Fifteen Newtown nonprofit organizations raised nearly $22,000 on February 27 during the seventh annual 24-hour Fairfield County’s Giving Day online marathon fundraiser powered by Fairfield County’s Community Foundation (FCCF).

According to figures released by FCCF, $1,652,287 was raised last week during Fairfield County’s Giving Day 2020. Of that figure, Newtown nonprofits that received donations accounted for a combined total of $21,895.

Nonprofit organization are invited to register through FCCF, which organizes the event with major support from Bank of America. All participants are 501(c)(3) charitable groups that serve residents of Fairfield County. The clear majority are based within the county.

There were 405 groups registered for Giving Day 2020, although 15, including two based in Newtown, did not receive any donations.

For the seventh straight year, Curtain Call was the top performing Giving Day participant. The Stamford-based theater company raised $151,666 through 1,318 donations last week.

The theater company’s total also included the $20,000 Grand Prize: Most Donors honor from FCCF; two $5,000 matching grants; one of two $2,500 Power Hour: Arts & Culture for Everyone awards; the $1,000 Top of the Morning: Most Dollars Raised prize for the nonprofit with an annual operating budget of $500,000 and under; and two $500 Peer To Peer prizes.

Humbling Experience

Newtown Parent Connection (NPC) picked up $4,890 through 57 donations last week, making it the most successful Newtown-based organization for 2020.

NPC Founder and Executive Director Dorrie Carolan told The Newtown Bee on February 28 that she was “humbled” at the support the organization received one day earlier.

“I can’t believe how much money we made,” she said.

Absent from last year’s efforts, NPC’s 2020 campaign raised more on February 27 than in its two previous attempts combined. NPC raised $1,195 in donations in 2018, according to FCCF’s donation tally, and $1,170 in 2017.

One of the lead reasons for the strong finish, said Carolan, was the decision to hand the reins of Giving Day outreach to one person.

“Someone organized it, sent out the e-mails, and just did a fabulous job,” she said.

In an e-mail blast to supporters sent Friday morning, Carolan said “…your dollars will be used diligently in growing our organization through our partnerships with schools and hospitals and ensuring those locally continue to benefit from the resources we offer. We’re committed to that and take our work, and your support, seriously.”

The conversation with Carolan also pointed out where some of the numbers reported by FCCF can appear lower than what organizations fully receive as a result of Giving Day.

The FCCF donor board on February 28 showed the total listed above. The e-mail blast sent by Carolan celebrated $6,000 being raised. The discrepancy, Carolan explained, is due to donations that were made outside the Giving Day portals.

“The difference came in through PayPal, through our website,” she said. “I also had a few checks handed to me last night during a meeting.” Giving Day donations are not finished, she noted.

“I just received two messages this morning that checks are also in the mail.”

Carolan also said this year’s donations will be put toward programs NPC has been doing in local hospitals.

“We got into St Vincent’s Hospital, and presented to the physicians,” she said. “We’re hoping to raise more funds to go into Greenwich Hospital and Bridgeport Hospital.”

NPC covers the cost of the presenter to fly in from Minnesota for the hospital presentations, she said. It also flies in a presenter from Tennessee to present programs about vaping and its dangers. The latter program has already been presented in Newtown and New Fairfield. At least three Fairfield County schools will host the program this month.

Local Finishes

Kitten Associates received $3,535 through 73 donations, which put it in second place among Newtown nonprofits. The final total was a 29 percent decrease from 2019’s final of $5,025, however.

While Newtown Scholarship Association’s total was also lower at the end of the day this year — receiving $3,115 vs its 2019 finish of $3,795 — it was still above average for the group that provides need-based scholarships to students in Newtown. The association’s average since its Giving Day debut in 2017 has been $3,338.75.

Additional Newtown groups and their finals included Merryhill Child Care Center, with $1,955 (through 31 donations); Newtown Youth & Family Services, $1,605 (17 donations); Ben’s Lighthouse, $1,535 (22 donations); Cyrenius H. Booth Library, $1,210 (22 donations); The Newtown Foundation, $1,040 (21 donations).

Also, Sandy Hook Promise, $895 (13 donations); Town Players of Newtown $665 (11 donations); EverWonder Children’s Museum, $500 (1 donation); Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company, $490 (7 donations); Friends of Newtown Community Center, $255 (6 donations); The Children’s Adventure Center, $225 (6 donations); Reach Newtown, $225 (3 donations); and NYA Sports & Fitness Center, $10 (1 donation).

Two Newtown groups — Families United in Newtown and Friends of Newtown Seniors — did not receive any donations.

Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue participated in Giving Day for the first time this year. SHVFR EMS Captain and Treasurer Karin Halstead was pleased, she told The Newtown Bee, “because we were donated money and the process was easy to set up. We are ready for next year.”

The company will put its donations toward firefighting equipment, she said.

According to FCCF, the $1.6 million raised during Giving Day 2020 came from 12,666 donors giving a total of 17,230 gifts. Sponsors provided a bonus pool of more than $100,000 in prize money for participating nonprofits.

Since Giving Day’s inception in 2014, a total of $9,307,389 has been raised from 97,065 total gifts for more than 1,500 nonprofits.

FCCF originally initiated Giving Day to empower the community at large and encourage local philanthropy across the many avenues of need in the region.