Submitted release
The Directors of the Canton Community Health Fund (CCHF) announced recipients of the foundation’s 2012 grant awards to various nonprofit Canton organizations. A total of nine grants were awarded, each meeting the goals of benefiting the health and well-being of the residents of Canton.
Grants were awarded to the following programs and groups:
Canton Police Department
The Canton Police Department received funding for the purchase of pedestrian crossing signs for use on recently opened segments of the Canton Rails to Trails. These new signs will be placed at busy intersections to promote pedestrian and cyclist safety. Grant money was also awarded for the Police Department to purchase two ballistic blankets for use at public facilities and schools during emergency and high risk situations.
Parks and Recreation Department
The Town of Canton Parks and Recreation Department received funds from the CCHF for the purchase of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machine for use at the Mills Pond swimming pool. This specialized piece of life saving equipment will be used in emergency situations to allow fast and immediate treatment to victims suffering from a cardiac arrest.
Farmington Valley VNA
The Farmington Valley VNA received a grant from the CCHF to fund materials, supplies, pedometers and nursing staff required for a new exercise program for Canton senior citizens. This new exercise program will take place at the Shoppes at Farmington Valley in Canton.
Canton Community of Concern
The Canton Community of Concern received a CCHF grant for the purchase of a secure medication collection box. This new medication box will provide a means for Canton residents to safely dispose of old or otherwise unneeded medications. This will help reduce the abuse of prescription medications and eliminate potential environmental damage when medications are disposed through the sewers or other improper disposal. The new collection box will be located at the Canton Police Station.
Focus on Canton
The community-wide organization Focus on Canton received a grant from the CCHF to support their ongoing programs that assist residents of Canton who may be single parent families, lower income, elderly, disabled, or people in need of one-time only assistance. Focus on Canton is dedicated to assisting and enabling the residents of Canton to maintain a good quality of life by providing with needs not otherwise met. Funds granted by the CCHF will be used to assist in the purchase of all types of medical related supplies such as hearing aids, eyeglasses, as well as provide emergency financial assistance for rent, utility bills, and other essential services for those in need. Focus on Canton is a non-profit organization comprised of citizens and businesses of Canton including representatives from the Board of Selectmen, Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, Canton Schools, local merchants, the Rotary Club, and Kawanza.
Canton Connections
Canton Connections received a grant to fund their programs that target Canton children with emotional and social needs. Grant money will be used primarily to fund programs that benefit after school programs for local underprivileged children and their families.
Canton High School Substance Free-Graduation Party
Canton High School Substance Free-Graduation Party. Grant funds were awarded to offset in-part some of the expenses involved with providing Canton High School graduating seniors with an all-night substance-free party on the evening of graduation. The goal of the evening is to provide graduating students with a fun-filled night of entertainment and food, while keeping them together and safe.
Gifts of Love
Lastly, a grant is going to the nonprofit group Gifts of Love to fund a weekend backpack program for Canton students and their families. Grant funds will be used to fund the purchase of meals that will be distributed through the schools and individually during summer months to ensure Canton children have access to easy to prepare food and juice to be used by the family over the weekend.
Since its founding, the Canton Community Health Fund has been a source of financial support to scores of non-profit Canton organizations and groups. With funds established and sustained by generous gifts from Canton residents, the Canton Community Health Fund has been a lasting source of financial assiatnce to non-profit groups that serve Canton residents. “Over the past 5 years alone, The Canton Community Health Fund has distributed financial support totaling over $150,000 to Canton organizations and groups in need of assistance.” said Board spokesperson Lynn Miner. “It remains a vestige of the ‘old Canton’ attitudes and actions , caring for each other quietly and generously. It represents what makes Canton a place that is truly a home. ”
The Board meets five times per year at the Canton Community Center, and makes grant awards annually each May.
About the CCHF
The Canton Community Health Fund (CCHF) is a private, not-for-profit foundation that receives gifts and bequests from individuals for the benefit of residents of Canton. The memorial donations to the Canton Visiting Nurse Association were the basis for establishing the fund when the VNA joined with McLean in 1997.
The CCHF is run by a volunteer board that currently consists of 11 community members who oversee the investment of the foundation’s assets, fund programs, and annually distribute grants to a wide array of nonprofit organizations that enhance the health and well being of the residents of the Town of Canton. The CCHF also oversees the Dr. Diter’s Memorial Scholarship Fund that annually awards financial assistance to graduating seniors from Canton High School.
The CCHF develops, supports and engages in activities such as education programs or services that contribute to the enhancement of the health and well being of residents of Canton and the community as a whole. In the recent past, the CCHF has sponsored speakers, has given grants to many town organizations including the Canton Food Bank, Focus on Canton, Canton Parents as Teachers (CPAT), Canton Community of Concern, Canton Connections, Canton High School Substance Free Graduation Party, Canton Police, Roaring Brook Nature Center, Canton EMS, to name a few.
2012 CCHF Directors:
Thomas DiBella, Eric Lindquist, Dr Kristen Kerrigan, Richard Albrecht, Pat Malloy, Sara Scott, Lynn Miner, Elizabeth Nardi, Jay Tourigny, Ann Bryan, Jean Mix
