Women & Girls Fund Connections

Connections

The Newsletter of the Women & Girls Fund

Housatonic Youth Services Bureau

Who were your heroes when you were young? Do you have fond memories of a special teacher, neighbor, relative? Were you inspired by a camp counselor? These days, many parents work outside the home, and summertime means summer camp.

In our corner of Connecticut, kids are very lucky to have Housatonic Youth Service Bureau (HYSB) to help families after school and during the summer.

A recent grant from the Northwest CT Community Foundation Women & Girls Fund provided an opportunity for 24 young people to participate in summer enrichment programs designed to support their mental health, through passive activities centered around self-esteem building, calming techniques, healthy friendships, kindness, and community support. HYSB hired three young women to work as interns. Interns planned the details of the enrichment program, including budgeting and shopping for supplies.

“If we didn’t have this [HYSB] service, we would have nothing. We wouldn’t have any resources. We wouldn’t know where to turn," said a local parent.

Annual Reception at Woodridge Lake

On May 12th we gathered at the beautiful Woodridge Lake Clubhouse for our Annual Reception.

Aways a magical evening, the Annual Reception is when we present our grants to nonprofit organizations in the Northwest Corner and honor the recipient of our Women Supporting Women award.

But it’s also the time that we reconnect with you, our loyal donors, and enjoy a fabulous night out. The delicious refreshments, provided by Ciesco Catering, tickled our tastebuds, and we tapped our toes to the tunes provided by our very own Erin Kennedy and friends.

The reception was extra special this year because it’s our 25th anniversary, and to recognize our beginnings, we honored our founder, Judy Staubo with our Women Supporting Women award. Many of the original Norhtwest CT Community Foundation Women & Girls Fund executive committee members were on hand to celebrate with us and share their stories of the early days of our organization.

View photos from the event

In 2024, the Women & Girls Fund awarded grants to the following organizations:

CT State Community College, Northwest
Litchfield Hills Rowing Club
McCall Behavioral Health
Town of Winchester Residential Assistance Fund
Town of Warren Social Services Emergency Fund for Women and Children
EdAdvance
Housatonic Youth Services Bureau

Thank you for continuing to support our work…and continuing to celebrate with us!

LEARN MORE ABOUT RECENT GRANTS

Meet Anita Baxter

Anita Baxter

Recently we asked our friend and supporter, Anita Baxter, to share her story with us so we could share it with you.

Anita inspires us to be the very best versions of ourselves because of her many accomplishments and her insights on a life well lived. She has been a First Selectwoman of New Hartford (for three terms); an entrepreneur; a facilitator for GM process improvement; a newspaper reporter; and an English teacher, just to name a few of her endeavors.

She also found time to serve her community on the Board of Education; the New Hartford Ambulance EMT Volunteers; the New Hartford Recreation Commission; and the Stanclift Cove Commission, and the NCCF Board of Trustees.

While she was doing all that, she raised a family that now includes her husband, Bill, two children and seven grandchildren. Whew! We are in awe of her boundless energy and commitment to her community and family.

Anita credits her father with teaching her how to interact positively with others. He was in steel sales, and his advice served her well throughout her career. He coached her to be genuinely curious about the people she met-to ask questions kindly and to practice active listening. Her parents raised her to be self-confident and not afraid to take risks.

She advises young women to follow their instincts and to think about their futures as they build their resumes. “You learn a lot about yourself when you fail, and you should not take failure personally. When things don’t work out, reflect on the experience and move on. Don’t be afraid to take risks, but weigh your choices wisely. Make the moves that feel right,” she advises.

Personal Products Packing Party

WGPPP

Packing Party

On August 14, a group of women and girls gathered at the Norfolk HUB to package feminine personal products.

Jen Pfaltz, a member of the Northwest CT Community Foundation Women & Girls Fund Executive Committee, had secured a grant to purchase personal products, and she organized a packing party-including refreshments-so that the products could be distributed effectively at the Norfolk Food Pantry.

The work was completed in short order, thanks to Jen’s thoughtful planning, but not before the group got to enjoy the snacks and the camaraderie that goes with working for the good of others. This is one of two pilots we are running in preparation for expansion of this program.

the Women & Girls Fund looks for ways to support underserved populations of women and girls in our community, and we want to make WGPPP a signature program.

Up Next: Join us for Field of Friends October 17th!

Join us for an evening of food, fun and festivities, with a fabulous raffle and entertainment.

Every fall over 100 loyal supporters gather for an evening of entertainment to celebrate the accomplishments of the Women & Girls Fund.

This year, on October 17th the Women & Girls Fund will host a party at the American Mural Project in Winsted. If you have never been to the exhibit, you are in for a treat. The permanent installation is breathtaking, and the current exhibition speaks to our cause: thousands of watches were donated by women from the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, and transformed by artist Ellen Griesdieck into sculptures symbolizing the hours women give without pay.

Get your tickets today! $65 per person. Cash Bar, Hors d'oeuvres, Raffles, Live Music!

PURCHASE TICKETS

The progress we have made needs protection. Please give generously to the Women & Girls Fund.

GIVE TO THE WOMEN & GIRLS FUND TODAY

Bequest Giving

Wouldn’t it be great if people celebrated your values 100 years from now? You can make that happen by leaving a legacy gift to the Northwest CT Community Foundation Women & Girls Fund.

Designate the Northwest CT Community Foundation Women & Girls Fund in your estate planning. It is quick and easy.

Contact Vice President of Philanthropic Services Bradford Hoar at 860-626-1245 or BHoar@yournccf.org to learn more.

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