In 2010, the Drapers left their final and perpetual gift, a $30 million endowment to establish the NCCF Draper Foundation Fund.
The donor advised fund supports 19 area non-profits chosen by the Jim and Shirley Draper, awarding grants twice per year, forever.
According to the Jim and Shirley Drapers' wishes, these charities receive regular distributions from the Fund, providing a sustainable and dependable source of support in perpetuity.
In addition to the 19 nonprofits named by the Drapers, the Draper Foundation Fund Trustees award grants to nonprofits in the towns of Torrington, Winsted, Norfolk, Colebrook, New Hartford, and Barkhamsted through an invitation-only LOI process.
Torrington Area Families with Autism
$50,000 to support capacity building, including hiring a full-time Executive Director, part-time Program Director, and operating costs in 2025.
Charlotte Hungerford Hospital
$32,200 to fund the Diaper Connections Program, which provides a monthly supply of diapers for one year to 100 children in need. This support will aid families facing financial challenges by ensuring consistent access to essential health and hygiene resources.
McCall Center for Behavioral Health
$40,000 to bridge funding for the Litchfield County Opiate Task Force Coordinator, enabling continuity of services.
American Mural Project
$18,000 to support roof replacement for the second historic mill building.
CAFTA (Connecticut Academy for the Arts)
$45,000 to support three arts education programs, benefiting special needs students, Italian arts and cultural outreach, and stop-motion animation/video.
Connecticut Democracy Center
$10,000 to support the Torrington Region Connecticut History Day Contest and funding for an outreach educator to increase participation by Northwest CT schools (committed annually over three years).
New England Air Museum
$5,000 to support the participation of fourth-grade students from Torrington Public Schools in the SOAR for STEM program.
Troutbeck Symposium
$10,000 to support the 2025 Troutbeck Symposium.
Winchester Housing Partners
$30,000 to support predevelopment costs for converting the Batcheller School into 37 affordable housing units.
St. John's Church (New Hartford)
$15,000 to support repairs to the church steeple.
Sharon Hospital
$10,000 to support the Diaper Connections Program, providing a monthly supply of diapers for one year to 200 children in need.
Torrington Youth Service Bureau
$16,250 to fund the Executive Director’s salary and benefits due to unexpected state funding cuts impacting youth service bureaus.
Susan B. Anthony Project
$36,000 to support property repairs and upgrades for the Transitional Living Program building.
Winsted Area Child Care Center
$21,500 to support the replacement of security system equipment to comply with U.S. government regulations.
Camp Rising Sun
$10,100 to improve access to the Camp Jewell waterfront for wheelchair-bound campers.
EdAdvance (Head Start)
$20,000 or furnishings and technology in Torrington
FISH of Northwestern Connecticut $19,600 to for a heating system at Brooker House
KidsPlay Children's Museum
$15,000 to for roof replacement in Torrington
Church of Christ Congregational
$14,500 to for fire door replacements to provide access to a food pantry.
CT Foodshare and McCall Behavioral Health Network
$10,000 each for service enhancements in Winsted and Torrington, respectively
Hands of Grace
$8,000 to support the purchase of food for the pantry
Winchester Youth Service Bureau
$16,800 to to support a behavior specialist position for Rising Star Camp for summer 2024 and 2025.
New Beginnings
$3,850 for various essential upgrades and supplies
Barkhamsted Housing Trust - $20,000 to support pre-development costs for an integrated net zero energy plan for an affordable housing development
Charlotte Hungerford Hospital - $100,000 to support the acquisition of a da Vinci Xi Surgical System
Town of Colebrook - $20,000 to support replacement of the Town Hall well that serves the Town center buildings and The Colebrook Store
Colebrook Consolidated School - $9,900 to support upgrades to the school library space and materials (furniture, makerspace, books and cart)
Community Kitchen of Torrington - $11,350 to support the cost of improvements to create additional storage and shelving for both food and supplies
Connecticut Democracy Center - $9,000 to support the Torrington Region Connecticut History Day Contest, and continued support for an outreach educator to increase and sustain participation by Northwest CT schools
FISH - $5,400 to support gutter and downspout installation and repairs and $8,100 to support the cost of fencing around the FISH properties
Friendly Hands Food Bank - $5,000 to support the purchase of food
Hands of Grace - $7,500 to support individually bagged food suitable for children to prepare on weekends
KidsPlay Children's Museum - $25,000 to support an expansion of interactive exhibits, programming and collaboration space to complete the renovation and integration of 57 Main Street into the museum campus
New Beginnings of Northwest Hills Litchfield County - $17,300 to support the purchase of a charging cart, an alarm system, and promotional items for outreach activities and fundraisers; 6 months of cleaning services, 3 months of operating expenses and $33,000 to support a replacement heat/hot water system, purchase of a new file cabinet, and four months of operating expenses
Salisbury School - $10,000 (fiscal sponsor) to support the 2023-2024 Troutbeck Symposium
Susan B. Anthony Project - $19,500 to support renovations of the Counseling and Advocacy Center
Trinity Episcopal Church - $50,000 to support a new hood and fire suppression system for the Community Soup Kitchen
Beardsley & Memorial Library - $6,000 to support half of the cost of a replacement boiler
Community Kitchen of Torrington - $30,000 to support the acquisition of a small cargo van
Connecticut Foodshare - $10,000 to support the reinstatement of mobile food pantry service to Winsted and $10,000 to support a mobile food pantry truck in Winsted
EdAdvance - $20,000 to support bridge funding for the Litchfield County Family Childcare Network
Explorations Charter School - $35,000 to support additional technology infrastructure to add STEM courses
FISH - $41,550 to support the renovation of the family, veterans’, men’s, and women’s bathrooms and $8,250 to support the replacement of the shelter heating system
Friendly Hands Food Bank - $9,800 to support the purchase of a second van and $10,100 to support the purchase of a second cargo van to facilitate food deliveries
Hands of Grace - $8,000 to support individually bagged food suitable for children to prepare on weekends
Little Guild of St. Francis - $50,000 to support a new shelter facility to provide a healthier and quieter environment for animals, the ability to accommodate more animals, and more efficient working space for staff
Litchfield County Opiate Task Force - (fiscal sponsor Charlotte Hungerford Hospital) $75,000 to support year three of a pilot program adding a community case manager for evening and weekend hours to improve connections to care for clients suffering from substance use disorder
McCall Center for Behavioral Health $25,000 to support upgrades and integration of all computer systems into a single network to facilitate the merger of McCall Center for Behavioral Health and Help Inc.
New Beginnings of Northwest Hills Litchfield County, Inc. - $11,550 to support the cost of weekly cleaning for one year, two fire-resistant cabinets, and a cabinet for janitorial supplies and $8,750 to support replacement office and cleaning equipment for The Gathering Place and to provide three months of operating support
Northwest Connecticut YMCA - $25,000 to create an outdoor recreation and event space
Susan B. Anthony Project - $32,000 to support the purchase of a passenger van
Torrington Police Activities League - $6,850 to support the PAL Ambassador Program to serve 15-20 students from Torrington Middle School
Winsted Area Child Care Center - $18,000 to support the purchase of replacement commercial kitchen equipment
Questions?
(860) 626-1245, EXT 113
jscharnberg@yournccf.org
