Near & Far Aid Annual Report 2021

During the past year, the pandemic continued to impose challenges and limitations, but it also brought out the best in our community. As our grant recipients adapted by making innovative adjustments to their programs to help the children and families they serve, we are proud that Near & Far Aid was able to continue our support of those agencies and our neighbors during this global crisis.

Near & Far Aid is an all-volunteer run organization with very low operating costs, which enables us to grant out 95 cents of every net dollar raised. We fund agencies and programs in Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford and throughout Fairfield County that provide life’s most basic necessities and help break the cycle of poverty. Our value to the community is clear—important funding combined with the leadership and expertise to allocate resources where they will provide the greatest impact. Our rigorous agency review process helps us to understand the areas of greatest need and deliver funding as quickly as possible.

Despite limited opportunities to host events, we were able to raise and grant over $1.1 million to 108 local Fairfield County agencies. Additionally, we partnered with Fairfield County’s Community Foundation to provide our agencies access to a network of business professionals offering pro bono assistance to help them strengthen their operations. One hundred agencies jointly sponsored by N&FA/FCCF availed themselves of this service resulting in thousands of hours of donated profes- sional service. The true value of these services cannot be quantified. For many of our agencies, this assistance offered them a lifeline in the face of challenges imposed by the pandemic. They were able to re-focus and rebuild their operations.

We remain laser focused on our mission of fighting poverty where we live. We cannot do this meaningful work without donors and volunteers like you, who provide the vital support that makes these grants possible. We are truly grateful for your partnership and for the trust you continue to place in Near & Far Aid.

Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” With this in mind, we look to the future with renewed passion and energy to fight poverty, bolstered by all of you, as together we are TARGETING POVERTY AND CHANGING LIVES.