Contributing to the Health, Safety and Well-Being of the Canton Community
PRESS RELEASE Contact: Sylvia Cancela, CCHF Board Chair
For Immediate Distribution [email protected]
CANTON COMMUNITY HEALTH FUND INVESTS RECORD $83,000 IN 2026 COMMUNITY PARTNERS & SCHOLARS CONTRIBUTING TO CANTON’S HEALTH, SAFETY & WELL-BEING
Canton, CT May 18, 2026…. Canton Community Health Fund, Inc. (CCHF), announced the awarding of over $83,000.00 in nonprofit grants and scholarships to Community Partners and students committed to ‘Contributing to the Health, Safety & Well-Being of the Canton Community.’
Sylvia Cancela, CCHF Chair: The Canton Community Health Fund is proud of the leadership role the community has entrusted to our Board, in supporting health and public safety. This work begins with significant financial investment, but equally important are the collaborative relationships we will encourage and celebrate with our Community Partners and Scholars.
CCHF’s 2026 Community Partners will provide inter-generational support across Canton including: critical, basic services, life-saving equipment for1st responders, a wide variety of adaptive recreation, updated online resources to empower teens, and unique arts programming for seniors. For 2026, CCHF welcomes:
New Partnerships
–New Britain Museum of American Art: A pilot program for Canton seniors to further develop their cognitive skills, social connections, health and wellness through participation in the arts.
-YWCA of New Britain’s Sexual Assault Crisis Services: Will expand their presence in Canton with their collaborative brand of training, education and advocacy.
–Canton Public Library: New databases and resources focusing on cross-generational mental and physical health, wellness and memory care will be launched this year.
-Gifts of Love: Working in collaboration with targeted Canton organizations, their programming will increase food security and provide student backpacks filled with basic school supplies.
Critical Needs Partnerships
Canton Food Bank: Their successful ‘Fresh Food Initiative’ will be enhanced with new offerings including block cheeses and fish fillets….still minimally processed and nutrition forward.
Canton Community Services: Canton’s food, shelter, transportation ‘safety net’ continues to provide financial, social and emotional support for our most vulnerable residents.
Canton Emergency Fuel Bank: They will continue their long history of providing financial support for the growing number of residents facing extraordinary heating and electric expenses.
Public Safety Partnerships
Canton Fire & EMS Department: At river rescues, during ‘Mayday’ emergency calls or when ventilating through modern construction materials/roofs, the importance of access to upgraded equipment/tech will be demonstrated through reinforced community and firefighter safety and preparedness.
Canton Police Department: New lobby storage for the Department’s AED and replacement batteries will improve community access, while LEO’s new safety training booklet will teach and inspire Canton’s youngest residents.
Substance Free Graduation Party: Celebrating the Class of 2026 with one last, memory-making event to say good-bye in a healthy, fun, safe and positive environment.
Therapeutic Partnerships
FAVARH: Three new, raised and accessible garden beds will anchor hands-on therapeutic programming with horticulturalist favorite Jeff the Plant Guy.
Healing Meals Community Project: Offering timely and important outreach to Canton residents facing temporary health crises, with their uniquely curated ‘Food is Medicine’ brand.
SpiritHorse Therapeutic Riding Center of Canton: CT’s only licensed equine therapy riding center for children, teens and adults with special needs. Introducing new Memory Care Equine Therapy in 2026.
Summit Adaptive Sports: Building a new Canton-based skateboarding program to augment their highly regarded adaptive kayaking, paddleboard, skiing, snowboarding and biking activities.
For 2026, CCHF congratulates the following students pursuing careers in healthcare:
Pay It Forward Scholars
Amanda May will be attending UCONN’s Master’s Degree program with a focus on Psychology/Social Work. And, Rory Bemis will continue pursuing a career in nursing at Saint Anselm College.
Dr. Diters Legacy Scholars A record five Dr. Diters Legacy Scholarships will be awarded, at the annual Canton Dollars for Scholars Ceremony on June 4, 2026, to graduating Canton High School students pursuing degrees in: nursing, biochemistry, premed and health sciences.
Cancela: We look forward to sharing stories on the impact of CCHF’s Community Partners and the academic journeys of our Scholars. Please follow us at @CantonCommunityHealthFund.
Your donation to CCHF helps us to continue supporting the health, safety and well-being of the Canton community. Contributions can be made via mail at P.O. Box 75, Collinsville, CT 06022 or through PayPal at www.cantoncommunityhealthfund.org. We thank you!
CANTON COMMUNITY HEALTH FUND, INC …. BY, FOR, ABOUT CANTON
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2025
Contributing to the Health, Safety and Well-Being of the Canton Community
PRESS RELEASE Contact: Sylvia Cancela, CCHF Board Chair
For Immediate Distribution [email protected]
CANTON COMMUNITY HEALTH FUND INVESTS $62,000 IN 2025 COMMUNITY PARTNERS & SCHOLARS CONTRIBUTING TO HEALTH, SAFETY & WELL-BEING
Pay It Forward & Dr. Diters Scholarships Will Support Residents Pursuing Careers in Healthcare
Canton, CT May 19, 2025…. Canton Community Health Fund, Inc. (CCHF), announced the awarding of $62,000 in nonprofit grants and scholarships to Community Partners and Scholars committed to ‘Contributing to the Health, Safety & Well-Being of the Canton Community.’
