Press Releases

Greenwich, CT, February 28, 2025 – Impact Fairfield County (“Impact FFC”), a leading women’s collective giving organization, is celebrating its 10th year of giving with a special project spotlighting its 17 grant winners from the past decade. In collaboration with Sacred Heart Greenwich, an all-girls', independent, Catholic school, Impact FFC is launching a video series that highlights the remarkable work of these nonprofits, which have used their $100,000 Impact grants to drive meaningful change in the community.

A Decade of Impact: Amplifying Nonprofit Voices

In honor of Impact FFC’s "Decade of Impact", the videos showcase the nonprofits that have received Impact FFC grants over the last ten years. These organizations have made a significant difference across Fairfield County, from tackling homelessness and food insecurity to advancing education, health, and social equity. Through this series, the community will gain insight into how these nonprofit partners are transforming lives and building a stronger, more inclusive community.

The 17 Fairfield County-based nonprofits featured in the series include: Boys & Girls Club of Stamford, Filling in the Blanks, Catholic Academy of Bridgeport, The Center for Empowerment and Education, New Reach, nOURish BRIDGEPORT, Hall Neighborhood House, INTEMPO, All Our Kin, Career Resources Inc., Building One Community, Kids in Crisis, The Center for Family Justice, Stamford Public Education Foundation, Supportive Housing Works, The Rowan Center, and Inspirica. Each of these nonprofits has been a standout in Fairfield County, using their Impact grants to make a measurable, transformational change for the constituents they serve. 

Sacred Heart Greenwich Students Bring Stories to Life

Sacred Heart Greenwich’s Filmmaking & Media Studies program was established in 2001, creating a dynamic, interdisciplinary program that integrates media, technology, and entrepreneurship. Designed to empower both students and faculty, the program fosters creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to address real-world challenges. Students took on the mission of creating compelling video documentaries to showcase these nonprofits as part of their Advanced Real World Filmmaking course, an elective that provides students an opportunity to create social change through filmmaking. By bridging technology and creativity, the Filmmaking & Media Studies program continues to position Sacred Heart Greenwich at the forefront of academic innovation.

Over the past six months, students worked closely with the organizations to bring their stories to life. The process included researching the nonprofits, conducting interviews, capturing video footage, managing audio, and editing the documentaries. Each student collaborated in pairs to produce videos for two of the nonprofits, with each taking the lead on one of the projects.

“This project has been an incredible opportunity for our students to apply their skills in a real-world setting while learning about local nonprofits and the positive change they’re driving,” said Ellyn Stewart, Director of Media Studies, Design & Innovation at Sacred Heart Greenwich. “The students have worked hard to understand the mission of each nonprofit and communicate their impact in a meaningful way. It’s been inspiring to see their passion grow as they bring these stories to life.”

The video series went through a thorough review and edit process, with feedback from Sacred Heart Greenwich educators, Impact FFC leadership and peers. The end result is a powerful collection of videos that celebrates the mission of each nonprofit and highlights the crucial role they play in Fairfield County.

"Collaborating with IMPACT FFC was both enriching and inspiring for me as a young filmmaker and student,” said Natasha Arakal '25, a senior in the Advanced Real World filmmaking class. “I had the chance to learn from and work alongside nonprofits in my local community. What made it even more special was having my all-girls' filmmaking class partner with an all-female organization." 

Empowering Young Women, Empowering the Community

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Sacred Heart Greenwich on this exciting project,” said Annika Kennon, Co-President of Impact FFC. “These videos are not only valuable for the nonprofits, many of which operate with limited resources, but they also provide our younger community members with an opportunity to learn about organizations they might not have known about before. It’s a ripple effect: students engage, learn, and share their newfound knowledge with others.”

Sacred Heart Greenwich’s commitment to empowering young women aligns well with the mission of Impact FFC’s all-female membership. Both organizations are dedicated to fostering leadership and social responsibility in the next generation.

“We’re proud to be part of this inspiring partnership,” said Sacred Heart Greenwich President Michael Baber. “This project is a fantastic way to celebrate the 10-year journey of Impact Fairfield County, while also providing our students with a platform to not only learn but also to give back. By highlighting these amazing grantees, we’re educating our girls about the power of philanthropy and helping create content that will serve the nonprofit community well into the future.”

View the Complete Video Series

The complete set of videos showcasing these nonprofit organizations can be viewed here.

