Groundwork Bridgeport

510 Barnum Ave, Suite 304

Bridgeport, CT 06608

203-335-6126 

Contact: Richard J. Tiani

Executive Director

 

 

 

February 19, 2009– Groundwork Bridgeport is getting ready to re-launch the highly successful Our Folks Norwalk program for the 2009 Spring Season. We are now accepting new clients. Sign up today for a beautiful, well kept lawn!

 

TheOur Folks program provides subsidized landscape maintenance services to low-income, elderly homeowners so that they may remain independent and live in their homes longer. Groundwork Bridgeport has partnered with the Norwalk Senior Center, ElderHouse, Human Service Council and the Family & Children’s Agency to identify and qualify clients for the program.

 “The reason for the program is simple; to keep our seniors in their own homes as they age.” says Groundwork Bridgeport Executive Director Richard Tiani. “The elderly are our folks, and as such need to be taken care of.” He also noted that not only does the program have a proven track record in Bridgeport for the past four years, it has also been shown in the past two years that the program can be successfully implemented in Norwalk. Groundwork will continue to integrate its existing job training program with this landscape maintenance work in Norwalk.  “At Groundwork we always combine our projects to achieve maximum results,” said Tiani. 

 “Affordable lawn care has been a much needed service for seniors in our community. This program will be of great benefit to seniors trying to stay in their homes and stretch their fixed incomes to meet increasing housing costs,” said Norwalk Senior Center Outreach Director, Michele Jakab. Conscience of the financial burdens elderly home owners face, the services provided by the Our Folks Norwalk program are priced substantially lower than commercial landscaping services. The costs for services vary according to the client’s income and the work that needs to be done. Services include spring cleanup, grass cutting, hedge trimming, fall leaf pickup and dump runs. For more information, homeowners should contact Michele Jakab of the Norwalk Senior Center at 203-847-3115.

The Our Folks program has a legacy of customer satisfaction and gains more clients every year. “The men did a great job.” says Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ross of Norwalk. “They did a wonderful job of cutting the grass and picking up the leaves. Many thanks for a year of service.”

Karen Brown, Vice President, Fairfield County Community Foundation said, “Groundwork’s work in both Bridgeport and Norwalk is important to the Community Foundation.  The Our Folks Program helps senior homeowners age in peace in Norwalk, and offers a unique service to senior homeowners.  Our Folks is an example of a program that is making a difference in the lives of specific Norwalk residents, and we wanted to be sure it could continue in the coming year.”

Groundwork Bridgeport is dedicated to revitalizing the urban environment in the city and working with youth to provide environmental education. The organization is in its 10^th year of operation and is successfully growing a number of programs. Since 1998, GWB has partnered with over 6700 individuals, 54 groups, 31 businesses and numerous foundations to reclaim and beautify neighborhoods. This year, the Butterflies Are Teachers and Green Team programs engaged over 450 public elementary, middle, and high school youth to become proactive in improving the visual quality of life in their neighborhoods while strengthening science and math skills, increasing knowledge about career options in the horticulture field, and developing skills for entering the workplace after high school. Our Folks, Groundwork Bridgeport’s social enterprise, provided over 650 landscaping service visits for low-income, inner-city, elderly homeowners who, because of physical and financial challenges, could not maintain their lawns and yards. For more information about Groundwork Bridgeport and their work in the community, please call us at: (203) 335-6126, or visit us on the web at: www.groundworkbridgeport.org

 

The Fairfield County Community Foundation promotes the growth of philanthropy to strengthen local communities and the region. Since 1992, individuals and organizations have established charitable funds and contributed to existing funds that support community and economic development, children and youth, education, the environment, health and human services, and the arts. With assets approaching $150 million, the Foundation awarded more than $62 million in grants over the past fifteen years.  In addition, the Foundation provides philanthropic advisory services and develops initiatives to address critical community issues. The Foundation is in compliance with the Council on Foundations' national standards for community foundations. For more information, visit www.fccfoundation.org or call 203-834-9393.