Thursday, May 31, 2012

The Guilford Yacht Club

379 Whitfield Street, Guilford, Connecticut

Reception at 6:00pm

Dinner & Awards at 6:45pm

Admission is $50 per person – $25 under 18

This dinner is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors:

• Guilford Savings Bank
• Prospector Funds
• The Guilford Courier
• Shoreline Financial Advisors, LLC
• Royal Printing Service
• Drink Communications

• $800 to the Guilford Free Library to purchase a core teen graphic novel collection and two children’s reference books series on countries of the world.
• $1,000 to Guilford Parks & Recreation to support the Town’s annual 4^th of July fireworks display.
• $1,000 to Guilford Social Services for the Back to School Program, which provides children from low-income families entering grades K-12 the opportunity to start the school year with new shores, backpacks, lunch boxes and new school supplies.
• $1,500 to Women & Family Life Center to support a new program called “Teen Speak,” which will be a series of events designed to create community awareness about three interrelated topics: media and girls self-image, bullying, and teen dating violence.

YAG is an initiative of the Guilford Foundation whose intent is to foster philanthropy among high school students. Members of YAG raise funds throughout the year through events such as popcorn sales, coupon books, and direct appeal, and then the group solicits grant applications for projects from organizations that serve Guilford residents. The YAG members review the grant applications and select those projects that meet their rigorous funding standards and present their recommendations to the Guilford Foundation Board of Directors for ratification. The Guilford Foundation matches the funds raised through YAG to provide one half of the grant award for the grants.

The initiative, started in 2010, has been a major success in accomplishing its two missions: 1) to engage Guilford’s youth in the world of philanthropy, including fund raising, assessments of local needs, and grant writing; and 2) increasing the support provided to local organizations through new sources. Any Guilford High School student interested in participating in YAG must be a member of the GHS Interact Club and should contact the Laura Samperi in the GHS Guidance Office, Allen Jacob (allen@sunset-creek.com) of Guilford Rotary Club, or Liza Petra (lizapetra@gmail.com) at the Guilford Foundation.

At its March Board meeting, the Guilford Foundation Board of Directors approved $15,550 of funding to 7 local organizations.

“The Board was once again pleased to support a broad scope of needs in the community, from youth scholarships to senior services to families in need,” stated Board President John Crawford.

The March awards are as follows:

• $1,500 to Guilford A Better Chance, Inc., to provide partial scholarships for students to attend summer college preparatory classes.

• $3,000 to Clifford W. Beers Guidance Clinic, Inc., to provide emergency financial assistance to Guilford residents through the Shoreline Collaborative.

• $2,500 to Girl Scouts of Connecticut Troop 62117 to help a Girl Scout achieve her Gold Award by erecting plaques with historic facts on the lampposts of the Guilford Green.

• $1,200 to the Guilford Housing Authority to install raised beds for gardens for use by residents.

• $550 to Literacy Volunteers Valley Shore to reach out to Guilford residents regarding services and opportunities.

• $3,000 to the Orchard House, an adult day center located in Branford, to initiate outreach efforts to clients in Guilford and to assist with the development of marketing and promotional materials.

• $3,800 to Pilgrim Fellowship to provide scholarship funding for youth members to attend the annual mission trip.

The Guilford Foundation’s next application deadline for funding is on June 1^st, 2012. For more information on the grant application process, go to www.guilfordfoundation.org or email Liza Janssen Petra at lizapetra@gmail.com.

3 Shoreline towns’ charity to offer fuel aid. Click the link for the article in the New Haven Register.

Click here to watch the interview.

Click here for the full article!

Fund Drive 2/14 to 3/19

A fuel crisis exists in Guilford. Costs to heat our homes are higher than ever, and more and more people are approaching Guilford Department of Social Services (GSS) for help: In 2010-11, GSS took 372 household applications for energy assistance, a jump from 349 the previous year. From 1991 to 2008, the maximum number of household applications in a year was 220.