WILTON, CT, January 29, 2025 – Impact Fairfield County (“Impact FFC”) held its 2nd Impactful Conversation of the 2024-2025 grant year on the topic of “Gaining Space for Mental Wellness,” exploring how peer pressure, isolation and attachment to technology are shaping children, families and local communities. The panel discussion at the Wilton Library featured Dr. Dylan Kollman, Clinical Psychologist and author of Resolving the Anxiety Dilemma, Dr. Gail Melanson, Executive Director of Mid-Fairfield Community Care Center (“MFCCC”) and Jessica Hirsch, Executive Director of OK to Delay (“OTD”). The lively panel was moderated by Maryellen Frank, Co-Chair of Events for Impact FFC.

Research shows the rapid increase in smartphone usage has led to more than 300 phone touches per hour and a sharp drop in attention span—from 2.5 minutes to just 45 seconds over the last 20 years. This shift is fueling a rise in anxiety and other mental health challenges, particularly among children and teens. With social media now delivering more information than traditional sources, young people are exposed to vast amounts of unfiltered content at a faster pace than ever before.

Frank opened the discussion by highlighting the challenges faced by families, schools, and communities in addressing these issues, and asked panelists to discuss what can be done to impact change.

All three experts agreed that the technology problem is quite evident. “This is the issue of this generation,” said Hirsch, “just like using car seats and wearing bike helmets were issues of previous generations where we needed to find ways to better support and protect our children.” Hirsch explained that Ok to Delay’s mission is to educate and empower parents who are interested in holding off on a smartphone and social media during the middle school years, rather than avoiding it altogether. With 20 chapters across 9 states, their focus is not anti-technology. “We want families to focus on digital wellness, similar to how they think of the food they serve and consume,” said Hirsch.

Mid-Fairfield Community Care Center, a nonprofit agency based in Norwalk that serves over 2,000 children and adults each year, is getting more referrals from schools, teachers and parents who are struggling with more escalated levels of treatment needs. “The level of mental health needs has grown tremendously, with children as young as 8 and 10 years old having suicidal thoughts. We could hire 10 more therapists in addition to our current 30, and still not meet the volume of requests,” said Dr. Melanson.

Dr. Kollman, who specializes in anxiety and depression, is seeing a similar rise in needs from his patients, as technology allows people to withdraw and limits face to face interaction. This results in trouble expressing empathy and challenges reading social cues. But he explained that the solution is not as clear as everyone hoped it would be. “We must use a thoughtful, nuanced and personalized approach when it comes to technology. We want our children, especially those in middle and high school, to have varying levels of autonomy, so we must be cognizant that a stark ‘no technology’ rule might not be the best route to follow either.”

A key takeaway to tackling this technology challenge is to break it into parts, rather than all or nothing solutions. Each panelist was in favor of families taking the time to observe, discuss and review their media habits, both of their children and of themselves, as they work to find the optimal balance. “This is a tough problem that we can’t avoid,” said Frank, “but we’re all in this together to support this next generation which impacts not only immediate families but our larger community.”

The 2024-2025 grant year celebrates Impact FFC’s 10th grant cycle. Throughout the year, Impact FFC is highlighting its founders, past grantees and more on their social media channels. The grant year will culminate with a special Grant Awards Celebration on May 7th, 2025.

DARIEN, CT, November 11, 2024 – Impact Fairfield County (Impact FFC) launched its tenth year of grantmaking at an inspiring fall kickoff event attended by nearly 150 women from across Fairfield County. Impact FFC is a collective women’s giving organization that provides large, transformational grants to nonprofits across Fairfield County. Since its inception, Impact Fairfield County has awarded over $2.1 million to local organizations. Membership in Impact FFC is open for the current grant year through December 31, 2024.

Current and prospective members joined Impact FFC leadership at The Darien Community Association to celebrate ten years of Impact FFC, hear from Impact FFC’s Co-Founders, Wendy Block and Vicky Craver, and get updates from the 2024 $100,000 grant winners, The Boys & Girls Club of Stamford (BGCS) and Filling in the Blanks (FITB). In celebration of a “Decade of Impact”, a special anniversary grant will be awarded this year, split evenly across all 17 grantees from the past 10 years. The final total of the grant will be announced at the Grant Award Celebration in May 2025, along with the 2025 grant winners. Throughout the year, a Flashback Friday series will be shared on email and social media to learn about the past grantees’ success stories and planned future initiatives.