Sylvia Cancela, CCHF Chair: “Our 2025 Community Partners will significantly impact the everyday lives of our neighbors, friends and family. And, our Dr. Diters Legacy and Pay It Forward Scholars will represent the very best of the future in healthcare and public safety. The Board of CCHF is proud to continue to honor and invest in our 100-year Legacy of change, challenge and commitment to Canton by not only supporting this community’s critical-baseline needs, but also keeping an eye on other entrepreneurial partnerships that benefit us all. At CCHF, small town doesn’t mean small ideas because we are By, For and About Canton.”
- Welcome New Community Partners
Connecticut Institute for the Blind/Oak Hill: With the purchase of 2 outdoor glider chairs, residents will be provided with self-soothing and vestibular stimulation to address stress, anxiety and promote well-being, which is especially critical for those with intellectual and physical disabilities.
Roaring Brook Nature Center: RBNC will host 3 CPR/First Aid/AED certification classes in collaboration with Town of Canton Fire & EMS Department. 30 Canton residents will be provided with this lifesaving training – free of charge, first come, first served.
- Critical Baseline Community Partners
Canton Food Bank: In conjunction with Bristol Farm Market and other collaborators, CFB’s ‘fresh food initiative’ increases availability of fruit, produce and other health-centric options to enhance food-security for eligible Canton clients.
Canton Emergency Fuel Bank: CEFB will continue to provide financial support for eligible residents facing extraordinary heating and electric expenses.
Canton Senior & Social Services: Canton’s ‘social safety net’ provides financial, social and emotional support for seniors and other eligible residents. From food assistance, temporary shelter, transportation and outreach to vulnerable populations, CSSS works to combat social isolation, improve mental health and provide a sense of community/belonging.
- Public Safety Community Partners
Canton Fire & EMS Department: CFED’s new Electric Vehicle blankets will address the unique and growing hazards posed by EV/hybrid vehicles, motor bikes, charging stations, etc. The EV blankets are designed to reduce risks to: residences, commercial property and parking lots; greatly enhancing the safety lifeline for both victims and first responders.
Canton Police Department: The CPD will upgrade/standardize: in-house AED and Medical Bag equipment, as well as emergency tools for CPD cruisers to enhance the readiness of all officers.
- Therapeutic Community Partners
FAVARH: With the goal of helping individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities achieve their personal best, FAVARH will expand the scope, diversity and frequency of its daily activities, including: social activities, recreation, horticulture, music and art therapy.
Healing Meals Community Project: With curated organic meals to Canton residents facing temporary health crises, HMCP shares their belief that Food is Medicine. Clients and their family members receive six meals each for 12 weeks during at a time when good nutrition is especially critical to their health and well-being.
SpiritHorse Therapeutic Riding Center of Canton: CT’s only licensed therapy riding center for children, teens and adults with disabilities, SHTRCC will provide 80 private equine therapy lessons, including its NEW ‘Equicizer’ sessions – where a non-motorized mechanical horse will be able to provide individuals, unable to ride a live horse yet, with the opportunity to participate.
Summit Adaptive Sports: Working with Collinsville Canoe and Kayak, SAS will provide specially adapted kayak and paddle board lessons and equipment designed to foster a healthy lifestyle for individuals with disabilities that build life skills, self-esteem and positive experiences.
- CCHF’s Pay It Forward Scholarships
To honor our 100-year legacy, CCHF re-established a scholarship, in 2024, for high school graduates working to advance their talents and education in healthcare and public safety. In 2025, CCHF congratulates these Pay It Forward Scholars pursuing careers in Nursing, and Psychology: Rory Bemis, Monika Klecha, Amanda May and Anna Miller.
- Diters Legacy Scholarships
Three Dr. Diters Legacy Scholarships will be awarded on May 29th at a special Canton High School Senior Scholarship Awards Assembly hosted by CCHF’s trusted partner, Canton Dollars for Scholars.
Cancela: “We look forward to sharing the stories of what’s possible from all CCHF’s Community Partners and Scholars, as we celebrate their leadership and commitment to positively impacting our community, now and into the future. Please join us in that celebration by following CCHF on our social media.”
Canton Community Health Fund, Inc. is a private Foundation that accepts donations for the benefit of all Canton residents. Our 100-year Legacy organization, the Canton Visiting Nurse Association, both inspires and guides our Mission. Our all-volunteer Board of Directors manages the investment of the Fund, distribution of Community Partner grants and Pay It Forward Scholarships. CCHF’s Dr. Diters Legacy Scholarship is distributed in collaboration with our trusted partner, Canton Dollars for Scholars.
We invite you to support CCHF’s Mission through gifts of your time and/or donations which help us support the entire Canton community. Contributions can be made to CCHF via mail at P.O. Box 75, Collinsville, CT 06022 or through PayPal at www.cantoncommunityhealthfund.org. Please follow us at @CantonCommunityHealthFund. We thank you!
CANTON COMMUNITY HEALTH FUND …. BY, FOR, ABOUT CANTON
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Last modified: May 27, 2026