UNITED WAY OF COASTAL FAIRFIELD COUNTY INC
855 MAIN STREET 10TH FLOOR, BRIDGEPORT, CT 06604 www.unitedwaycfc.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: SERVES THE 12 COMMUNITIES IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY: BRIDGEPORT, DARIEN, EASTON, FAIRFIELD, MONROE, NEW CANAAN, NORWALK, STRATFORD, TRUMBULL, WESTPORT, WESTON AND WILTON CONNECTICUT. OUR MISSION IS "TOGETHER, WE MOBILIZE OUR COMMUNITIES TO IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES." OUR VISION IS THAT ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WILL THRIVE, LEADING TO STRONER COMMUNITIES.

UWCFC HELPS IMPROVE LIVES BY FOCUSING ON THE HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND FINANCIAL STABILITY OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP NEIGHBORS TODAY, WHILE LAYING A PATH TO A THRIVING FUTURE. WE DO SO BY FUNDING INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES IN COLLECTIVE IMPACT, EARLY LITERACY, AND BASIC NEEDS.1. IMPROVING OUTCOMES THROUGH COLLECTIVE IMPACTUNITED WAY OF COASTAL FAIRFIELD COUNTY (UWCFC) FOCUSES ON ENGAGING PARTNERS TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR ALL CHILDREN, FROM CRADLE TO CAREER. WE AIM TO CREATE TRANSFORMATIVE, SUSTAINABLE RESULTS - WITHOUT BAND-AIDS, OR QUICK FIXES. AS A LEADING CATALYST FOR SOCIAL CHANGE, UWCFC IS ALIGNING EFFORTS ACROSS ALL SECTORS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT TOUCH A CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT INTO ADULTHOOD. THESE EFFORTS ARE KNOWN AS COLLECTIVE IMPACT. USING THE NATIONAL STRIVE TOGETHER MODEL, COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVES AIM TO ENSURE INFANT HEALTH, SCHOOL READINESS, ACADEMIC SUCCESS, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, AND PREPAREDNESS FOR COLLEGE OR WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES. THE MODEL USES DATA AND EVIDENCE TO GUIDE DECISIONS, CHALLENGE PRACTICES, AND RESHAPE SERVICE SYSTEMS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE WHOLE FAMILY. UWCFC SUPPORTS COLLECTIVE IMPACT MOVEMENTS IN OUR 2 LARGEST CITIES, BRIDGEPORT AND NORWALK.ONE OF UWCFC'S MAJOR INITIATIVES IS BRIDGEPORT PROSPERS CRADLE TO CAREER WHICH FOCUSES IN THE STATE'S LARGEST CITY, BRIDGEPORT. THE BRIDGEPORT PROSPERS WORK SERVES AS A TESTING GROUND FOR INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT CAN BE OPTIMIZED AND SHARED ACROSS OUR FOOTPRINT. THE WORK FOCUSES IN THREE AREAS: HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT BY AGE 3, QUALITY STEM EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. RECOGNIZING THAT 80% OF A CHILD'S BRAIN DEVELOPMENT OCCURS IN THE FIRST THREE YEARS, BRIDGEPORT PROSPERS AIMS TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN ARE HAPPY, HEALTHY AND DEVELOPMENTALLY ON-TRACK AT AGE THREE. TO ACHIEVE THAT, WE PROVIDE A SYSTEM OF SUPPORTS FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN-CALLED THE BABY BUNDLE-TO EMPOWER CAREGIVERS AS THEIR CHILD'S BEST FIRST TEACHERS. SUPPORTS INCLUDE HOME VISITING, THE BRIDGEPORT BASICS CAREGIVER PRACTICES, AND THE SPARKLER MOBILE APP FOR HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND MONITORING. BRIDGEPORT PROSPERS ALSO PROMOTES SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENTS FOR THOSE SERVING FAMILIES, INCLUDING: BETTER CONNECTIONS ACROSS SERVICE PROVIDERS, DATA-SHARING