Kristen Rosenbaum and Annika Kennon, Co-Presidents of Impact FFC, shared just a few of the ways in which Impact FFC’s $2.1 million has addressed critical needs in Fairfield County, including combating food insecurity, staff development, education and support related to sexual and domestic violence, access to preschool, an outdoor learning center and much more.

Craig Baker, CEO of BGCS, updated the audience on the integration of youth mental health support into their after-school services thanks to their Impact Grant. Although the Impact FFC grant initiative will directly support 300 children and teens per year, many of whom have experienced trauma or have been exposed to chronic stress or violence, it will benefit all 3,000 that BGCS serves. In just a few months, BGCS has been able to train 75% of their staff in youth first aid and will be providing them with a 5 step action plan for both crisis and non-crisis situations. “We strive to create an environment that removes the layers of stress for these incredible children and teens so that they are able to thrive. The Impact Grant allows us to further this mission by evolving and improving how we meet the changing needs of our young people who face daily challenges and pressure,” said Baker.

Co-Founders & Presidents of FITB, Shawnee Knight and Tina Kramer, shared exciting news that FITB is on track to host seven mobile pantry events with their Impact Grant, delivering 175,000 pounds of nutritious food and providing community resources all in one. Each pantry event has turned into a vital community resource, allowing families to learn about and sign up for important services to help build more stable futures and lift the community as a whole. Said Knight and Kramer, “The Impact Grant has not only allowed us to transform the lives of those who need it most but has also motivated others to step forward and make a difference. One donor, who learned about FITB through Impact FFC, has graciously committed to launching another mobile pantry site in Bridgeport!”

Attendees also heard from Impact FFC Co-Founders, Wendy Block and Vicky Craver, and their journey to create Impact FFC, which began with an introduction from a friend who belonged to Impact100 Westchester. Recognizing the need within Fairfield County for the Impact100 model, Block and Craver started Impact FFC with 155 members and one $100,000 grant award in the first year. “In year ten, Impact FFC has exceeded our wildest dreams, bringing together over 280 highly engaged women across backgrounds. Each transition in leadership has been a success, with each Impact FFC President continuing to improve and grow this organization’s membership and grant funding,” said Block and Craver.

“We are committed to expanding our support across Fairfield County, not only through grant funding but through our members by oa confidential scholarship program, installment payment plans, member participation from our Corporate Partners, support for our high school program, Generation Impact, and new for this year, a virtual Review Committee. Our 10th year promises to be our best year yet!” said Rosenbaum.

DARIEN, CT, October 24, 2024 – Impact Fairfield County (“Impact FFC”) held its first Impactful Conversation of the 2024-2025 grant year on the topic of “Our Children Are Our Future,” exploring how local nonprofits are educating, encouraging and supporting the next generation. The panel discussion at the Darien Library featured Impact FFC Grantees Boys & Girls Club of Stamford (“BGCS”), Catholic Academy of Bridgeport (“CAB”) and Stamford Public Education Foundation (“SPEF”).

Members of Impact FFC participated in a lively conversation with Craig Baker, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Stamford, Angela Pohlen, Executive Director of Catholic Academy of Bridgeport and Malena Loucks, CEO of Stamford Public Education Foundation, moderated by Maryellen Frank, Co-Chair of Events for Impact FFC.

Some of the topics covered during the panel included how nonprofits are preparing children for the future, teaching coping skills, parent mentoring and workforce retention. At BCGS, programs are designed to offer students opportunities that will be valuable in the real world including swimming lessons, workforce training for lifeguards or restaurant employment as well as reading support for elementary-aged children to boost long term academic success. CAB discussed their focus on teachers and a merit-based pay system. Pohlen said this new system is “backed by research that says the number one factor in a student’s success is their teacher, and we want to do all that we can to provide the best educational experience for our students.” For SPEF, in addition to providing Kindergarten readiness programming to one quarter of new Stamford Public Schools (SPS) students each year, they have recently hired a new family engagement program manager dedicated to making sure that parents and caregivers have the support they need to aid in their children’s education.

All of the nonprofits on the panel also stressed that in addition to donations, volunteers are a much needed requirement to make their programs a success and provide another trusted adult to the children. SPEF is currently recruiting mentors and BCGS said they welcome volunteers for any time commitment. In addition to on site volunteering, the organizations shared their need for real world expertise from volunteers and the value of introductions to others in the community such as new friends, potential partnership or new funding resources. “This is our community and we’re all connected, whether we have children in the school system or not. This is our future,” said Frank.

