Granby Community Fund Kicks Off Its 51^st Town Wide Annual Campaign

A non-profit 501©3 organization

Since the Granby Community Fund was established in the early 1960’s, the Fund’s purpose was and continues to be to unite the annual charitable collections of Granby’s various not-for-profit agencies into one community-wide solicitation, and thereby minimize the number of times that residents are faced with door-to-door charitable campaigns.  The Fund’s member agencies help to plan and run the annual drive.  In deference to resident preferences and modern-day time commitments, the Fund switched its annual campaign from door-to-door solicitation to a town wide mailing in 2004.  In doing so, there was a concern that contributions might fall off, but for the most part, that has not been the case.  It appears that Granby residents continue to recognize that there are meaningful local charitable needs and that the Community Fund is an efficient means of meeting those needs. 

In addition to the proceeds of the local mail campaign, the Fund receives payroll deductions from residents who designate the Granby Community Fund in their United Way campaign at work.  Payroll deductions represent about half of our support.

The GCF Annual Campaign is run at the beginning of every fall.  Well, it’s that time of year again, and in order to help our community we are again asking for your support.  In the past few weeks all residents should have received a mailing from the Granby Community Fund asking for your continued generous support. 

Our campaign goal this year is $97,500.  To whom will this money go?  Here is a list of some of the organizations that the Fund will be supporting this year.

·        Holcomb Farm Learning Center

·        ARC of the Farmington Valley, Inc. (FAVARH) 

·        YMCA

·        Marquis of Granby

·        Granby Land Trust

·        Meals on Wheels

·        Salvation Army

·        Granby Senior Van

·        Parents for a Safe Graduation

·        Red Cross

·        Girl Scouts - Granby

·        Boy Scouts – Granby

·        Granby Emergency Fuel Bank

Also, due to your past generous contributions, the GCF has been able to add two new features to our support of Granby’s volunteer organizations:

·        Special Project Grants – throughout the year, on an as-need-basis, the Granby Community Fund provides funding grants to nonprofit tax-exempt organizations that provide services to Granby residents, and have an extraordinary or special need for funding one-time projects.  Some of the organizations receiving special grants in the past years have been:

o       Town of Granby Senior Van

o       YMCA for the road race

o       YMCA for their Strong Kids program

o       FAVRH – Family Support Group at the YMCA

o       FAVARH – new truck for their lawn business

o       Town of Granby – Student Survey

o       McLean Foundation – Save Trout Pond

o       Visiting Nurse Association – help purchase their building

o       Waste Not Want Not Community Kitchen

·        Granby Social Services Fund - an emergency family support program, which is administered by the Granby Director of Human Services.  This fund, which is particularly important in today’s troubling economic times, assists needy residents when other resources are not available. 

The member agencies, noted above, are not-for-profit organizations that benefit the citizens of Granby, and have been approved as members by the Fund’s Board of Directors.  If you are a member of, or know of, an organization that is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization that is interested in becoming a member agency, or could use a special one-time grant, please contact GCF President, John Wilkinson, at john.wilkinson@cox.net.

With many Granby citizens feeling the effects of the economic downturn, the need for support from the community is even greater this year; so when you receive our Annual Appeal campaign letter, simply enclose your check in the return self-addressed envelope.  If you normally donate through your United Way at work, and would like to give that way, make sure you select the Granby Community Fund (account code:  5076 – Location:  Hartford) on your United Way pledge form, and if you don’t see it ask for it.  Please renew your commitment to the Granby Community Fund and give at a level you are comfortable with, one that reflects your continued belief in and support of these caring, giving Granby organizations that serve all of us.  Also ask if your employer offers a matching gift.  If so don’t forget to fill out the proper form and send it to the Granby Community Fund, P.O. Box 94, Granby, CT   06035.

Finally, check out our website at http://www.granbycommunityfund.org .  This site not only gives information about the Granby Community Fund’s objectives and member organizations, but also offers you the opportunity to donate securely online using PayPal. 

Thank you in advance for your continued support and generosity.  

Submitted by:

Fred Jones, Board Member and Co-Chair of the GCF Annual Campaign