What is the Mad River Valley Community Fund?

The Mad River Valley Community Fund is a non-profit organization established in 1989 to specifically respond to the needs of Mad River Valley residents.

Why was the Fund created?

The need for the Fund was first realized in May 1989 after a Valley resident suffering from a long-term illness was forced to admit to her friends that she was experiencing dire financial difficulty and in danger of losing her home. At that time, no public assistance program was available to address her needs. A fundraising effort was commenced and the response from the community was immediate and generous. During the weeks that followed it became apparent that other members of the community were similarly situated but either hesitated to make their plight a public concern or simply lacked the network of friends necessary to mount a fundraising effort on their behalf. The Mad River Valley Community Fund was founded to provide interim and confidential assistance to those residents of the community who need help but whose needs are not covered by existing assistance programs.

Is it working?

We are overjoyed to report that the spirit of neighbors helping neighbors is alive and well. Financial resources have been adequate for the requests received because the community has come forward with generous individual donations and has supported several annual events organized by community members. The Fund has assisted many individuals and families throughout the Mad River Valley.