Connections - No. 1, 2025

News from The Community Foundation

May 29, 2025
Four newsletter pages titled Connections, featuring articles, photos of people speaking and attending events, and sections about economic mobility, new board members, and advancing women and girls.

Download a PDF of the full newsletter HERE or scroll for links to individual stories.

A woman with curly hair speaks into a microphone while standing at a podium in a brightly lit room with white walls and large windows.

The Stakes Have Never Been Higher

As we step into this new era of federal leadership, we must confront an undeniable truth: The values of opportunity and equity that we have fought so hard to advance are under attack. At The Community Foundation, we refuse to stand by while hard-fought rights and social advancements are dismantled. READ MORE

A group of people interact at an information table for IRIS, an organization supporting refugees and immigrants. The table has brochures and a banner featuring women in colorful dresses and a QR code.

The Great Give Raises Record-Breaking $4.4 M

The Great Give 2025 raised $4,400,510 for 574 nonprofit organizations serving Greater New Haven, surpassing $4 million for the first time in the 16-year history of the annual 36-hour online giving event, and breaking last year’s record of $3.87 million. READ MORE

A group of women stand on a stage indoors, smiling and applauding, in front of a purple backdrop with Womens Caucus text. Audience members sit at tables in the foreground. The room is decorated with greenery and lights.

Fund for Women & Girl Kicks Off Anniversary Year Campaign

In April, the Fund kicked off its 30th anniversary campaign, "Many Voices, One Vision," with a special event for fund founders and longtime volunteers. "Our theme is a recognition of all the women who have contributed their time, energy and resources to The Fund in support of its North Star, creating a Greater New Haven where all women and girls thrive,” said Fund Chair Christine Kim. READ MORE

A diverse group of people sit around a round table labeled 4, actively participating in a community meeting or workshop held in a bright, spacious room with other tables and participants in the background.

Residents Connect Around Economic Mobility

What does it take to move up the economic ladder? What’s holding people back and what’s helping people move forward? How can we do better as a society? What opportunities for change exist in Greater New Haven? The Community Foundation hosted a community-driven conversation diving into these pressing questions at The Lab at ConnCORP on February 25, 2025. READ MORE

A close-up of several U.S. dollar bills spread out on a dark surface, with a $100 bill featuring Benjamin Franklin prominently displayed on top.

Direct Cash Assistance Supports Changemakers

Direct cash assistance programs are being tested across the country as potential models for creating economic mobility. The Community Foundation is invested in a pilot program called The Changemaker Fund, which is providing cash assistance to 120 community leaders in Bridgeport, Hartford and New Haven. READ MORE

A person waves from the driver’s seat of a vintage red truck labeled Bishop’s Orchards, carrying hay in its wooden flatbed during a parade, with spectators and trees in the background.

Family With Deep Roots in Guilford Gives Back

Six generations of Bishops have run Bishop’s Orchards, which is woven into the fabric of the Guilford community and beyond. Giving back has been a central tenet of the Bishop family.  Keith Bishop and his wife, Debbie, established the Bishop’s Orchard Family Fund at The Community Foundation to provide perpetual funding to organizations that they have long supported. READ MORE

Two men in business attire, both wearing blazers and collared shirts, standing against indoor backgrounds. The man on the left is older with short hair, while the man on the right is younger with light hair and a tie.

Foundation Welcomes New Board Members

The Foundation welcomed two new members to its board of directors effective January 1. Andrew Eder, Chairman of Eder Bros. Inc., and Andrew S. Knott, attorney with Knott & Santoro. In addition, the board elected Fernando Muñiz to serve as chair and Valarie Shultz Wilson to serve as vice chair for 2025. READ MORE

Five women smile and pose together at a bar table with drinks and food in front of them. A TV in the background shows a baseball game and sunlight streams through large windows.

Advisors Are Important Partners 

The Foundation works with trusted professional advisor partners: estate planning, wealth advising, accounting, financial planning and insurance experts who advise clients about charitable giving. Working closely with our staff, advisors provide clients with individualized giving plans to meet their unique charitable goals while maximizing tax advantages. READ MORE

More Recent News: