Inner-City Foundation For Charity & Education Provides Generous Support of the P2P Campership Program

As part of its strategic commitment to “…support organizations that provide food, clothing, shelter, counseling and educational assistance to at-risk and needy children and adults of Fairfield County,” the Bridgeport-based Inner-City Foundation For Charity & Education awarded $7,500 to Person-to-Person (P2P) for its 2013 Campership Program.

As noted by Executive Director Richard T. Stone in the award letter, “In this challenging economic climate, the Foundation is receiving requests for funding that far exceed its financial capabilities. It is an extremely difficult task to select projects to be funded from among the many worthy causes that seek our aid.” Given this, everyone at P2P understands how very fortunate the agency is to have received this grant.

“Now in its 45th year, the Campership Program is one of our most important and successful programs,” says P2P Director of Social Services Marina Thomas. “For low-income families living in Stamford, this program provides something that otherwise would be unattainable for parents – having their children spend the summer in a safe, supervised and supportive environment.”

Remarking that summer camp is a positive youth education and development opportunity for all children, Thomas notes that for children from low-income families, in particular, summer is otherwise a time when the achievement gap between them and their middle-class peers widens.

Working with school social workers, camp directors and staff Person-to-Person partnered with 15 local day camps throughout the Stamford area this summer, with a majority of the participating camps also offering summer school or the ability to accommodate a summer school schedule for children who required academic help.

The value of this grant from the Foundation, which helped P2P send more than 560 children to summer camp this year, extends far beyond the dollar amount. “Through diverse educational and recreational activities,” continues Thomas, “camp can be a very positive experience for these children as they develop trusted relationships with counselors and peers, practice English-language skills, and experience outdoor exploration – all of which can inspire learning beyond the classroom.”

About Person-to-Person

Person-to-Person is Lower Fairfield County’s rapid-response emergency assistance agency, annually providing more than $9 million in food, clothing, financial assistance and interconnected services through the efforts of more than 2,500 volunteers, community support and a small, dedicated staff. We further invest in education to help break the cycle of poverty through the Campership and Scholarship Programs. Visit p2pHelps.org for additional information.

About Inner-City Foundation For Charity & Education

The Inner-City Foundation For Charity & Education is a 501(c)(3) non-sectarian foundation that supports organizations that provide assistance, including food, clothing, shelter, counseling and education, to at-risk and needy children and adults of Fairfield County. The Foundation has awarded over $24 million in grants since 1992, including $12.6 million in scholarship aid for inner-city school students, and $5.5 million to social service agencies that provide food, clothing, health services, counseling, transportation and shelter to those in need. In addition, the Foundation has awarded another $6.2 million to support programs for students with learning disabilities, recreation and education programs for children, and adult literacy programs that empower individuals to become self-sufficient. Visit innercityfoundation.org for additional information.