Submitted by Sophie Coquillette Koven, Riverside
Recently I attended the fall benefit for the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich. It was a fun night and attendees gave generously to programs that support kids in our community. I felt grateful to live in a town where so many people are eager to give back and support those who are less fortunate. In addition to the Boys & Girls Club, the YMCA and YWCA provide great programming and support for kids, as well as Kids in Crisis, Arch Street, and others. Our private schools also raise significant funds to provide financial aid.
Each year Brunswick provides about $7.1M in financial aid, with 27% supporting approximately 40 students from families making less than $99,000 a year. Greenwich Academy provides aid to about 58 students from families making less than $90,000.
One incredible organization in town serves 1,342 children EACH DAY that live below the federal poverty level (below $49k for a family of four). This organization provides free athletic programs, social services, meals, and, indeed, free education. This organization serves over 8,500 kids throughout the school year, as well as providing summer programming. Not only that, this organization serves children of all physical and intellectual abilities – it is on track to serve 1,141 special needs children this year.
Despite the tremendous impact this organization has, serving more than 70% of the children ages 5-18 in the town of Greenwich, many in town wish to cut its annual budget and postpone capital improvements to its facilities.
What organization am I talking about? The Greenwich Public Schools.
Supporting public schools is a pragmatic and cost effective way to help the most needy people in our town: children living in poverty and their families. Connecticut’s wealthiest resident, Ray Dalio, appreciates this fact; during the pandemic he wanted to make a difference, so he partnered with public schools throughout the state to make sure that every student had an electronic device and WiFi access to participate in remote school. Partnering with the public schools allowed this initiative to reach the most students, the fastest. Supporting and improving public schools is the most efficient way to reach children in need.
Greenwich residents are generous, philanthropic people who are also smart and practical; let’s be smart and practical when we think about the public schools and provide the funding needed to support our students.
Many of the most financially successful people in town attended public schools; if you feel you were successful because of that public education, please support public schools for the next generation; if you think your success was in spite of public school, all the more reason to make it better for others. The first Greenwich public school was established in 1667; great public education is a town tradition and we can honor our predecessors by continuing to support and improve our schools.
Please join me in voting for the 6 Democratic BET members who will be thoughtful and practical when they make decisions about our schools.
Please be generous and community minded, by all means continue to donate to your favorite not for profits, support your college alma mater, but also vote to support Greenwich Public Schools.
Sophie Coquillette Koven, Riverside