Area Agencies Receive Grants From Meserve Memorial Fund

Meeting in June for its final grant making session of the 2005-06 year, the Albert W. and Helen C. Meserve Memorial Fund awarded 15 grants totaling $47,058 to Danbury area nonprofit organizations, including two groups in Newtown.

According to Karl Epple, chairman of the Meserve Memorial Fund Distribution Committee, approval of the grants was reached after an in-depth review by the Distribution Committee of 18 agency requests that totaled $104,518.

Grant awards were made to the following not-for-profit organizations:

Animal Center/Spay & Neuter Association of Newtown, $2,000 to partially support a low-cost spay/neuter initiative serving low-income families and feral cat caretakers in Newtown.

Newtown Housing for the Elderly, $3,000 to help increase access to the Nunnawauk Meadows community building by partially supporting the constructing of 20 additional parking spaces.

Ability Beyond Disability, $5,000 to partially support the installation of a hydro heat system that will provide for consistent heat and air conditioning throughout the group home located in Bethel.

Bridgewater Library Association, $3,000 to partially cover the installation of a new dehumidification and central air-conditioning system for Burnham Library.

CARD Foundation, $1,500 for the BOOST program for at-risk children and adolescents with significant emotional or behavioral disorders.

Connecticut Ballet, $3,000 to expand the reach of the Danbury Dance Initiative to students in the greater Danbury area.

Danbury Animal Welfare Society (DAWS), $2,500 to continue and expand the Trap Neuter Return program and to purchase air purifying equipment.

Danbury Youth Services, $4,510 to upgrade communications equipment including a new voice mail system and fax machine.

Land Trust of Danbury, $2,500 to partially support the Lake Kenosia Hedgerow Project.

Planned Parenthood, $3,000 to provide colposcopy screening services used to detect the development of cervical cancer for low-income and uninsured women.

Prevent Blindness Tri-State, $2,548 to support the Healthy Eyes for Connecticut Kids Project for children from low-income families in greater Danbury.

Shelter of the Cross, $3,500 to partially finance the annual cost of one elderly resident at Shelter of the Cross.

Trout Unlimited Candlewood Valley Chapter, $5,000 to support a school environmental program called “Trout in the Classroom” in the greater Danbury public schools.

Western Connecticut Association for Human Rights, $3,500 to provide USE (Understanding Special Education) training to parents of children with disabilities.

Women’s Center of Greater Danbury, $2,500 to purchase a user-friendly statistical database, new computer, and multifunction printer.

In addition, the committee also awarded eight scholarships to new recipients and 16 scholarships to renewal students who are pursuing careers in the environmental area. A total of $60,000 was awarded with students to be formally recognized at a reception in August.

The Meserve Memorial Fund was established in 1983, a legacy of the late Mr and Mrs Albert W. Meserve, to support charitable organizations that benefit the greater Danbury region. The fund is administered by the Fairfield County Community Foundation (FCCF) in Wilton. The next deadline for applications is October 1.

For further information or a copy of the application and grant guidelines, call Jeanette Allam at FCCF at 203-563-3604.