Impact Fairfield County Provides $160,000 to its First Year Grant Winners

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Impact Fairfield County completed its inaugural year and awarded three grants last night at its Annual Meeting, held at the Milbrook Club in Greenwich. The organization’s first $100,000 Impact Grant was awarded to Inspirica for its Early Childhood and Parenting Program. The two other finalists, Neighbors Link Stamford and Soundwaters, received $30,000 each in general operating support.

Impact Fairfield County had 155 members this year from throughout the County. The organization received 64 proposals to support new projects or the significant expansion of an existing program reaching underserved populations and highlighting unmet needs in Fairfield County.

“We are truly inspired by the response we have received in our inaugural year from the non-profit sector and women in our area,” said Wendy Block, Co-Founder.

Located in Stamford, Inspirica’s Early Childhood and Parenting Program combines crucial early childhood development and a pre-literacy program, as well as essential parenting skills classes for homeless children and their parents. The program is achieved through a strategic collaboration with Childcare Learning Centers and Saint Joseph Parenting Center, also based in Stamford. In accepting the 2016 Impact Grant award, Jason Shaplen, CEO of Inspirica, thanked Impact Fairfield County “on behalf of those children ages zero to five, many of whom you will never meet, but whose lives you will have impacted in ways that you can’t imagine.”

Impact Fairfield County is a collective giving circle for women of Fairfield County.  The organization unites women in the community with the common purpose of providing large, transformational grants to local non-profits. Members make contributions that are pooled to provide Impact Grants of $100,000. Excess funds go towards general operating grants to the other finalist organizations. These grants are chosen by a vote of the membership after a rigorous grants review process by volunteer committee members. Founded by Greenwich residents Wendy Block and Vicki Craver Impact Fairfield County’s goal is to provide high-impact grants that reach underserved populations, highlight unmet needs in the area and help raise the profile of lesser-known initiatives throughout the county.

“We join all of our members in congratulating Inspirica, Neighbors Link, and Soundwaters. We look forward to many years of working together to help non-profits dream big, and have a lasting impact on the underserved in Fairfield County,” said Vicki Craver, Co-Founder.