An overarching theme of the conversation was how the Impact FFC grants have made a significant difference in the trajectory of the nonprofits’ growth in initiatives dedicated to supporting local youth:

• BGCS, one of Impact FFC’s newest grantees, spoke to the size of the $100,000 grant as transformative as the majority of their grants are in the range of $5,000 to $10,000. The Impact FFC grant will help integrate youth mental health support into their after-school services. “This grant allows us to train and retrain our workforce so that they are the professional youth development workers who are able to mitigate a lot of the chronic stress these kids are under in their daily lives,” said Baker.

• Pohlen spoke of CAB’s Happy Hollow Outdoor Learning Center, an initiative funded by a 2023 Impact FFC Grant and recently opened in time for this school year. “The children are playing so differently than they used to, strengthening their gross motor skills, using the theater space for imaginative play and so much more. Teachers want to use this space all day long. This new space is crucial for the long term development of our children, most of whom have limited access to safe outdoor spaces,” said Pohlen.

• Loucks discussed the ripple effect of their 2018 Impact FFC Grant, noting that as a result of the grant and the initiatives funded, that “SPEF has been able to raise $2 million in additional funding to use for Stamford students in the years since our grant, allowing us to expand our programming and provide additional resources for our families.”

“Focusing on supporting the children in our area has been one of the top areas for funding by Impact FFC since our founding 10 years ago,” said Impact FFC Co-President, Annika Kennon. “We are excited to fund some of the wonderful opportunities and resources that these nonprofits are providing to students and families in Fairfield County.”

The 2024-2025 grant year has begun, celebrating Impact FFC’s 10th grant cycle, with nonprofit applications due by November 12th, 2024. The Fall Kickoff for members and those interested in learning more about Impact FFC will be held on November 7th, 2024 at The Darien Community Association.

Fairfield County, CT, September 19, 2024 – Impact Fairfield County (Impact FFC), a premier collective giving organization in Fairfield County in its 10th year of grant making, is pleased to announce its new Board Members and Fall Kickoff. Impact FFC welcomes its new board members: Pamela Arakal, Laura Daniel, Rachelle Spielvogel and Jen Weil.

Impact Fairfield County (Impact FFC) is pleased to announce a $100,000 grant opportunity for nonprofits that reach under-resourced populations and highlight unmet needs in Fairfield County. The Impact Fairfield County Grant will provide restricted funds to develop new programs; enhance, expand or strengthen existing programs; and/or improve organizational capacity that advances the nonprofit organization's core mission. These transformative grants are to support high impact initiatives, not to cover general operating expenses. Impact FFC will award one or two grants of $100,000 each, and the winner(s) will be determined by a vote of its membership on May 7, 2025. 

To apply for an Impact Fairfield County Grant, organizations must be: 

• Classified as a “public charity” with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code 

• Operating in, serving residents of, and fully expending funds in Fairfield County, CT 

• Targeting under resourced populations

• In possession of three years of independently prepared, audited financial statements

• A new awardee -- not a recipient of an Impact FFC $100,000 Grant for at least 3 years 

Applying starts with a Letter of Inquiry, which will be accepted online beginning October 15, 2024 and will be due November 12, 2024. Organizations may only submit one application each grant cycle. Potential applicants are encouraged to attend an Applicant Information Session to be held on September 17, 2024, from 10:30am – 11:30am at Pequot Library in Southport, CT. RSVP is required on our website. Due to space constraints, we request that only one representative per organization attend. In addition, on October 10, 2024, Impact Fairfield County will be hosting an optional virtual Proposal Brainstorming Workshop. Nonprofits will be able to gain advice on potential proposal ideas from experienced Impact FFC members. Details and registration to be announced via our website by mid-September.

You will be notified by January 17, 2025 if you have been selected to submit a Full Proposal. Full proposals will be due by February 6, 2025. 

All applicants are encouraged to review the Eligibility Criteria and Frequently Asked Questions on our website to determine whether both the organization and the project meet the criteria for an Impact Fairfield County Grant. 

NORWALK, CT and STAMFORD, CT, June 19, 2024 – Impact Fairfield County (“Impact FFC”), one of the largest women’s organizations in the county, presented $100,000 checks to their 2024 Grant Winners, Filling in the Blanks (“FITB”) in Norwalk and the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford (“BGCS”) in Stamford.

