FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FURTHER INFORMATION: Michael J. London & Associates, 203-261-1549
Nearly $200,000 in Grants Awarded Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County
BRIDGEPORT, CT., Jan. 21, 2022 – Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County today announced it has been awarded multiple grants that total nearly $200,000.
The nonprofit agency was awarded a three-year $100,000 grant from the Valley Community Foundation’s VCF Preference Fund via an Affiliation Agreement. This will support implementation and expansion of programs and partnerships in Ansonia, Derby, Shelton, and Seymour.
“The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation also awarded us with a generous grant for general operating support,” said Bernadine Venditto, president of Bridgeport-based Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County. “We also won a $10,000 grant from United Way of Western Connecticut for programs in Stamford, Danbury, Bethel, and Brookfield.”
In addition, a grant of $30,000 from the Connecticut State Department of Education, administered through the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, helped fund work readiness and personal finance programs for Bridgeport students.
This grant supported on a summer enrichment program run in collaboration with the Greater Bridgeport STEM Learning Ecosystem, ACCESS Educational Services, Bridgeport Youth Caribe, Bridgeport Youth Lacrosse, Cardinal Shehan Center, Dunbar Family Resource Center, United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, and Village Initiative College Prep.
“All this new funding will help us deliver on the promise of our overarching mission: to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy,” Venditto added. “Our programs show students how money, careers, and business ownership work. We work to empower young people to be productive stakeholders in their communities, inspire them to be innovative thinkers and problem solvers, and prepare them to make prudent life and career choices.”
“The need in our service territory is great,” she said. “It would not be possible to serve our young people without the generous funding from organizations like the Valley Community Foundation and The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation as well as numerous individuals, government agencies, and, of course, United Way. We are extremely grateful for their support.”
About Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County
Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County (JAGFC) is dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed, through programs which focus on financial literacy, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship. Learning experiences, delivered by corporate and community volunteers, provide essential business and life skills, which empower K-12 students to build their own successful futures and help to boost economic mobility. JA programs are designed to meet the needs of local schools and students, through in-person or remote learning. JAGFC is committed to delivering practical, relevant, and innovative learning experiences that prepare young people to succeed in their careers and to manage their personal finances.
###