More than a decade since it was launched to help distribute the major bulk of donated funds that poured into Newtown following the Sandy Hook tragedy of December 14, 2012, Newtown-Sandy Hook Community Foundation has issued an updated report on how those funds are being utilized.

Foundation Director Lucie Connell, MPA, told The Newtown Bee that foundation leaders are not only striving for complete transparency in how those dollars are being applied, but also for the benefit of any other community or organization engaged in similar efforts.

“We believe documenting the use of funds from the Sandy Hook School Support Fund in this way is a model for others,” Connell said. “We have always prioritized transparency and believe this proactive accounting of the work to date demonstrates that.”

Connell said she and her board members are ever mindful that the mass shooting changed the community and impacted many lives.

“It is for this reason we continue to strive each day to do the work we do in assisting victim families, SHS students and their families, SHS employees and their families, and emergency responders and their families with out-of-pocket costs related to mental health expenses resulting from the tragedy,” she said, acknowledging, “The journey continues to be difficult in Newtown.”

Connell said since the foundation’s formation in 2013, she and her team “have assisted 750 individuals through our collaborative support fund and supported 23 organizations through our grant making process.”

The foundation not only provides financial assistance to individuals with out-of-pocket costs related to behavioral health needs stemming from their exposure to the tragedy, but also grants to organizations working directly with those impacted. It additionally provides recovery leadership through the support of training for clinicians and nonprofit leaders, and specialized programs for the community.

The report indicates that the foundation has distributed $12,427,389 in total support to-date, with about 62 percent of those funds going to the 26 families who lost loved ones, two injured teachers, and 12 surviving witness students. Another roughly 28 percent is supporting mental health and wellness assistance to others exposed to the tragedy.

Following the incident, the federal government announced that each individual member of the community at the time of the shooting was considered a victim or otherwise impacted in some way, making Newtown eligible for a substantial level of additional federal assistance and financial aid.

In a memo at the front of the report, foundation Board Chairman Chris McDonnell related, “Data reveal that people experience trauma differently,” and there is no “right way” to respond to traumatic loss.

“This depends on the individual, their past experiences, and levels of support,” McDonnell continued. “As we steward our endowment, we only hope that the resources entrusted to us will have their greatest impact being put to work in support of efforts aimed at post-trauma mental wellness and emotional resiliency.”

As of the report’s distribution, just over $1.1 million in grants has gone to the following organizations or nonprofits: Ben’s Lighthouse; the Connecticut Institute for Communities, Inc School Based Health Center at Newtown Middle School; Embrace Hope; Family & Children’s Aid; Hearts of Hope — Newtown Chapter; HEART 9/11, which supported first responding law enforcement personnel; Lunding/Bannerstone Consulting; the Newtown Community Center Playmakers program, and its Race4Chase program.

Also, Newtown Kindness; the Newtown Police Department; Newtown Public Schools; Newtown Youth Academy (NYA); Newtown Youth & Family Services (NYFS); Northwest Area Health Education Center (AHEC); the Newtown Recovery & Resiliency Team; the Resiliency Center of Newtown (RCN); The Ana Grace Project; The Avielle Foundation; The Center for Empowerment and Education; The Tapping Solution Foundation; Newtown’s Center for Support & Wellness; and the Wheeler Clinic.

The current foundation board consists of McDonnell; Vice Chair and attorney Anne Ragusa; Gavin Arneth, CFO and treasurer; Secretary Dr Charles Herrick; and Benjamin B. Spragg, former Newtown finance director. Regional United Way President Isabel Almeida, along with attorney and former Selectman and Legislative Council Chairman William Rodgers are ex-officio directors.

The foundation’s distribution committee members include Bob Schmidt, chair, LCP and proxy for the surviving eyewitness children and their families; Cheyanne Wirtz, mother of Allison Wyatt who died in the shooting; Curtis Urbina, a Sandy Hook/Newtown parent; Newtown Police Department Chief David Kullgren; surviving Sandy Hook School teacher Janet Vollmer; Karen Kravec, LCSW and Newtown parent; Kevin Cragin, former long-time Board of Fire Commissioners member and chairman, and Reverend Rob Morris, pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church and a Newtown parent.

“Our vision of helping Newtown become a strong community where people connect and support one another in their journey toward healing continues to be at the forefront of our work,” Connell said.

To help reduce overhead costs involving the foundation’s operations, designated underwriting is being provided by the Jeniam Foundation, the Fairfield County Community Foundation (Donor Advised Funds), the Newtown Lions Club, and Newtown Rotary.

The report can be accessed by visiting nshcf.org.

Reach Editor John Voket at john@thebee.com.