On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of its founding, The Community Foundation presented a series called “From the Start” — a history of investing in good ideas and talented people.

Since 1928, Foundation funds have started and sustained successful nonprofits and created and funded crucial collaboratives and inclusive coalitions.

You will find stories about the founding of an organization serving people with the then newly-identified disease of AIDS; a group of visionary women who believed New Haven could be the next Spoleto; a philanthropist who found a way to recognize outstanding individual effort to nourish the partnership between Yale and the community; and many more.

Free print copies of the "From the Start" story book are available from The Community Foundation. Contact us today if you would like one.

Send Me A From The Start Storybook

If you have a story about how The Foundation supported a community endeavor, please submit it below!

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From the Start: LEAP ›

12.17.2018

Now in its third decade, LEAP continues to mentor the inquisitive youth who come for after-school and summer programs.

From the Start: New Haven Food Salvage Project ›

12.17.2018

It all started with the potato skins served at a New Haven restaurant on Elm Street.

From the Start: ConnCAT ›

12.12.2018

Transforming lives through market relevant training and a supportive community.

From the Start: Project Access ›

12.10.2018

Project Access-New Haven (PA-NH) plays an important role in our local healthcare system by mobilizing a vast network of donated healthcare services to ensure timely access to care.

From the Start: The Valley Community Foundation ›

11.26.2018

For more than six decades, The Community Foundation's work in the Lower Naugatuck Valley has honored the intent of the Gates brothers' Fund, most notably through the Valley Community Foundation.

From the Start: New Haven Healthy Start ›

11.26.2018

Since 1997, the New Haven Healthy Start has worked hard to reduce the infant mortality and morbidity rate in the City of New Haven.

From the Start: DataHaven ›

11.19.2018

For 25 years, DataHaven has been the go-to data resource for professionals across public and social service sectors.

From the Start: 'r kids Family Center ›

10.28.2018

'r kids Family Center has been going strong for more than two decades and The Foundation has been there from the start.

From the Start: Trowbridge Environmental Center ›

Visitors learn about East Rock's wildlife, geology, and history at the Trowbridge Environmental Center that was created thanks in part to funding from the Hayes Q. Trowbridge Fund at The Community Foundation was established by bequest of .

From the Start: New Haven Promise and The Promise of A Brighter Future ›

09.26.2018

New Haven Promise, launched in 2010, now provides nearly $4 million annually in scholarships to graduates of New Haven Public Schools.

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"From the Start" Trivia Challenge: Designate $250 to a Local Nonprofit

Dr. Robert G LaCamera. Photo Judy Sirota Rosenthal

Celebrate The Foundation’s 90th anniversary with us by taking our trivia quiz. Read our "From the Start" story series about The Foundation’s historical connection with a particular topic, group, person, challenge or opportunity. After reading the articles, answer the trivia question below (and check back for a new one every few months). A name will be randomly drawn from among all correct entries, and a $250 giveGreater.org® card will be awarded to one lucky participant. That’s $250 to designate to your favorite nonprofits on giveGreater.org®!

"From the Start" Trivia Contest Final Question 4:

Where did Dr. Robert G. LaCamera spend 40 years practicing “the care of the whole child” as a pediatrician?

A: Howard Ave in New Haven




WINNERS of the 90th Anniversary trivia challenge

Thank you to all who participated in our 90th anniversary trivia challenge.

Ella M.. Photo courtesy of Ella.

Congratulations to ELLA M. OF NEW HAVEN!

Ella's answer was randomly selected from among all correct answers submitted to the question: What items did Ruth and Charles Grannick collect together to decorate their home, which also honored the namesake of their Branford neighborhood? A: ceramic turtles

Ella chose to designate her $250 to the New Haven-based nonprofit Women In Recovery Education (W.I.R.E.), in support of its mission: to help women and girls who have experienced some type of traumatic event in their life, and the stigma associated with it.

Jeffrey A. Photo Courtesy of New Haven Scholarship Fund.

Congratulations to JEFFREY A. OF NEW HAVEN!

Jeffrey's answer was randomly selected from among all correct answers submitted to the question: Where did Dr. Robert G. LaCamera spend 40 years practicing “the care of the whole child” as a pediatrician? A: New Haven (Howard Ave)

Jeffrey chose to designate his $250 to the New Haven Scholarship Fund, where he serves as Board President and has been a member of the Board for over 10 years.

In the 60 years since its founding in 1959, the New Haven Scholarship Fund has awarded over $9.5 million in scholarships to more than 8,500 New Haven Public High School graduates.

Congratulations to Sandra H. OF milford!

Image: JFS of Greater New Haven website.

Sandra's answer was randomly selected from among all correct answers submitted to the question: To what type of medical practice did Dr. Hal Bornstein Jr. devote more than five decades of his career? A: pediatrics

Sandra chose to designate her $250 to Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven, where she works as Food Pantry and Nutritional Health Center Director; Coordinator of Agency Operations.

The reaon, she explains, is because "everyday, this agency provides invaluable services to residents of the Greater New Haven area. And I am proud to be a member of this great organization."

Congratulations to Gerry E. OF Seymour!

Image: Seymour Oxford Food Bank website.

Gerry's answer was randomly selected from among all correct answers submitted to the question: What nonprofit organization will one day receive grants in perpetuity thanks to Nancy and Dag Pfeiffer? A: Sleeping Giant Park Association

Gerry chose to designate her $250 to the Seymour Oxford Food Bank. In 2018, the Seymour Oxford Food Bank provided 39,039 meals with 82,085 lbs. of food and served an average of 68 families per month.