In Norwalk, Co-Founders & Presidents of FITB, Shawnee Knight and Tina Kramer accepted the check presented by Impact FFC Co-Presidents, Jenny San Jose and Kristen Rosenbaum. CT Senator Bob Duff, CT Representative Tracey Mara and representatives from Congressman Jim Himes and Senator Richard Blumenthal’s offices also spoke. With this grant, FITB will expand its “Fresh Food on the Move” mobile food pantry program to seven events per year, providing over 175,000 pounds of fresh food to community members and bringing local agencies and services onsite to make them easier for families to access.

“As I’ve said many times, food insecurity is a solvable problem. There is no reason for it, but we have it and thanks to Filling in the Blanks, we’re making such a difference for so many families. I’ve seen it first hand - in Norwalk, at the Mobile Food Pantries - where FITB is making sure that our kids and families across Fairfield County do not go hungry. I’m thrilled that Impact Fairfield County's grant is going to such a worthy organization, and having this large group of women from Impact FFC come together to support the biggest needs in our community is truly incredible,” said CT Senator Bob Duff, Senate Majority Leader.

In Stamford, BGCS CEO Craig Baker accepted the grant check on behalf of BGCS, along with team members and BGCS after-school youth participants. The 2023 and 2024 Youth of the Years also spoke about the difference that BGCS has made in their lives. With the Impact FFC grant, BGCS will integrate youth mental health support into their after-school services. This initiative will impact all 3,000 youth that BGCS serves and will provide counseling to 300 children and teens per year, most of whom have experienced trauma or have been exposed to chronic stress or violence.

“The Boys & Girls Club of Stamford plays an integral role in the Stamford community,” said Mayor Caroline Simmons. “I am thrilled to see their efforts recognized by Impact Fairfield County, which will allow them to further serve our city’s youth by incorporating mental health support into their growing programs.”

Congressman Jim Himes added, “The outstanding teams at Filling in the Blanks (FITB) and the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford (BGCS) are making Connecticut proud with their efforts to alleviate food insecurity and enhance support for youth mental health initiatives, respectively, across our community. I’m delighted that Impact Fairfield County chose to support these local organizations with generous $100,000 grants, empowering FITB to provide nutritious meals to even more families in need of assistance and BGCS to offer clinical counseling and social-emotional support to more underserved children and teens.”

Impact FFC celebrated its ninth year of giving, providing over $2.1 million in funding to local nonprofits since its start.  “All of this year’s grant applicants were quite remarkable, and we are proud to support the extraordinary efforts of FITB and BGCS as they continue to make such an impact in Fairfield County,” said Impact FFC Co-President Kristen Rosenbaum.

DARIEN, CT, May 14, 2024 – Impact Fairfield County (Impact FFC), the area’s premier women’s collective giving organization, awarded two $100,000 Grants to Fairfield County nonprofits: Boys & Girls Club of Stamford (“BGCS”)and Filling in the Blanks (“FITB”). Each grantee will also receive an additional $10,500 in unrestricted funding. In addition, Impact FFC awarded three $20,000 unrestricted general operating grants to the other finalists: Jewish Family Services of Greenwich, OPTIMUS Health Care,and Teaching Matters. This year’s finalists’ applications requested support for early literacy programming, transportation for a human services agency, after-school youth counseling, maternal health navigation, and mobile food pantry services.

The winners of the $100,000 Grants were selected by a vote of Impact FFC’s 281-women membership at their Grant Awards Celebration in Darien on May 8th. The vote followed a rigorous application process which narrowed down an initial pool of nearly 60 nonprofit applicants to five finalist organizations who presented at the Grant Awards Celebration. After undertaking a comprehensive review of the applications and conducting thorough site visits, members selected the five finalists, and ultimately the two winners, based on criteria including the organization’s demonstrated impact, the population served, and the long-term sustainability of the project. Kellyann Day, CEO of New Reach and Reverend Sara Smith, CEO of nOURish BRIDGEPORT, also presented updates on their 2022 Impact FFC Grant Award initiatives. Last year, New Reach saw a 98% eviction prevention rate and nOURish BRIDGEPORT distributed 14 tons of fresh produce throughout Bridgeport and other areas of Fairfield County.

