January 4, 2010 - Groundwork Bridgeport, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to beautifying and enhancing the environment, has been awarded a generous $17,500 competitive grant as part of its fall 2009 grants cycle from the Fairfield County Community Foundation (FCCF). The grant will be used to fund the organization’s innovative Our Folks program for low-income seniors in Norwalk for a third year.

 

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. At the suggestion of the Fairfield County Community Foundation staff, Groundwork Bridgeport has partnered with the Norwalk Senior Center and the Family & Children’s Agency to identify and qualify clients for the program.

 

“Groundwork Bridgeport is delighted to have been awarded this grant to support theOur Folks program in Norwalk,” said Executive Director Richard J. Tiani.  “The reason for the program is simple; to keep our seniors in their own homes as they age. 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 three years; it has also been shown this past year 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. For more information, homeowners should contact Michele Jakab of the Norwalk Senior Center at 203-847-3115.

 

“The Fairfield County Community Foundation is pleased to support the third year of the Our Folks Program in Norwalk to provide subsidized home maintenance for seniors who can no longer do this work themselves and to ensure a safe living environment” stated Yolanda Caldera-Durant, FCCF Program Director.

 

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 6800 individuals, 59 groups, 36 businesses and 28 foundations to reclaim and beautify neighborhoods. This year, the Butterflies Are Teachers and Green Team programs engaged over 350 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 550 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.groundworkbpt.org

 

 

The Fairfield County Community Foundation promotes the growth of community and regional philanthropy to improve the quality of life throughout Fairfield County. Individuals, families, corporations and organizations can establish charitable funds and contribute to existing funds. The Foundation also provides philanthropic advisory services, and develops and leads initiatives to tackle critical community issues. It is in compliance with the Council on Foundations’ national standards for community foundations. The Foundation has awarded over $110 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond. For more information, visit www.fccfoundation.org.