New Canaan Defends 'Most Generous Town' Title

NEW CANAAN, CT — New Canaan was awarded the coveted "Turkey Trophy" for this year’s "Most Generous Town" fundraising competition.

According to a news release provided by the New Canaan Community Foundation, both The Community Fund of Darien (TCF) and the NCCF, as well as the neighbors they serve are the true winners of this friendly annual rivalry.

Collectively, the two nonprofit organizations raised $396,000 during the week leading up to Thanksgiving. The donations will be allocated through grants and community investments to the nonprofits’ local charitable partners, according to the NCCF.

Inspired by "Giving Tuesday,"both organizations created the "Most Generous Town" competition in 2017 as a fun way to encourage local donors to give to the two nonprofits the week leading up to the hotly contested high school football Turkey Bowl.

"We love tapping into our town’s competitive spirit and harnessing it to help our neighbors in Norwalk, Stamford and Darien," Janet King, executive director of The Community Fund of Darien, said in a news release. "We hope that the 'Most Generous Town' competition becomes as eagerly anticipated each year as the legendary Turkey Bowl!"

The contest’s first year raised $70,000 for local nonprofits; donations have increased exponentially since then, raising a total of $1,322,243 since its inception, according to the NCCF.

Darien won the competition in 2017 and 2019, while New Canaan took the title in 2018 and 2021. There was no competition in 2020 due to the coronavirus crisis.

"We are so thrilled this tradition helps encourage both towns to give," NCCF CEO Lauren Patterson said in a news release, "and the outcome reflects what generous communities we live in."