The World 051921

Central Vermont
Home Health & Hospice
th
25
ANNUAL
CVHHH
GOLF TOURNAMENT
Outpouring of Generosity from Charitable
Vermonters Fuels Record-Setting Year for Giving
The Vermont Community Foundation announced
that its charitable giving hit an alltime
high in 2020. Powered by Vermonters
who stepped up to help vulnerable neighbors
during the pandemic, the Community
Foundation, its fundholders, and charitable
partners made $31.9 million in grants, more
than 90 percent of which went directly into
Vermont communities. This represents a 24
percent increase from 2019 and more than
a 70 percent increase from 2018 grantmaking.
Vermont Community Foundation grants
in 2020 also represent nearly a quarter of all
annual philanthropic grantmaking in the state
in a typical year according to data from the
Foundation Center.
“Last year was extraordinarily challenging
for so many, but it also revealed the best of
Vermonters and the power of what we can do
together,” says Vermont Community Foundation
President and CEO Dan Smith. “From
college and career training to food access,
housing, equity and belonging, wellness, and
youth programs—not to mention starting to
address systemic challenges that make Vermont
uniquely vulnerable to disruptions like
the pandemic—the breadth of what was accomplished
across Vermont communities cannot
be overstated.”
The dramatic increase in grantmaking was
driven by the VT COVID-19 Response Fund,
through which more than $8.7 million has
been granted since the start of the pandemic
to support basic needs and fund five economic
and social recovery initiatives. At the heart of
the Community Foundation’s discretionary
grantmaking is closing the opportunity gap
in Vermont. As elsewhere, the conditions that
hold Vermonters back by geography, by race,
and by family background were accelerated
by the pandemic and continue to impact recovery
efforts and long-term community resilience.
Highlights of the Community Foundation’s
discretionary grantmaking from 2020
include:
• A $150,000 grant to the Vermont School
Boards Association, the Vermont Principals’
Association, and the Vermont Superintendents
Association to facilitate learning around
equity, power, and privilege so they can support
individual members to implement best
practices on the ground. A $50,000 grant to
the Vermont League of Cities and Towns to
support similar work with municipalities.
• Grants totaling $340,000 to Vermont Technical
College ($145,000) and Community College
of Vermont ($195,000) to make the seven
Best Bet career training programs identified
by the J. Warren and Lois McClure Foundation
affordable for Vermonters in 2021. This
set of grants also effectively demonstrated
to state policymakers how funding from the
American Rescue Plan could be used to support
college and career training.
Grantmaking from the Community Foundation’s
donor advised fundholders also increased,
contributing more than $6 million to
the VT COVID-19 Response Fund to support
a coordinated pandemic response as well as
giving directly to nonprofit organizations who
are the backbone of Vermont’s communities.
Highlights of donor advised fund grantmaking
from 2020 include:
• A new donor advised fund dedicated to racial
equity made close to $100,000 in grants
to four nonprofits committed to supporting
BIPOC communities—Migrant Justice, Association
of Africans Living in Vermont, Vermont
New American Advisory Council, and
Abenaki Helping Abenaki (AHA).
• A $100,000 grant to Capstone Community
Action to hire a full-time staff member to coordinate
a rural transportation initiative that
will provide low-income households access
to electric vehicles using a ride share model.
To learn more about the Community Foundation’s
grantmaking and how we support
individuals with charitable giving, visit vermontcf.org
or call 802-388-3355.
Returning to the Workforce?
WITH SUPPORT FROM
Join us for a Town Hall with
org/town-halls/
As you look toward entering or returning to the workforce,
during the pandemic, take time in this town hall to connect
with your strengths and bring positivity into your efforts.
@COVIDSupportVT | Find more resources at COVIDSupportVT.org
page 4 The WORLD May 19, 2021
SAVE THE DATE:
Register at
covidsupportvt.
May 24th | 10-11:30am
Mercy Connections, known for
their engaging “Self-Development”
programming, will lead this 1.5
hour session where participants
will learn how to apply a strengthsbased
perspective to planning their
next steps for returning to work.
COVID-Support-VT_2020-05-12_TheWorld_6 x 7.5.indd 1 5/11/21 3:44 PM
• • •
Three Vermont Specialty
Food Producers Win Annual
2021 sofi Awards
Three of Vermont’s specialty food producers received three
awards in this year’s annual sofi Awards presented by the
national Specialty Food Association (SFA). The sofi Awards,
which stands for “specialty outstanding food innovation,” are
the most prestigious awards in the specialty food industry and
honor excellence across a variety of food categories, from
vinegars to vegan snacks. Winners were announced on May
5th with two of Vermont’s producers awarded gold: Mount
Mansfield Maple Products and Vermont Creamery and one
awarded silver: Big Picture Farm.
A full list of winners can be found here: specialtyfood.com/
awards/sofi/winners/.
“Each year Vermont’s innovative specialty food and beverage
producers are recognized for their hard work and dedication
to quality products,” said Alexandra Jakab, Assistant
Director of Vermont Specialty Food Association (VSFA). “We
are proud of our producers who help put Vermont’s name on
the map alongside other outstanding businesses in the nation.
Vermont is and continues to be a leader in the specialty food
industry. Congratulations to all the winners on this remarkable
achievement.”
Big Picture Farm won silver in the confectionery (nonchocolate)
category for their Farmstead Goat Milk Caramels
- Brown Butter Bourbon. Mount Mansfield Maple Products
won gold in the chocolate candy category for their Organic
Dark Chocolate Maple Bark. Vermont Creamery won gold in
the Other Dairy Category for their Sea Salt Cultured Butter.
Here is the complete list of Vermont’s finalists in their
categories:
• Big Picture Farm LLC
Farmstead Goat Milk Caramels - Brown Butter Bourbon
sofi Award: Silver, Confectionery (Non-Chocolate), 2021
• Mount Mansfield Maple Products
Organic Dark Chocolate Maple Bark
sofi Award: Gold, Chocolate Candy, 2021
• Vermont Creamery
Sea Salt Cultured Butter
sofi Award: Gold, Other Dairy, 2021
VSFA, along with the VT Agency of Agriculture, Food &
Markets (VAAFM), provide support to Vermont specialty
food and beverage producers in exhibiting at the annual
Summer Fancy Food Show hosted by the Specialty Food
Association each June in NYC. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
VSFA and VAAFM will not be participating in the
2021 show in late September, but are looking forward to making
the Vermont Pavilion at the 2022 show the best yet. Learn
more about this event here: (specialtyfood.com/shows-events/
summer-fancy-food-show/).
To learn more about the work VSFA does, visit their website
at www.vtspecialtyfoods.org, follow them on Facebook &
Instagram, call their office at (802) 839-1930.
About the Vermont Specialty Food Association:
The Vermont Specialty Food Association is the leading
information resource for all specialty food and beverage producers,
service providers, and industry professionals. VSFA
seeks to grow specialty food businesses and the Vermont
industry through education, promotion, and statewide and
national collaboration. It is the nation’s oldest and most
highly regarded specialty food association, celebrating over
30 years of service to the industry.