Impact FFC’s 2024 Grant winners:

• The Boys & Girls Club of Stamford’s mission is to enable all youth to reach their full potential. The average household income of the families served is $25,000; half live in single-parent households; 95% are individuals of color; half are English Language Learners. 550+ children and teens attend BGCS daily, participating in a wide range of programs that support their academic, emotional, and social development. The Impact FFC Grant will support the transformation of BGCS’ after-school services by integrating youth mental health gatekeeper and social-emotional development frameworks. BGCS will equip staff through the Recognize, Refer, and Respond model and Mental Health First Aid. Staff will learn to identify signs of distress, to de-escalate, and make referrals. Fostering a culture of emotional intelligence and empathy through Yale University’s RULER model, this initiative will impact all 3,000 youth that BGCS serves and provide clinical counseling to 300 children and teens per year.

“We are a safety net for the 550 children and teens that come to us each and every day. With Impact FFC’s grant, we’ll be able to reduce the stigma of mental health and dramatically increase support at the intersection of the most underserved youth in our trusted space where they spend so much of their day,” said Craig Baker, CEO of The Boys & Girls Club of Stamford.

• Filling in the Blanks, based in Norwalk, CT, is fighting childhood hunger by providing over 8,000 children in need with meals on the weekends, delivering over 3 million meals in their 11 year history. After learning that families were sharing the meals provided for the children, FITB launched the "Fresh Food on the Move" mobile food pantry program, which conducts two monthly distributions in Norwalk and Stamford, CT. This initiative serves 900 families a month, offering grade-A quality fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, grains, and dairy, empowering families to cook nutritious meals at home and eat together. “Fresh Food on the Move” creates a supportive environment similar to a farmers’ market, partnering with local agencies and providing services ranging from hygiene products, winter coats, books, flu vaccines, health insurance, housing and employment opportunities, and financial literacy at the events, in addition to the food pantry. With support from the Impact FFC Grant, FITB will fund seven mobile food pantry events, providing over 175,000 pounds of fresh food to community members.

“Our mobile pantry is more than just food - it’s a community hub providing essential services with dignity and compassion and helping to reduce stress from their lives. With the addition of these seven events, we’ll be able to provide increased consistency, trust and compassion for our families, transforming the lives of so many who struggle with food insecurity and other challenges” said Shawnee Knight & Tina Kramer, Co-Founders, Presidents of Filling in the Blanks.

With Impact FFC’s membership representing 19 towns across Fairfield County, Impact FFC continues to push the boundaries of where and how Impact FFC can make a difference, across the spectrum of age groups and supporting a variety of initiatives ranging from education and skill training, to healthcare, to basic needs.

In its ninth year of investing to transform the lives of Fairfield County’s neediest, Impact FFC has provided over $2.1 million in total grant funding. “With this year’s grants, we will be supporting initiatives designed to better meet the health, wellness and basic needs of our community members. We look forward to seeing these organizations use their grants to impact so many,” said Impact FFC Co-President Jenny San Jose.

Next year’s grant cycle will represent Impact FFC’s tenth year of giving, which will be celebrated throughout the year.

GREENWICH, CT, April 17, 2024 – Impact Fairfield County (“Impact FFC”), one of the County’s leading female giving organizations, is pleased to announce its five finalists for this year’s Impact FFC Grants. The finalists include: Boys & Girls Club of Stamford, Filling in the Blanks, Jewish Family Services of Greenwich, OPTIMUS Health Care and Teaching Matters. With its record-breaking membership this year, Impact FFC will donate $280,000 to the nonprofits.

The finalists were selected from nearly 60 applicants and a lengthy review process which included written applications and in-person visits. To be considered for a grant, each applicant must demonstrate strong leadership, impactful results, financial stability, a primary focus on needs within Fairfield County and the transformative nature of the proposed use of funding. The finalists will present their proposed project at the Grant Awards Celebration on May 8th, 2024 at the Woodway Country Club in Darien, CT. The Impact FFC membership will then vote to determine the two winners who will receive over $100,000 in an Impact FFC Grant. The three runner-ups will receive an operating grant.  

“We’re thrilled to be able to present our largest amount of funding to Impact FFC grantees this year, due to the dedication and passion of our growing membership.,” said Impact FFC Co-President Kristen Rosenbaum. “We’re excited to celebrate another successful year of transformative philanthropy with our finalists, corporate partners and membership on May 8th.” 

