Since its inception, record-breaking generosity has been the hallmark of Give Local Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills. The campaign will celebrate its 10th anniversary on April 26 and 27, with a 36-hour online giving extravaganza through which individual donors can support over 250 local charities serving the region. Give Local is hosted by Connecticut Community Foundation and presenting sponsor Ion Bank Foundation.

Beginning at 7am on April 26 and ending at 7pm on April 27, all donations made to participating organizations through the Give Local website, GiveLocalCCF.org, will be boosted with over $130,000 in bonus funds contributed by Connecticut Community Foundation, Ion Bank Foundation and other local business—making the impact of giving bigger. Nonprofits can also compete for nearly $50,000 more in cash prizes.

Since 2013, donors have contributed over $11 million to area nonprofits through Give Local. In 2021, a record-breaking 6,753 donors made over 12,000 gifts and donated over $2 million, benefitting 282 local nonprofit organizations. The campaign channels flexible, unrestricted revenue to participating nonprofits serving the region—the kind of funding organizations most often need to apply the dollars most effectively to meet pressing community needs.

“We’re so grateful every year to see Give Local empower more donors, whose gifts make it possible for organizations to bring countless benefits to local residents: access to health care, musical performances, safer recreational trails, animal shelters and so much more,” says Julie Loughran, president and CEO of Connecticut Community Foundation. “It’s incredibly inspiring to see the entire community coming together and giving back.”

One local organization working to address homelessness—St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Waterbury—plans to use Give Local funding to support a new culinary training program for homeless shelter residents and others experiencing barriers to employment. Students in the program will achieve food service certification and benefit from job placement assistance. “We hope this will serve as a catalyst for social change by helping the unemployed bridge the skills gap, enter the workforce and achieve economic self-sufficiency,” says Edwin Rodriguez, the agency’s director of development and public relations.

Established in 1923, Connecticut Community Foundation aims to foster an equitable and inclusive community in Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills by inspiring generosity, supporting organizations, and cultivating effective leaders.

For more information and to make donations April 26 to 27, visit GiveLocalCCF.org. For more information about Connecticut Community Foundation, visit ConnCF.org. See ad, page 33.

Connecticut Community Foundation - 43 Field St, Waterbury, CT

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