YWL
of New Canaan is pleased to have awarded over $83,000 to 30 charitable
organizations for the 2009-2010 year.
This year’s giving theme “Community: Strengthen, Teach, Achieve, Revive,
Serve” is best highlighted through three charitable organizations: Operation
Hope, Mid-Fairfield Hospice, and A Better Chance, Inc.
(YWL Grant Recipients (L to
R): Amy Burger, YWL Charity Research Chair; Christine Pfeffer, Director of
Hospice; Melanie Berman, President of A Better Chance; Liz Bennett, Grants
Manager of Operation Hope; Rebecca Minnock, Shelter and Program Manager of
Operation Hope; Kelly Daniel, ‘09-‘10 YWL President)
Operation Hope’s work
program provides real work opportunities to those who live in homeless shelters.
There is job training for those with little or no experience, help with
references and resumes. The clients can increase their self-esteem, raise
their income, become independent again and community ties are
strengthened.
Mid-Fairfield Hospice provides
end-of-life care to terminally ill individuals and support for their
families. The volunteers are trained in respite and peer counseling, as
well as giving emotional support and companionship. These volunteers
allow the patient to complete their journey with dignity, and help the family
cope with the pain of loss.
A
Better Chance, Inc. is the only national program providing academically
talented minority children with access to our nation’s finest public and
private schools. Here in New Canaan, the ABC house has guided 62 young
men through this program since 1973. Currently there are 8 male students
attending NCHS. They work hard, play sports, volunteer at local charities
and provide diversity to our community.
The
money raised this year also benefits local programs such as the New Canaan High
School Scholarship Foundation, Waveny Care Network, New Canaan Cares, Meals on
Wheels, Get About, New Canaan Library, New Canaan Community Nursery School, New
Canaan Society for the Arts, the Mikey Czech Foundation and the Outback Teen
Center. Other supported programs include Horizons, Childcare Learning
Centers, Children's Connection, Kids in Crisis, Cancer Care, Family Re-Entry,
KEYS, Meals on Wheels, Norwalk Emergency Shelter, Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, Person
to Person, Southern CT Storm Hockey, Star, Inc., The Workplace, Inc., Visiting
Nurse and Hospice Care, Voices of 9/11, Women’s Mentoring Network, and the Domestic
Violence Crisis Center. These
agencies benefit New Canaan and other Fairfield County communities. The
YWL congratulates these grant award winners and looks forward to the 2010-2011
fundraising theme, “KIDS: Knowledge, Independence, Development, and
Safety
Contact on this
article: Jennifer Laurence, Publicity Chair at publicity@ywlnewcanaan.org.