above: Sacred Heart Greenwich students with Ellyn Stewart, Director of Media Studies, Design & Innovation (front row, far right) and Impact FFC leadership, Pamela Arakal (front row, far left), Jenn Servedio and Annika Kennon (second row, from far left)
All photos: Courtesy of Sacred Heart Greenwich
Impact Fairfield County is celebrating 10 years of granting significant philanthropic investments to local nonprofits. Annika Kennon, copresident of Impact FFC, explains that the organization felt the best way to honor the past decade was to tell the stories of the 17 Fairfield County nonprofits that have received top grants.
BUT HOW TO GET THE WORD OUT?
The answer came when Impact FFC’s events chair, Pam Arakel, started talking about her daughter Natasha’s Advanced Real-World Filmmaking course at Sacred Heart Greenwich. She suggested they might be interested in tackling a film project to tell the stories of the nonprofits. Teacher Ellyn Stewart was contacted and brought it to the class for a vote, and all 17 students agreed this would make an amazing project that would broaden their reach, which until then had been mostly centered in the Greenwich area.
“I assumed the girls would work independently on each project–17 girls, 17 projects—but they told me they like to work collaboratively,” Ellyn says.
One of the films that sophomore Madeline Beaudry worked on highlighted nOURish Bridgeport, which provides groceries, formula, diapers and hot meals to thousands of neighborhood residents. Impact FFC’s $100,000 grant in 2022 was used to expand nOURish Bridegport’s Indoor Hydroponic Urban Farm, which was the focus of the film and one that made a lasting impression on Madeline, who hopes one day to work in the film industry.
Madeline gets so excited when she talks about the work that went into producing the film—from the research to developing the questions for Rev. Sara Smith, CEO/president of the nonprofit. She called the day of filming hectic, but credits Rev. Smith’s enthusiasm with creating a contagious spirit that made the whole experience immensely enjoyable.
“It was really empowering, once the film was complete, to know you helped create a story about a nonprofit that others will get to see,” Madeline says. “Rev. Smith was so inspiring that I am planning on volunteering at the farm.”
Ellyn says that one of the big takeaways from this project was the power of individual stories. “The students also learned that the story needs to be clear and compelling and that there has to be a consistent message,” she says. “For example, in some of the original films, it didn’t mention what the grant was for or how it would be used. Impact FFC told us that every person who watches these films needs to walk away understanding what the grant was and how it was being used.”
“The work of the students was all free. It aligned with their curriculum and what Impact FFC needed,” says Annika. “The project was real-world filmmaking with social-impact connections. We were so impressed with these girls and what they were able to create for us. We couldn’t be more pleased with the results.”
Ellyn notes that this project also expanded the class’s knowledge about the needs of other areas and nonprofits throughout Fairfield County while introducing them to Impact FFC’s model of collective giving.
When Wendy Block and Vicki Craver created the nonprofit in 2015, the goal was to gather at least 100 women in the area to pool their contributions that would make significant philanthropic investments in local nonprofits. Over the past decade, Annika says the group has provided more than $2.1 million in grant funding to local nonprofits, including 16 top $100,000 grants, one special five-year anniversary grant of $50,000 and 23 grants ranging from $7,500 to $30,000. All are transformational awards that have greatly improved the lives of people and the workings of the nonprofits.
Annika explains there is another side to Impact FFC—developing a community for women to learn about local needs, discover nonprofits they might not have known about and learn how those nonprofits are meeting the needs of communities. She says that many of these women have gone on to privately volunteer or financially support a nonprofit.
Last year, 281 members each gave $1,100, translating into $281,000 in grant funding in 2024. A thousand dollars of each member’s contributions goes into the grant-funding pool; $100 helps cover membership operating costs.
Impact FFC is always looking for new members. More information is available at impactffc.org.
REEL RECOGNITION
GRANTS WITH A STORY TO TELL
Impact Fairfield County has awarded more than $2.1 million in grant funding. What follows is the list of awards. Those in italic are the 17 top grants that were featured in the films Sacred Heart Greenwich students produced. All of the films are featured on Impact FFC’s website.
2016
• Inspirica, Inc., Stamford, $100,000 grant
• Building One Community, Stamford, $30,000 grant
• Soundwaters, Stamford, $30,000 grant
2017
• The Rowan Center, Stamford, $100,000 grant
• Building One Community, Stamford, $20,000 grant
• The Center for Family Justice, Bridgeport, $20,000 grant
2018
• Stamford Public Education Foundation, $100,000 grant
• The Housing Collective, Bridgeport, $100,000 grant
• Carver Foundation of Norwalk, $10,000 grant
• Open Door Shelter, Norwalk, $10,000 grant
2019
• Kids In Crisis, Greenwich, $100,000 grant
• The Center for Family Justice, Bridgeport, $100,000 grant
• Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut, Stamford, $7,500 grant
• Norwalk Community College Foundation, $7,500 grant
2020
• All Our Kin, Danbury, $110,000 grant
• Career Resources, Inc., Bridgeport, $111,000 Grant
• Building One Community, Stamford, $50,000 grant Impact FFC Five-Year Anniversary Grant Winner
• Hall Neighborhood House, Bridgeport, $11,000 grant
• Horizons GFA, Bridgeport, $11,000 grant
• Open Door Shelter, Norwalk, $10,000 grant
2021
• Hall Neighborhood House, Bridgeport, $100,000 grant
• INTEMPO, Stamford, $100,000 grant
• Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, Bridgeport, $16,000 grant
• Person-to-Person, Darien, $16,000 grant
• Women’s Mentoring Network, Stamford, $16,000 grant
2022
• New Reach. Bridgeport, $100,000 Impact grant
• nOURish Bridgeport, $100,000 grant
• Children’s Learning Centers, Stamford, $20,000 grant
• Future 5, Stamford, $20,000 grant
• Wakeman Boys & Girls Club, Bridgeport, $20,000 grant
2023
• Catholic Academy of Bridgeport, $100,000 grant
• The Center for Empowerment and Education, Danbury, $100,000 grant
• Mid-Fairfield Community Care Center, Norwalk, $20,000 grant
• Mill River Park Collaborative, Stamford, $20,000 grant
• The Shehan Center, Bridgeport, $20,000 grant
2024
• Boys & Girls Club of Stamford, $100,000 grant
• Filling in the Blanks, Norwalk, $100,000 grant
• Jewish Family Services of Greenwich, $20,000 grant
• OPTIMUS Health Care, Bridgeport, $20,000 grant
• Teaching Matters, Bridgeport, $20,000 grant