Leading Together for a Thriving Eastern Connecticut: Community Foundation Releases 2017 Annual Report to Community

Friday, August 10, 2018

NEW LONDON, CT -- The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut proudly celebrates 35 years of partnering with generous donors and nonprofit organizations to make a lasting, positive impact on people and places in eastern Connecticut. The Foundation’s 2017 annual report looks back on highlights of serving the community and providing community leadership over the years. The stories illustrate all that has been made possible by committed residents of the region through the lens of four strategic priorities: empowering youth, addressing basic needs and rights, preserving the environment and advancing animal welfare. In 2017, the Foundation awarded a record $6.7 million in grants and scholarships.

“Our commemorative report celebrates our history of growth and progress, but also marks the launch of a new era of providing community leadership for collective impact,” said Maryam Elahi, President and CEO of the Community Foundation. “‘Leading Together’ is more than the title of the report, it is a commitment to partner together with the community to provide bold and strategic leadership to address the needs and interests of our region.”

In 2017, the Community Foundation launched four new strategic initiatives, bringing key partners to the table. The Eastern Connecticut Mentoring Collaborative strengthens mentoring supports for young people by connecting schools and other youth-serving organizations. The New London Partnership for Student Success, a collaborative of community and nonprofit leaders and school administrators, seeks to ensure students’ success from “cradle to career.” Through the Nonprofit Capacity-Building initiative, the Foundation is joining with partners to pool resources towards supporting nonprofits’ organizational health. And through its “Thriving Communities Conversations,” the Foundation is creating inclusive and safe spaces for conversations on issues of importance across eastern Connecticut.

“We continue to be inspired by the simple premise of ‘together, we do better.’ And with great humility and unwavering commitment, we are determined to lead together to do better every year,” said Elahi.

The 2017 Annual Report is available on the Community Foundation’s website at cfect.org/annualreports, or a print copy may be requested by emailing admin@cfect.org or calling 860-442-3572.

About the Community Foundation
Serving 42 towns and comprised of 503 charitable funds, the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut puts philanthropy into action to address the needs, rights and interests of the region. The Foundation stewards net assets of more than $83 million and has awarded more than $51.5 million in grants and scholarships to nonprofits and students since its founding in 1983.

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Contact:

Pam Mola
The Community Foundatiojn of Eastern Connnecticut
860-442-3572
pamela@cfect.org

Website & Social: www.cfect.org | Facebook.com/CommunityFoundationofEasternConnecticut | Twitter.com/cfectnews.