Anonymous Donor Expands Access to Healthy Food in Danbury

DANBURY, Conn. (Jun. 22, 2022) — An anonymous donor’s generosity is making fresh produce accessible to Fairfield County residents who might otherwise not have access to healthy food options.

Fairfield County’s Community Foundation announced today that it has delivered $45,000 to the CityCenter Danbury Farmer’s Market — the latest grant from an unnamed Community Foundation donor who annually supports the Farmer’s Market through a donor-advised fund.

The grant helps lower the cost for seniors, veterans, women, children and SNAP recipients to purchase fresh food at the market and includes funding to support a new school-based program that gives Danbury Public School families access to local produce through the summer.

“Fresh food is a building block to better health,” said Peggy Zamore, a nutritionist and coordinator of the market programs, which is managed by CityCenter Danbury. “The ongoing support by Fairfield County’s Community Foundation and its generous donor has ensured that we can provide access to fresh and healthy food to those who need it.”

The anonymous donor is a longtime supporter of the Farmer’s Market — contributing more than $350,000 to support its program over the past 12 years. The latest grant comes in time for the start of the new season for The Danbury Farmers’ Market, which runs every Saturday 10 am to 2 pm, from June 25 to Oct. 29 on the Danbury CityCenter Green.

With the latest grant, this year’s Farmer’s Market will:

• Accept and match Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
• Match state Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program vouchers for low-income seniors and recipients of The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
• Provide Market Fruit & Veggie cash incentives for seniors and veterans.
• Offer Virtual Nutrition, Health & Fitness information and classes.

“Every person in our county — no matter where they live — should have an opportunity to access fresh and healthy food,” said Karen R. Brown, the Community Foundation’s Vice President of Development & Philanthropic Services. “That’s why we’re proud to support CityCenter Danbury’s Farmers’ Market once again. We are thrilled to help keep this gem of an initiative going strong in downtown Danbury – now more than ever.”

This generous grant is just one of more than 169 grants totaling more than $3.7 million that have been awarded since mid-March 2020 through donor advised funds at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation.

A donor advised fund established at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation is an easy and cost-effective way for donors to support their favorite nonprofits anywhere in the country, or around the world.  Foundation staff work with fund advisors to manage the donor-advised fund, recommend grantees in donor’s areas of interest, confirm that the recommended charities meet IRS requirements, and then issue donor-advised grant checks to the recipient nonprofit organizations. Gifts to the donor-advised fund qualify for an immediate and generous tax deduction. For more information about the Foundation’s comprehensive donor-advised fund services, visit www.fccfoundation.org.

About Fairfield County’s Community Foundation

Based in Norwalk, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation promotes philanthropy as a means to create change in Fairfield County, focusing on innovative and collaborative solutions to critical issues impacting the community. Individuals, families, corporations and organizations can establish charitable funds or contribute to existing funds. The Community Foundation is in compliance with The Council on Foundations’ national standards and has awarded over $230 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond. As a trusted nonprofit partner and thought leader, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation brings together community organizers, business experts and philanthropists to solve our region’s challenges. The Community Foundation’s goal is to create a vital and inclusive community, where every individual has the opportunity to thrive. www.fccfoundation.org

About CityCenter Danbury

CityCenter Danbury’s mission is to foster economic vitality, community engagement and cultural vibrancy in downtown Danbury, CT. For more information, please visit www.citycenterdanbury.com.