In addition to the increase in costs and demand for services, the Federal and State government have made serious to cuts in funding for energy assistance programs. As a result, residents in our communities who cannot afford to heat their home face severely limited options for help.

Recognizing the devastating impact this will have on our neighbors, the Guilford Foundation is leading a fund drive to address the shortfall. The Guilford Foundation has pledged a challenge grant of up to $10,000 that would match—dollar for dollar—every dollar raised for fuel assistance. Every single dollar raised (plus the match) will be given directly to Guilford Social Services to help families in need.

If you can help, please donate online or send your check made out to Guilford Foundation, PO Box 35, Guilford, CT 05437. In either case, please write “Fuel” in the memo. Gifts are fully tax deductible.

Contact Liza Janssen Petra, Executive Director of the Guilford Foundation, at lizapetra@gmail.com with questions or comments.

Thank you for your support!

82979-GF Fuel Pstr 11×17

A fuel crisis exists in our communities. Costs to heat our homes are higher than ever, more people are asking for help, and–due to cuts in funding for energy assistance program–residents in our communities who cannot afford to heat their home face severely limited options for help. Recognizing the devastating impact this will have on our neighbors, the Community Foundations in Branford, Guilford and Madison are each spearheading fundraising efforts in their communities to address the shortfall.

Each foundation has pledged a challenge grant of up to $10,000 for each town that would match every penny donated to this effort. Every single dollar raised will go to the local town organization responsible for emergency fuel assistance (Branford Counseling Center, Madison Youth and Family Services via Madison N2N Fund, and Guilford Social Services).

Please join us to show your support for this effort and to learn more. Contact Liza Janssen Petra, Executive Director of the Guilford Foundation, at (203) 824 1827 or lizapetra@gmail.com with questions and to RSVP.

At its December Board meeting, the Guilford Foundation Board of Directors approved $20,012 in grants to 8 local nonprofit organizations.

“We were impressed with the scope and quality of applications,” said John Crawford, Board President. “We believe these grants will make a real difference to Guilford residents across a broad spectrum of needs, from arts to addiction services to domestic violence.”

The Board considered each applicant’s proposal for its potential impact on families, cultural life, and access to resources, as well as the project’s general influence on the well being of Guilford residents. Applications were also reviewed for collaborative and inclusive practices and for demonstration of best practices or innovations.

The Cove Center for Grieving Children

$2,500 to support a 22-week peer support group for grieving children and their families at their Guilford Family Site.

Guilford Interfaith Ministries

$1,897 to invest in computer technology for the purposes of increasing effectiveness and efficiency in their Food Bank, Friendly Visiting, and Charlie’s Closet programs.

Guilford Preservation Alliance

$2,000 for costs relating the creation of a walking map/guide of Guilford’s historically and architecturally important sites.

Lifelinx Corporation

$4,800 for new, bi-monthly recovery management support groups for residents of Moose Manor, a transitional supportive sober house in Guilford.

Mystic Aquarium and Guilford High School

Through a joint grant with the Guilford Fund for Education, $440 for a traveling science class that will teach 200 Guilford High School students about endangered ecosystems.

New Haven Symphony Orchestra

$2,375 for 6 Musician Preparatory Visits (90 minute blocks) to Guilford schools and a Mozart Guitar Hero Program to be held at the Guilford Library.

Warm the Children

Under the recommendation of the Guilford Interact Student Advisory Group, $1,000 to purchase winter clothing for needy children in Guilford.

Women & Family Life Center

$5,000 for domestic violence support services.

In addition to these grants, the Board also approved a challenge and matching grant of $2,500 to the Guilford Keeping Society to encourage fund raising efforts for the completion of an Archives Room at the Medad Stone Tavern Museum.

The Guilford Foundation’s next application deadline for funding is on March 1^st, 2012. For more information on the grant application process, go to www.guilfordfoundation.org or email Liza Janssen Petra at lizapetra@gmail.com.