The Derby community has been growing steadily over the past 20 years. 

What many don’t know is that with the large amount of work that has been done, it wouldn’t have been made possible without the Derby Community Foundation. 

“We want to be involved in the community, to talk with people,” DCF executive director Thereasa Hearn said.

Since 1993, the Derby Community Foundation has been a part of four major areas of service in the community.

“We award grants and scholarships, encourage private giving for the public good, serve as a community leader and we respond to the immediate needs of the community as they arise,” Hearn said.

Examples of the work the DCF has done in the past include providing financial support to the Derby Food Pantry, annually awarding $64,000 in scholarships to DHS seniors and funding a 25-mile bike/walking path.

“The mission of the DCF is to enrich the quality of life in the Derby area by being a catalyst of connecting people and resounds to community needs and initiatives,” Hearn said. 

The community comes first for the DCF and they wish to make Derby the best place to live.

“We are in the business of helping people help others,” Hearn said. 

The DCF also provides resources for the people of the Derby to help in the community, as well. 

“There are two ways people can help,” Hearn said. “Things like Match Day, making a contribution to any of the funds that DCF manages is always a great way to support the foundation. The more our community grows, the more needs in our community also grow. The second way is to let us know what the needs are for things like supporting the Panther’s Tale.”

The Panther’s Tale was recently awarded a $1,000 grant from the DCF that will allow four issues to be printed in the Derby Informer.

“Be the conduit between those who have funds they can use and help them find the needs that exist in the Derby area,” Hearn said. 

“… It is really a great gig. It’s like playing Santa Claus year-round.”