Over $202,000 in Local COVID-19 Response Distributed by Branford Community Foundation
By Pam Johnson/Zip06.com, December 3, 2020
Back in January, non-profit Branford Community Foundation (BCF) was hoping to mark its 40th anniversary by raising awareness and support for its mission of funding community causes backed by the generosity of a caring community.
Perhaps there is no greater testament to the work of BCF, and this community, than what happened next. In March, as the pandemic began impacting the lives and livelihoods of many, BCF formed a COVID-19 Response Fund, reached out to the community for help, and donations came rolling in. By the time the final funds were dispersed in late November, the results were stunning, reports BCF Executive Director Liza Petra.
“Our goal was to raise $20,000 for emergency financial assistance for families. We ended up raising over $202,000,” said Petra.
The fundraising effort surpassed its initial goal quickly, raising over $128,600 in a month’s time, with help from a $25,000 donation from Guilford Savings Bank and an individual donation of $50,000 made by anonymous donor. In April, in order to continue to respond to needs being identified by local service providers, BCF initiated the fund’s “Branford Has Heart” campaign, offering lawn signs bearing that message to donors. The campaign took off.
