"This past year was an incredibly difficult one for Fairfield County residents and the nonprofits that support them," said Susan Ross, the Foundation's president and CEO, in a release. "The Foundation and our donors recognized this increased need and stepped forward as never before to provide critical support to strengthen our community and help those in need during this economic downturn."

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Some of Wilton's most notable community organizations received gifts from the FCCF. The largest among them was Temple B'nai Chaim-Kulanu's environmental and ethics campaign, which received $18,000. The full list is as follows:

  • Wilton Youth Council: $7,500 for the Youth to Youth program
  • YMCA of Wilton: $2,500
  • Wilton Historical Society: $1,000
  • Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps: $2,500 (two separate grants)
  • Wilton Playshop: $500
  • Trout Unlimited Mianus Chapter: $1,500
  • Temple B'nai Chaim-Kulanu Campaign: $18,000
  • Dispute Settlement Center: $5, 500 (two separate grants)
  • Wilton Library Association: $750 for its audio book collection
  • A Better Chance of Wilton: $5,000

The Foundation generally awards grants in one of two ways: either through a competitive process, where organizations are selected by a committee and paid through the FCCF's endowed funds, or through donor-advised funds.

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In the latter scenario, donors typically open a fund with the Foundation and make charitable gifts to any nonprofit of their choosing. The FCCF, meanwhile, handles the asset management and paperwork on their behalf, and provides philanthropic advice where needed.

In total, the FCCF award some $11.5 million in grants and scholarships to nonprofit organizations through Fairfield County during the 2010 fiscal year.


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