Minute for Mission
Spirit - A Message from Alan Mathis, President & CEO
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During the earlier, darker days of the pandemic a friend reminded me that there is something greater than hope to help us prevail. "What can be greater than hope?" I sheepishly asked. Spirit, he calmly responded--spirit. Hope is about a sense of expectancy that something good is on the horizon. We need hope, yet spirit is different. Spirit is the very force that brings each of us alive. It is about character, courage, persistence, attitude and energy. Spirit is about movement and progress.
In spite of the difficulties we have encountered and division in our politics, the American spirit is alive and well. Deeply ingrained in our culture is the belief that each of us has something of value to contribute in the life of our community and we are ready, willing and able to share our strength voluntarily neighbor to neighbor. We do not share because we are required, we share because we see ourselves in the reflection of the those who are struggling against all odds.
Over the past year, as a community we went grocery shopping for elderly neighbors so they could remain safe inside their homes. We organized friends to drive by and honk horns delivering birthday cheers when we were unable to gather together. With respect and dignity, we collected and distributed food to people who found themselves unable to feed their children. Many of us shopped locally to support the economy in our own backyards. Each of these acts are examples of the American spirit in action.
At LifeBridge, we remained focused on partnering with children and families acting on our credo to be the social services agency building self-reliance in the neighborhoods with the highest rates of poverty and greatest social challenges in our state. LifeBridge opened, despite palpable fear, to deliver first class behavioral health, afterschool and day camp services in the safest possible manner. Because we acted boldly, children and families who connected with us are more likely to thrive in school, in the workplace, and in their lives in the aftermath of the pandemic.
We are cognizant that your hand was on the steering wheel gently guiding us as we navigated the many ups and downs since March 2020. You donated personal protective equipment when it was in short supply, you donated books for our fledgling library, more than 1,245 of you donated funds ranging from $10 to $100,000 to help us meet the higher costs of keeping our doors open. Your spirit brought life to our agency and mission when we needed it most. We thank you for placing us on solid footing to achieve even greater community impact in the months and years to come.
Together, with spirit, we are moving towards a brighter future.
Warmest regards, Alan J. Mathis
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LifeBridge's annual Building a Brighter Future Gala will be a fun online virtual event slated for June 10 at 6:30 pm. Recipients of the Brian Langdon award are Fairfield County's Community Foundation, Mike Ambrose, Vice President Engineering & Technology at Sikorsky, and Edwin Farrow, Attorney at Law, who is a former LifeBridge Board member and community leader. Honorary Chair is Joan Trefz with event co-chairs Laura Coughlin and Susan Trischman. Emcee for the evening is Dennis House, chief political anchor for WTNH-TV Channel 8. Featured during the evening will be a live "Name That Tune" contest with our own Urban Scholars providing the "tunes."
Mark Your Calendars Now - Registration Details Coming Soon!
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Music Room Dedicated to Brendan Miles
Thanks Go To Carolyn & Brendan's Daughter Molly!
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LifeBridge is excited to announce the dedication of the Music Room in the Center for Youth Development to Brendan Miles of Southport. The dedication is in recognition of a $180,000 gift from Brendan and Carolyn Miles' daughter Molly Miles. The amount represents half of the proceeds from the sale of a vintage Ferrari the couple gifted to their daughter. Molly decided to donate the proceeds to LifeBridge in recognition of her father who has served as Board Chair and now on the Board.
Funds will support the Urban Scholars Program which provides educational and enrichment opportunities for youth ages 11 to 14 in Bridgeport. Music is one of the enrichment activities and Urban Scholars are offered their choice of guitar, percussion and/or piano instruction free of charge taught by professional musicians. To commemorate this special event, jazz great, "Blue" Lou Marini performed with Urban Scholars instructors, John Cutrone, Tim DeHuff and David Oliver as a special tribute.
