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:

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.

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