GREENWICH, CT, April 5, 2024 – In its 9th year of giving, Impact Fairfield County (“Impact FFC”), one of the County’s leading female giving organizations, recorded their highest number of members since inception with 280 women joining for the 2023-2024 grant cycle. Impact FFC is also pleased to announce its Corporate Partners from five Fairfield County-based companies.  

The corporate sponsors include The Ashforth Company, Stamford Health, Chilton Trust Company, Clear Harbor Asset Management, and Fred. These companies have demonstrated a strong commitment to philanthropy and developing their female leadership, and their support will enable Impact FFC to further its transformational work.  

Impact FFC launched its Corporate Partnership Program in 2021, offering a select number of Fairfield County businesses the opportunity to invest in their female workforces by sponsoring employees to become members of Impact FFC, a diverse group of women making impactful change within the community.  

Corporate Partners have the ability to sponsor up to 10 female employees to join Impact FCC for one year. These employees become full members of Impact FFC, and as such are invited to learn about social issues in the local community at a deeper level, give back at volunteer events, network with 250+ other members, and develop skills in project assessment, financial analysis, and social impact strategy. 

“Stamford Health is proud to support Impact Fairfield County and the work they do to assist many of Fairfield County’s non-profits,” said Kathleen Silard, President & CEO of Stamford Health. “Our leaders who are part of the Corporate Partnership Program are excited to gain insight and contribute to the vast network of community organizations who, like Stamford Health, care for the residents of the communities we serve.”  

“The Ashforth Company is pleased to continue to support the mission of Impact Fairfield County, who are doing critical work to make a difference in our community, while allowing members of our organization to take the time to join in this effort, building their leadership skills and giving back to the community,” said Ryan Harvey, CEO & President of The Ashforth Company.  

 “Our Corporate Partners share our mission of uniting women in philanthropy, and are an integral part of Impact FFC, providing both engaged members of our Grant Review Committees as well as generous financial support to allow Impact FFC to further drive transformative change within Fairfield County,” said Impact FFC Co-President Jenny San Jose.  

 Impact FFC’s Grant Awards Celebration is scheduled for May 8th, 2024 at the Woodway Country Club in Darien, CT.  Finalists for the grants will be announced in late April, with a total of $280,000 to be awarded. 

STAMFORD, CT, February 23, 2024 – Impact Fairfield County (“Impact FFC”) recently held its second Impactful Conversation of the 2023-2024 grant year on the topic of “Empowering Through Education”, addressing the work being done to break the cycle of interpersonal violence within Fairfield County. The dynamic panel discussion at The Ashforth Company’s Stamford Square office featured Impact FFC Grantee, The Center for Empowerment and Education (“CEE”), and former Generation Impact grantee, The Domestic Violence Crisis Center (“DVCC”). 

Moderated by Maryellen Frank, Co-Chair of Events for Impact FFC, Cara During, Director of Community Impact for CEE, and Ann Rodwell-Lawton, COO of DVCC, discussed the importance of honest and open conversations around interpersonal violence, abuse, consent, trafficking, digital safety and more.  

By providing crisis intervention and education to Upper Fairfield County, CEE is working with educators, advocates and students to “help identify what is not just a normal part of growing up,” said During. She continued, “We are much farther along than we were decades ago, but there is still so much shame and stigma around these topics. We’re working to build rapport with students and the community, so that we can have open and honest conversations about relationships, respect, boundaries, as well as teaching about laws and guidelines and providing safety planning and tools.” 

With its 2023 Impact FFC Grant, CEE is working to build a state of the art database to be able to identify important trends within the community, adjust and prioritize educational topics as well as building new connections to CEE’s services. 

Based in Norwalk and Stamford and serving Lower Fairfield County, DVCC provides counseling and advocacy services for victims of domestic violence and their children. DVCC is seeing an increased need for focus on more complex situations than in the past. “With survivor defined advocacy, DVCC is able to serve our constituents in a more meaningful and impactful way, meeting them where they need help the most,” said Rodwell-Lawton.  

Connecticut is one of the first states to roll-out the Lethality Assessment Program (“LAP”), aimed at preventing domestic homicides. DVCC and CEE are key partners in this program, aiding in the first 24 hours of an incident, connecting law enforcement to conduct a screening for intimate partner risk and connecting victims with core advocates and resources.  In addition to LAP, DVCC will be advocating for several bills that will be brought to the CT legislation this Spring, surrounding maternal health and victim relief from coerced debt, both major issues for victims of domestic abuse. “Reaching out to your local leaders is one way to assist in this journey,” said Rodwell-Lawton.  