AMONG STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES, AND INNOVATIVE FUNDING THROUGH MEDICAID. THIS COMBINATION PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO SUPPORTING BABIES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.ONE OF THE INITIATIVE OF BRIDGEPORT PROSPERS IS GREATER BRIDGEPORT STEM LEARNING ECOSYSTEM (GBSLE) WHICH PROVIDES QUALITY STEM LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS FROM PRE-K THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. THE GBSLE PROVIDES OUT-OF-SCHOOL STEM LEARNING EVENTS, FAFSA WORKSHOPS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR STEM PROVIDERS, OFFERING CURRENT TOOLS, TRAINING IN THE CARNEGIE STEM EXCELLENCE PATHWAY, AND ALIGNMENT WITH NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS.THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE INITIATIVE SEEKS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA ON HEALTH AND LIFE OUTCOMES, AND TO BUILD COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO OFFSET THE IMPACT. TO DATE, THE INITIATIVE HAS PROVIDED 56 DOCUMENTARY SCREENINGS AND RESILIENCE WORKSHOPS, REACHING OVER 2,000 PEOPLE.UWCFC ALSO PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND ACTIVELY COLLABORATES WITH NORWALK ACTS, A CRADLE TO CAREER COLLECTIVE IMPACT EFFORT IN NORWALK. THE INITIATIVE IS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING SCHOOL READINESS, SCHOOL SUCCESS, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL HEALTH THROUGH SEVERAL INITIATIVES. BOTH COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVES---BRIDGEPORT PROSPERS AND NORWALK ACTS -- ARE MAKING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARD IMPROVING CHILD OUTCOMES.2. CHANGING THE ODDS FOR CHILDREN - SUPPORT FOR EARLY LITERACYCONNECTICUT'S CHILDREN FACE ONE OF THE LARGEST ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAPS IN IN THE UNITED STATES. TO SUPPORT THE GOAL OF SCHOOL SUCCESS, UWCFC FOCUSES ON PROMOTING EARLY LITERACY ACROSS OUR FOOTPRINT. READING PROFICIENCY BY THIRD GRADE CORRELATES WITH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT; DATA SHOW THAT STUDENTS NOT READING ON GRADE LEVEL AT THIRD GRADE ARE 4 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL. THANKS TO UWCFC'S CHANGING THE ODDS FOR CHILDREN INITIATIVE, STUDENTS IN BRIDGEPORT K- 2 CLASSES CAN ACCESS AN ONLINE TOOL CALLED LEXIA THAT SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS ESSENTIAL FOR READING SUCCESS. SCHOOLS IN STRATFORD AND FAIRFIELD GAIN READING SPECIALISTS TO SUPPORT ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS (ELL). IN NORWALK, FAMILIES RECEIVE BOOK BAGS AT 4 PUBLIC VENUES AND READING SUPPORT AT A SCHOOL RESOURCE CENTER. FURTHER, INFANT/TODDLER TEACHERS RECEIVE WORKSHOPS IN IMPROVING CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND PARENT ENGAGEMENT. IN MULTIPLE TOWNS, NEW AND EXPECTANT PARENTS RECEIVE READING COACHING, AND THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN RECEIVE BOOKS THROUGH OUR PARTNERS READ TO GROW AND REACH OUT AND READ. 3. NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS: SUPPORT FOR FINANCIAL STABILITY TO ASSIST THESE STRUGGLING FAMILIES IN UWCFC FOOTPRINT, UNITED WAY INVESTS IN MEETING BASIC NEEDS THROUGH NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS (NHN) FUNDING. WE PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR FOOD PROGRAMS (PANTRIES, WARM MEALS, COMMUNITY GARDENS), EMERGENCY SHELTER, AND STABLE HOUSING (EMERGENCY RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE). IMPORTANTLY, OUR NHN PARTNERS GO BEYOND PROVIDING EMERGENCY RELIEF TODAY; THEIR OFFERINGS ALSO INCLUDE COACHING ON NUTRITION, HEALTHY FOOD PREPARATION, HEALTH MONITORING, EMPLOYMENT, AND MANAGING MENTAL HEALTH. OUR COLLECTIVE GOAL IS TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR THE FUTURE. LAST YEAR, NHN GRANTS SERVED OVER 17,000 NEIGHBORS.IN 2020, THE COVID-19 CRISIS DRAMATICALLY INCREASED LOCAL ECONOMIC HARDSHIP, AS NEIGHBORS LOST JOBS OR INCOME, FOOD PRICES ROSE, AND HOUSEHOLD COSTS SOARED DUE TO REMOTE LEARNING. JUST WEEKS AFTER THE PANDEMIC BEGAN TO SPREAD, CONNECTICUT UNITED WAYS LAUNCHED A STATEWIDE COVID-19 RESPONSE FUND AND RAPIDLY DEPLOYED FINANCIAL RESOURCES DIRECTLY TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO WERE ECONOMICALLY AFFECTED. AT THE WRITING OF THIS REPORT, THE COVID-19 RESPONSE FUND HAS PROVIDED OVER 500 HOUSEHOLDS IN OUR 12 TOWNS WITH CRUCIAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THIS RELIEF HELPED FAMILIES PAY BILLS AND PURCHASE FOOD, HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES, AND MEDICINE. IN ADDITION, UWCFC LAUNCHED A NEW NEIGHBORS IN NEED FUND TO HELP OUR LOCAL PARTNERS MEET THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR FOOD, UTILITY ASSISTANCE AND RENT ASSISTANCE. OVERALL, IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19, WE INCREASED OUR COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS IN BASIC NEEDS BY 150%, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO OVER 30,000 NEIGHBORS.UNITED WAY SUPPORTS THE CT 2-1-1 INFOLINE TO CONNECT CALLERS TO ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. 2-1-1 IS A FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, MULTI-LINGUAL 24-HOUR A DAY CONNECTION AND REFERRAL SERVICE. 2-1-1 OFFERS PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC NEEDS (CHILDCARE SEARCH, CHILD DEVELOPMENT CONCERNS, EMERGENCY MOBILE PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES FOR YOUTH IN CRISIS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS (JOB FAIRS, MORTGAGE WORKSHOPS, LEGAL SERVICES). LAST YEAR, CALLS FROM ALMOST 79,000 OF OUR FAIRFIELD COUNTY NEIGHBORS WERE ANSWERED.UWCFC ALSO SUPPORTS VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES AND ASSET-BUILDING RESOURCES TO FAMILIES WITH MODERATE TO LOW INCOMES. THE COALITION'S CERTIFIED AND IRS-TRAINED TAX PREPARERS HELP ENSURE THAT ELIGIBLE FAMILIES CLAIM IMPORTANT TAX CREDITS SUCH AS EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT, CHILD TAX CREDIT, AND EDUCATION CREDITS. THROUGH THE VITA PROGRAM LAST YEAR, OVER 6,400 FAMILIES SAVED $1.3 MILLION IN TAX PREPARATION FEES.

DESIGNATIONS: ONE ROLE OF UNITED WAY OF COASTAL FAIRFIELD COUNTY HAS REMAINED THE SAME, OUR FACILITATION OF DONOR'S PLEDGES TO NON-PROFIT AGENCIES OF THEIR CHOICE. WITHOUT OUR PRESENCE IN CORPORATE CAMPAIGNS, THIS SERVICE WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE.THE FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT WE SUPPLY, ALLOWS DONORS TO CONTRIBUTE IF THEY WISH TO DESIGNATED CHARITIES WITHIN COASTAL FAIRFIELD COUNTY OR IN THE TOWN THEY LIVE IN.

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