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GOOD FRIEND MENTORING PROGRAM RECEIVES GRANT
FROM FAIRFIELD COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
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| A Good Friend "big" and "little" and their families get together at an annual awards dinner. |
DANBURY, CT -- (December 11, 2007) -- Good Friend, a unique mentoring program for children from single-parent families, has been awarded a $15,000 competitive grant from the Fairfield County Community Foundation (FCCF), which will help it continue to serve children through its comprehensive programming and activities that help them develop into confident, competent and caring adults.
"We are very excited to receive this grant from the Fairfield County Community Foundation,” said Lisa Benson, director of Good Friend, a program of Green Chimneys’ Community Based Services. “It will help us continue to make a positive impact on children in Greater Danbury. Over the years, Good Friend has worked with the FCCF on a variety of projects and always found them to value quality of programming, innovative thinking and program outcomes.”
“Good Friend’s motto is, ‘Mentor one child, change two lives’ and with this additional funding, the program can help change many lives,” said Green Chimneys executive director Joseph Whalen. “The financial support of FCCF is an affirmation of the high quality programming offered through Good Friend. On behalf of the youth, we serve and their families, we are grateful to the FCCF for partnering with us.”
Good Friend’s professional staff provides support to youth, their families and volunteers with mentoring, after school programming and positive activities. Based in Danbury, CT, the organization has helped pair "big friends" with "little friends" since 1975.
“Mentoring is at the heart of what Good Friend does, but we also offer volunteering options and after-school activities, which broaden the work of Good Friend,” said Benson. “All of our activities always point back to our mission which, stated simply, says relationships have the power to heal. We have many opportunities for children to receive the support they need to flourish.”
Good Friend matches children, 7-14 years old, who come from single parent or no-parent families with a caring adult volunteer, providing guidance and direction. Its mission is to offer children positive adult relationships that foster confidence and caring. The program, which became part of Green Chimneys Children's Services in 1991 and part of Green Chimneys Community Based Services earlier this year, has helped hundreds of individuals and families improve their lives. Good Friend serves the Housatonic Valley region, which includes Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield and Sherman. More information on the program is available by visiting www.good-friend-org or calling (203) 790-0032.
The Fairfield County Community Foundation promotes the growth of philanthropy to strengthen local communities and the region. Since 1992, it has awarded over $61 million in grants, including $8.3 million awarded last year. More than 4,700 individuals and organizations have established charitable funds and contributed to existing funds that support education and youth development, economic opportunity, health and human services, arts and culture, the environment, and strengthening local nonprofit organizations. The community foundation also provides philanthropic advisory services and develops initiatives to address critical community issues. It is in compliance with the Council on Foundations’ national standards for community foundations. The Fairfield County Community Foundation is merging with the Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation in January 2008. Combined net assets will approach $150 million. Visit www.fccfoundation.org or call 203.834.9393
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