Molly Miles, 19, is currently in her second semester at American University in Washington, DC. With the sale of the car, Molly wanted to do something significant regarding LifeBridge, knowing how dedicated both her parents, and especially her father, are to the organization which serves thousands of Bridgeport residents each year. It was her decision to make the donation to LifeBridge in support of the Urban Scholars Program in keeping with her own desire to help other young people. The other half of the proceeds will go to a program at Save the Children on gender equity and reducing child marriage in Sierra Leone as Molly wanted to do both a local and global gift to help kids.
"It's important to me that all kids get the opportunities they deserve," said Molly Miles. "I am honored to support the Urban Scholars Program, which gives middle schoolers in Bridgeport those opportunities."
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Fairfield County Giving Day - LifeBridge Takes the Grand Prize!
Thank You To An Amazing Team and Community!
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Enormous thanks go to all those who supported LifeBridge during Fairfield County's Community Foundation Giving Day. Kudos to the fabulous team of volunteer fundraisers who helped us win BIG! Special thanks to Board members George Kasper, this year's LifeBridge Giving Day Chair, and Butch Trischman who blazed the trail for everyone to follow. LifeBridge won the Grand Prize of $15,000 for most unique donors and other prizes totaling an additional $8,500. Over 1,200 donors helped us raise more than $83,000! However, the real winners are the thousands of youth and families LifeBridge serves each year by helping them build the resilience they need to thrive. That is where your efforts will have the greatest impact. Our hats are off to FCCF, Bank of America, and the many sponsors who make Giving Day possible. Funds raised will go towards programs that provide learning, enrichment, and skill-building opportunities for youth and support services for their families that will result in a stronger, more vibrant community.
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March is Self-Harm Awareness Month
Behavioral Health Is Open for In-Person Sessions
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March is “Self-Harm Awareness Month” and an ideal time to learn more about a serious issue that affects many young people and their families. It is a behavior many exhibit to cope with powerful or overwhelming emotions. Although it can occur in people of all ages, it is predominately seen in young people 12 to 24. If a loved one is showing signs of self-harm such as cutting or scratching oneself--it is time to seek help. LifeBridge is available with clinicians licensed to treat youth as young as six. Our offices are now open for in-person counseling services with telehealth also an option. We are also in the process of reconfiguring and updating the reception area and counseling spaces in Bridgeport for a brighter, safer client experience. LifeBridge's services are available in Bridgeport and Fairfield. If you feel a professional could help you achieve a better life, call today--it's okay to get help: 203-368-4291.
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Social Emotional Learning Day is March 26
Scholars to Share SEL Messages
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LifeBridge is excited to participate in the second annual International SEL Day on March 26, 2021. Every day is SEL day at LifeBridge! The importance and impact of social emotional learning makes it a key component of our Urban Scholars Program curriculum. Working together as a community, we can raise awareness for SEL. Watch for video messages on our social media from our scholars talking about what SEL means to them! |
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Thank You Pequot Library!!
Book Donation Expands the Library
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Caroline Owens Crawford (c) from the Pequot Library recently brought a carload full of boxes of books for our Urban Scholars. LifeBridge and the Library plan to continue to partner by exploring ways the two organizations can collaborate on programming and share volunteers as well as supply a steady stream of books for the youth program.
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Kindred Spirits & Wine of Westport 'Give Back Week'
Shop and Support LifeBridge April 5 - 11th
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Kindred Spirits and Wine at 1790 Post Road East in Westport is partnering with LifeBridge during their Shop & Give Back Week. During the week of April 5-11 Kindred Spirits & Wine will donate $1 to LifeBridge for every bottle of hand selected wine sold throughout this week. Shop in store or online and select LifeBridge as your charity at www.kindredspiritsandwine.com
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Are You Smiling When You Shop on Amazon?
LifeBridge has received over $455 in donations thanks to shoppers who use AmazonSmile and choose LifeBridge as their charity.
Special occasions are coming up--Go to AmazonSmile and sign in as if it is your regular Amazon account and designate your charity--then shop away! It's that easy.
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Background images for our newsletters consist of original art created by our talented Urban Scholars.
When you support LifeBridge you become our partner in helping children and families build resiliency
and in making our community stronger.
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For more information on how you can help
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