Foundation's 'Four Pillars' transforming region
Now for some good news.
Due to the generosity of people of the region, The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut continues to expand its ability to be a catalyst for change. Its recently released annual report demonstrates that its new strategic plan, which it unveiled in 2015, is starting to have a profound influence on the lives of people — and animals — from the shoreline to the small northern towns that border Massachusetts in the Quiet Corner.
Established in 1983, the foundation last year received about $10 million in new funds and gifts and awarded more than $5 million in grants and scholarships, a record level and a 25 percent increase over the prior year.
Highlights included the awarding of scholarships to 214 students, totaling $520,725. That work has expanded in 2016, the foundation reports, with the awarding of $580,351 in scholarships to 261 students, including 90 scholarships awarded to students living in New London.
All told, according to the annual report, the foundation finished 2015 with $62.5 million in net assets.
This newspaper applauded when the foundation — under the leadership of Board of Trustees Chairman Govind K. Menon and President and CEO Maryam Elahi — set out a year ago with its new strategic plan to more carefully target its charitable work in order to be a difference maker in critical areas.
The results are its “Four Pillars,” the impact priority areas of Empower Youth; Promote Basic Needs and Rights; Preserve the Environment; and promote Animal Welfare.
In pursuit of that strategy, the community foundation provided $547,606 in competitive grants for youth empowerment, including support of early childhood programs, mentoring efforts, and job readiness.
Competitive grants to provide basic needs drove nearly $100,000 into efforts to decrease homelessness, $75,000 to support soup kitchens and food pantries, and $81,500 to meet human service and health care needs.
Last month, the foundation announced the disbursement of $429,000 in grants for animal welfare and environmental projects in New London County, the largest amount the $36,000 awarded to the Nature Conservancy of Connecticut to reduce nitrogen pollution into harbors and bays, a critical threat to the health of Long Island Sound.
The gifts come from the Peter Grayson Letz Fund for Animals and the Environment, established in 2014 thanks to the bequest of the deceased North Stonington resident. While the Letz donation was among the largest bequests received, the generosity of those who leave money after their passing to help the community they called home is a major source of funding for the foundation.
All of this good work is done without a taxpayer dime. Indeed, the foundation makes a point to seek programs that leverage government spending, allowing more expansive programming and help when the funds from the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut are added to state or federal aid and other private grants, said Elahi.
“Together we can work to close the opportunity gap and remove obstacles that our residents face, ensuring a brighter future for all of them. We are thankful to have so many dedicated, generous, and visionary partners alongside us every step of the way,” said Menon and Elahi in their annual report greeting.
And the region has every reason to be thankful for and support the community foundation.
The annual report and information on donating can be found at its website: http://www.cfect.org/.
Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.