As United Way of Coastal Fairfield County continues to respond to emerging community needs, we have provided $150,000 in Community Response Small Grants.  The grants awarded focus on addressing community needs in one of our seven target issues.  

In the area of Education, the target issues are:

• Readiness to Achieve in School
• Academic Achievement

In our work in the area of Income, the target issues are:

• Achieving Greater Financial Stability
• Increasing Affordable Housing and Reducing Homelessness
• Providing Basic Needs

And in the area of Health, the target issues are:

• Healthy Youth and Resilient Families
• Healthy Older Adults

There were two rounds of funding and we are pleased to have provided the following grants in the First Round:

First Round of Funding in Education

 Council of Churches- Project Learn

$4,000 is being provided to hire reading specialists to support a quality reading program that serves up to 200 students.  The goal of Project Learn is for participants to show improvement in their grades. Music and Arts Center for Humanity- Neighborhood Studios

$4,000 is being provided for $50-$75 stipends for students costs not covered by the primary grant. The program serves 55 students interested in pursuing higher education and careers in visual, performing arts and media arts. S.A.V.E.- Life Coping Skills

$4,000 is being provided to primarily cover the cost of a Life Skills Educator.  The program serves youth who are below grade level in reading and math with a focus on job readiness skills. YWCA Darien-Norwalk- Festival of Words – America Amerique

$2,000 is to provide the food services and transportation costs for the Jena Troup which provides an experiential learning opportunity through theatrical production for students from five middle schools in Norwalk and Wilton. Housatonic Community College-Bridges

$4,000 will provide the cost of transportation to allow high school students access to workshops focused on College, Career Planning and Financial Aid. Junior Achievement- Technical School

$3,000 is being provided to support five classes of the Success Skills program and provide materials.  The program focus is on interpersonal and professional skills.  Trumbull Library-One Book-One Town

$2,000 is funding the programming costs of the first all-town reading program to promote literacy and reading. 

First Round of Funding in Income

 YWCA Darien-Norwalk-New Directions

$4,000 is being provided to increase the number of sessions in the New Directions program and provide a limited number of scholarships.  This economic empowerment program is for women following divorce, widowhood, and/or domestic violence. Mercy Learning Center-Literacy and Life Skills

$4,000 will go toward programming for higher level students enrolled in Adult Basic Ed II or GED Prep.  This program increases the educational functioning level of low-income women so that they may break the cycle of poverty. Operation Hope

$3,000 is being provided to purchase appliances for four units of affordable housing. Sterling House-Food Pantry

$4,000 will provide partial support for the salary of a part-time social worker for the Food Pantry.  The Food Pantry serves 10-15 clients weekly who are linked to other assistance programs.   

First Round of Funding in Health

 Connecticut Community Boating- Maritime Explorers Program

$3,500 will provide tools, lumber, teaching supplies for the wooden canoe project as well as supporting the hire of additional staff.  The program serves children 8-18; and is focused on obestiy, juvenile arrest and drowning rates. Family and Children's Agency- Teen Life Program

$2,500 will go toward funding staff and program materials.  The program serves 40 high school age boys at risk of engaging in high risk sexual behavior. Wilton Family Y- CATCH Program

$3,000 is being provided for this new program which will allow high school students at the Y to become mentors. Funding will cover staff training, program manuals and equipment. Trackside Teen Center of Wilton- Community Conversation

$2,000 is being provided to cover cost of supplies, building use, and advertising for this new program. Small group discussions will lead to a plan to raise awareness and reduce prevalence of underage drinking among youth. Town of Monroe- Underage Drinking Awareness Program

$2,000 will provided to funding for publicity & communications including printing, distribution and lawn signs. The focus of the program is to raise parent and community awareness of the incidence and risks of underage drinking. Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program- Pre-Prom Education

$2,500 is being provided for speaker fees for the pre-prom program and materials.  This program targets 810 high school students with the pre-prom education program and 3700 parents/students with the student/parent forum. The goal is to disccourage risky behaviors and promote smart and healthy choices. Norwalk River Rowing- Reach Out and Row

$2,500 will go toward program expenses.  Reach Out and Row focuses on middle school youth, high school girls and teen moms who would otherwise not have the opportunity to row, introducing them to a new sport to encourage healthy lifestyle choices. AHEC-Keep Kids Smiling

$4,000 is being provided for printing and mailing cost to contact families, staff costs to meet with families and for program evaluation and reporting.  The goal is to enroll approximately 75 children from the pool of uninsured seen through the annual free dental care program.  Stay At Home in Wilton

$5,000 will pay for start up costs such as legal, promotional,  and operating costs for this new program. This new program designed to arrange for services to respond to the needs of seniors age 55 and over. Wilton Library-Wilton Reads 2010

$1,500 is being provided for marketing materials for the sixth in a series of community reading efforts focused on responding to events in Wilton involving racial prejudices. The program hopes to broaden perspective and increase understanding of complicated relationships and impart healthy perspective and understanding to younger members of the community. Westport Department of Human Services- Project Go

$3,500 will purchase Norwalk Transit bus tickets for low income seniors and people with disabilities to meet their basic transportation needs.

United Way of Coastal Fairfield County serves the communities of Bridgeport, Stratford, Fairfield, Norwalk, Wilton, Monroe, Westport, Trumbull, Weston, Easton, Darien and New Canaan.