Our Story

We are a Connecticut-based nonprofit organization working to promote compassion and healing through human-animal connection, founded in 2013 to commemorate and honor the life of Catherine Violet Hubbard, a six-year-old victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. Catherine always said that one day she would care for animals and that nurturing them was her passion. If she were with us today, there is no doubt she would have realized her dream to work with and care for animals.

In 2014, the Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation was awarded over 34 acres of Connecticut state farmland by a unanimous vote from the Connecticut State House of Representatives and Senate, which would become home to the Catherine Violet Hubbard Sanctuary. The sanctuary pays tribute to Catherine and her spirit of kindness towards all living things by honoring the bond between humans, animals and the environment.

Since our inception, we have raised over $7 million in funding, including grants from Petco Love, ASPCA, Tito’s Vodka, General Mills and more to support our breadth of programming, including our pollinator protection initiative providing critical shelter, sustenance and migration space for butterflies, hummingbirds, bees and other critical ecosystem pollinators, free community workshops around animal care and environmental protection, aid for seniors to keep and care for their pets and much more. Our donor contributions also go towards our ongoing construction of sanctuary facilities, including a vet in-take center, learning barn and Catherine’s Library.

FAQ

Our History

Since our inception in 2013, the Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation has continued to make significant progress towards building a place that will reflect Catherine’s kindness and compassion. We’ve crossed some significant milestones off our list and are looking forward to the exciting road ahead.

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  • 2022

    Access Drive Completed

    Accepted into the Living Building Challenge

  • 2021

    Access drive installation
     
    Launch of Kindness Gardens initiative

  • 2020

    12,000 sq. ft. pollinator garden installed with native perennials

  • 2019

    Sesame Workshop accepts the Catherine Violet Hubbard Kindness Award
     
    Site work, 300 ft. retaining wall and raised garden beds completed

  • 2018

    Dr. Jane Goodall accepts inaugural Catherine Violet Hubbard Kindness Award
     
    CVH Animal Sanctuary launches in-school programming with the Newtown Public School System to provide Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programming to support the district’s transition to the Next Generation Science

  • 2017

    Building Approvals Granted by Newtown Planning & Zoning
     
    Sanctuary honored with Helen B Woodward Animal Champion Award and Westfair Communications Family Owned Award

  • 2016

    Senior Paw Program Launch
     
    Barn restoration complete

  • 2015

    Pavilion Sculpture installed at the CVH Animal Sanctuary

  • 2014

    The state of CT convey 34 acres of CT State farmland to the Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation, Inc. The Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary has a home
     
    Shelter Medicine scholarship established in Catherine’s memory at Cornell Veterinary Medical School, Ithaca, NY
     
    Launch of annual Catherine’s Butterfly Party
     
    CVH Animal Sanctuary Children’s Advisory Board Inaugurated

  • 2013

    CVH Foundation, Inc.® recognized as a 501(c)3 and announces plans to create the  Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary®
     
    Catherine awarded posthumous ASPCA Kid of the Year

  • 2012

    Tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary takes Catherine’s life

Awards/Accreditations

We are honored to receive recognition by top animal welfare, business leaders and organizations for our work of compassion.

Helen Woodward Animal Center – Animal Champions Tribute Award
ASPCA – Kid of the Year Award to Catherine (awarded posthumously)
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary – “How to Start and Run an Animal Sanctuary” certification
Westfair Communications – Family-owned Business Award
GuideStar – Gold Star of Transparency
Greenwich Communities Outstanding Partner Award, 2021
Crisis Hero Award – Association of Fundraising Professionals

Meet The Team

The team members that make up the everyday at the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary.

Laura, Jenny, Chris, Alice & Harmony

Meet Our Board

Board Members
Jennifer Hubbard, Philip Hubbard III, Kevin Massett, Earl Wheway, Kelly McCormick-Sullivan, Newman Rochester, Loris Eminente

Catherine’s kindred spirits, the Children’s and Junior Executive Boards help preserve the sanctuary’s  whimsical and innocent vision while sharing their insight and ideas with the board.

Junior Advisory Board
Anna Ochs,  Sadie Paulos, Olivia Guizzo, Gianna Amatuzzi, Ryan Smith, Ava Rochester, Marley Dixon, Annie Harrigan, Ava Lombardo, Aidan Tucker, Grayson Morgan

Children’s Advisory Board
Lily Tucker, Reese Gagnon, Veronica Smielewska-Antov, Remy Paulos, Luke Fitzpatrick,  Greyson Israel, Gavin Spraker, Olivia Spraker, Ava Capelli, Eve Newman

Read more about the importance of Childrens Advisory Boards in our article in Non Profit Pro.