Around Town

Kiwanis Club of New Canaan Is Now Accepting Local Nonprofits’ Requests for Funding, Feb. 29 Deadline

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A local civic organization whose mission is “serving the children of the world” announced Wednesday that it’s opening its annual season for funding requests from nonprofit organization. The Kiwanis Club of New Canaan will be able to allocate up to $2,000 per applicant and will take applications through the end of this month (Feb. 29—it’s a Leap Year). “Those interested should submit a letter with the agency name, contact information, mission statement, detailed description of program, proposed use for funds and amount requested,” Kiwanis said in a press release. “Explanations of how your mission fits within the Kiwanis mission.”

Last year, with funds raised mainly through its summertime Zerbini Famiy Circus—presented in partnership with the New Canaan YMCA—Kiwanians gave a total of $16,000 to 16 local nonprofit organizations.

Around Town

The Kiwanis Club of New Canaan Grants $16,000 to Local Organizations Serving Youth

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The Kiwanis Club of New Canaan met at the New Canaan YMCA on Friday to give $16,000 to 16 local nonprofit organizations serving youth, thanks largely to funds raised at the Zerbini Family Circus last June. According to Kiwanian David Hoyle, an attorney who sits on the club’s Allocations Subcommittee, just three years ago the club was only able to give away $2,000. “I think it is just a wonderful thing to be able to give this much money away,” Hoyle told the New Canaanite. “You feel like you’re making that much more of a difference. It’s really great and it’s wonderful because of all of the work that the folks and [Kiwanian] Kathy [Holland] and [YMCA Marketing Director] Kristina [Barrett] do for the service.

Around Town

New Canaan’s West Family: A Fun Summer with Fresh Air Fund Child

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The NewCanaanite.com Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Baskin-Robbins, Connecticut Sandwich Co., Joe’s Pizza and Mackenzie’s. Introduced to Fresh Air Fund by her grandmother three years ago, New York City’s Janiyia Rodriguez says her favorite part of the nonprofit’s signature program so far has been playing games with her host family, the Wests of New Canaan, and spending time in the water. “I like the Adventure Park in Bridgeport which is basically a zip-line with obstacles in it, and it’s awesome,” Janiyia said on a bright and sunny afternoon this week at the Country Club of New Canaan pool, host mom Sheri West and West’s daughter Olivia nearby. Ms. West said: “Ever since she’s been here she’s spent almost all of her time in the water, so we gave her the nickname of ‘little fish.’ ”

The Wests are one of 17 New Canaan families hosting a Fresh Air Fund child this summer, said town resident Teri Reed.