The Rotary Club of New Canaan donated a total of $40,000 to fund vitally needed programs and services at over thirty local non-profit organizations. Each organization has seen increased levels of need among the populations they serve as the pandemic deeply affected local communities.
Grant Allocations Chair Carolyn Corcoran led three teams with a total of sixteen members who evaluated applications from several dozen organizations. Alex Grantcharov, Rotary Club of New Canaan’s 2020-2021 President, joined Carolyn Corcoran in presenting the awards at two luncheon meetings held outdoors at the New Canaan Museum and Historical Society.
Supporting local communities’ non-profit organizations is a major part of the Rotary Club’s “Service Above Self” mission. The club’s efforts each year focus on fulfilling this goal. The funds given out at the club’s year-ending Grants Allocation Luncheons are from proceeds raised at the October 2020 “Curbside” LobsterFest. This year’s Lobsterfest will be held on Octover 15th and 16th with details to be announced later this summer.
In all, a total of $40,000 was given to 31 organizations serving the healthcare and education needs of New Canaan and the surrounding communities. The recipient organizations include: ABC of New Canaan, AmeriCares Free Clinics, Blossom Hill, Building One Community, Carver Center, Community Mindfulness Project, Domestic Violence Crisis Center, Domus, Family Re-Entry, Filling in the Blanks, Future 5, GetAbout, Horizons at NCCS, Inspirica, Kids Empowered by Your Support (KEYS), Kids in Crisis, Laurel House, Liberation, LiveGirl, Meals on Wheels, Mercy Learning Center, New Canaan CARES, New Canaan Community Preschool, New Canaan Land Trust, New Canaan Mounted Troop, New Canaan Parent Support Group, Rowan Center/ Rape Crisis Center, St.John's Lutheran- Stamford/ Free Pantry, Stamford Public Education Foundation, STAR, and Waveny Life Care Network.
In addition, the club awarded grants to the NCHS Scholarship Foundation, Dorrico Scholarship, and Rotary’s national and international causes including the Polio Plus eradication program.