Other important discussion points included human trafficking, and educating on the invisible aspects of abuse, which is different than what is portrayed on tv, as there are many emotional, financial, and digital forms which can cause severe trauma, anxiety and other issues for the victims.  “Removing the blame from victims is also key”, said During, “as we work to teach victims that they are not at fault, despite what their abuser might tell them.” 

“The panel discussion was highly engaging and informative. By shining a light on dedicated organizations such as CEE and DVCC, we hope to be a part of the journey in getting more people to discuss these topics home, in school, and at work, and to ultimately make it easier for people to connect with trusted resources within our community,” said Impact FFC Co-President, Kristen Rosenbaum. 

Impact FFC’s 2023-2024 grant year is underway, with the Grant Awards Celebration scheduled for May 8th, 2024 at the Woodway Country Club in Darien, CT.  

STAMFORD, CT, November 13, 2022 – Impact Fairfield County (Impact FFC) launched its ninth year of grantmaking at an inspiring fall kickoff event attended by over 100 women from across Fairfield County. Impact FFC is a collective women’s giving organization that provides large, transformational grants to nonprofits across Fairfield County. Since its inception, Impact Fairfield County has awarded over $1.8 million to local organizations. Membership in Impact FFC is open for the current grant year through December 31, 2023. 

On November 8th, current and prospective members joined Impact FFC leadership at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center to connect with other women, to learn about how to get involved with Impact FFC, and to hear from Impact FFC’s 2022 $100,000 grant winners, The Center for Empowerment and Education (CEE) and Catholic Academy of Bridgeport (CAB).  

Cara During, Director of Community Impact for CEE, updated the audience on the initiatives that the Impact grant has allowed CEE to do in just a few short months. CEE, which serves Northern Fairfield County, seeks to break the cycle of interpersonal violence through empowerment, education and support services.  The Impact grant is helping the organization reach its goal of providing programming to 100% of northern Fairfield County schools while also increasing its outreach and training for professionals in our community. In addition to adding two more Danbury schools to its roster, CEE has provided bilingual educators for the first time, reaching communities that are desperately underserved, launched an outreach campaign for local businesses and has improved its data and reporting capabilities. “Because of the Impact grant, we are making our vision of safer communities a reality,” said During.  

Sister Elizabeth Doyle, Principal of CAB’s St. Raphael campus, shared exciting news that the Happy Hollow Outdoor Learning Center is on target to open in May 2024. Located in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Bridgeport (“The Hollow”), St. Raphael educates over 240 students who spend up to 10 hours per day at school, due to safety reasons. With the Impact FFC Grant, the school will provide a safe, educational environment beyond the classroom. Students will benefit from a nature-rich design with opaque security fencing and age-appropriate climbing structures as well as an outdoor classroom for science and nature exploration. Said Doyle, “The Impact grant was a gift that allowed us to move from a dream to imminent reality. This center will have an impact on students this year and for many years to come.” 

Jenny San Jose and Kristen Rosenbaum, Co-Presidents of Impact FFC, shared just a few of the ways in which Impact FFC’s $1.8 million has made an impact in Fairfield County, including: 

• Built an indoor hydroponic farm to feed fresh vegetables to hungry families in Bridgeport 

• Expanded kindergarten readiness to hundreds of children entering the Stamford public school system 

• Opened a dental clinic serving toddlers, teenagers, parents and senior citizens in Bridgeport 

• Developed language acquisition skills through music instruction for English language learners in Stamford and Norwalk  

• Trained nurses at Greenwich and Stamford hospitals in administering rape kits to sexual assault victims in a trauma-informed and timely way 

Attendees also heard from member Lizzy Scheinfeld, who chronicled her journey from joining Impact FFC to becoming involved with 2022 grant winner, nOURish BRIDGEPORT, as a result of learning more about their work. “We are making a difference for our neighbors, and in turn for ourselves. That is the true impact of our work,” said Scheinfeld. Impact FFC shares more stories like Scheinfeld’s in their newsletters about this “Ripple Effect.''  

“We came today to celebrate the transformational work that the Impact grants have provided our local non-profits to achieve and to kick off our next giving cycle. We look forward to a strong and rewarding 2024 grant season with the help of our amazing leadership, our engaged and informed members and the generous support of our corporate sponsors, The Ashforth Company and Clear Harbor Management,” said San Jose.