Lobsterfest Grant Recipients
Contact Mark Agnew at mark@eyeglasses.com - for more information on how to apply for a Community Grant
2026 Community Grant Awards
It is with great pride that we share our Community Giving Grant Committee’s Board-approved list of award winners for 2026. A total of 47 organizations will receive $309,000 in grants. This is another record amount of funding resulting from our very successful LobsterFest!
After School and Summer School Programs
Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders - Bridgeport
Builders Beyond Borders
The Carver - Norwalk
Connect Us - Bridgeport
Earthplace - Westport
First Serve Bridgeport - Bridgeport
Horizons at Greens Farms Academy - Bridgeport
Horizons at Norwalk Community College - Norwalk
Horizons at Sacred Heart University - Bridgeport
Urban Impact of Black Rock - Bridgeport
Westport Country Playhouse - Westport
Westport Department of Human Services - Westport
YL Trapped
Services To Address Homelessness and Food Insecurity
Bridgeport Rescue Mission - Bridgeport
Clothes To Kids
Food Rescue CT - Stamford
Homes for the Brave - Bridgeport
Homes with Hope - Westport
Open Doors - Norwalk
Services for Children and Adults with Special Needs
CLASP Homes - Westport
Club 203 - Westport
Saint Catherine Center for Special Needs - Fairfield
Team Woofgang & Co. – Fairfield
Westport Book Sales Ventures - Westport
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counseling for Children and Young Adults
Kids in Crisis - Greenwich
Mid-Fairfield Child Guidance Center - Norwalk
Positive Directions - Westport
Life Skills for Low-Income Adults, Primarily Immigrants
Burroughs Community Center - Bridgeport
Caroline House - Bridgeport
Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants - Bridgeport
HomeBridge Ventures - Bridgeport
Mercy Learning Center - Bridgeport
Read to Grow
Formal Education for Children from Low-Income Families
A Better Chance - Westport
Adam J. Lewis Academy - Bridgeport
Park City Prep Charter School - Bridgeport
College Scholarships for Students with Income Constraints or Health Issues
Norwalk Housing Foundation - Norwalk
Staples Tuition Grants - Westport
The Susan Fund - Westport
Services for Victims of Domestic or Sexual Violence
Domestic Violence Crisis Center - Stamford
The Rowan Center - Stamford
Services for Senior Citizens
ElderHouse - Norwalk
Friends of the Westport Senior Center - Westport
Counseling for Children and Young Adults with Legal Issues
Catalyst CT - Bridgeport
Center for Children’s Advocacy - Bridgeport
Medical Services
Westport Volunteer EMS - Westport
Environmental Issues
Sustainable Westport - Westport
2026 Grant Winners Mission Statements
A Better Chance of Westport
ABC provides life-changing educational opportunities for highly motivated, academically gifted, yet educationally disadvantaged, young men of color by facilitating their enrollment in Westport’s highly regarded Staples High School.
https://www.abetterchanceofwestport.org
Adam J. Lewis Academy
AJLA is a co-educational, Pre K - Grade 8, privately funded, independent school serving children and their families in the Bridgeport community. Through rigorous academics, rich experiential learning and deep family engagement, AJLA nurtures the potential within each child and prepares students for a lifetime of intellectual exploration, personal growth and moral citizenship
Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders
BCYL was created in 2003 by John and Sam Torres in memory of their late father to provide equitable access to competitive baseball for the children of Bridgeport. Today BCYL is a comprehensive youth development organization offering affordable athletic, educational and community leadership programs for the greater Bridgeport area.
Bridgeport Rescue Mission
BRM attempts to create lasting change by addressing the root causes of poverty, homelessness and addiction. Beyond immediate relief, BRM’s programs equip individuals and families with the tools needed to achieve long-term stability. BRM transforms lives, strengthens neighborhoods and fosters sustainable, systemic change.
https://bridgeportrescuemission.org
Builders Beyond Borders
The mission of B3 is to build a better world by engaging high school students in work projects that improve local and global communities, facilitate personal growth and cultural exchange and ignite a lifelong passion for volunteerism.
https://buildersbeyondborders.org
Burroughs Community Center
Burroughs believes an equitable community is one where everyone has access to, and is included in, the full benefits of society. Through partnerships and collaborations, Burroughs connects community members to resources, programs and services that help overcome significant barriers, including food insecurity, poor education, unemployment and other social injustices.
Caroline House
Located on the east side of Bridgeport, Caroline House helps low-income immigrant women build new lives for themselves and their families. They learn to speak, read and write English, as well as how to navigate seemingly insurmountable barriers such as securing safe housing, completing job applications, advocating for their children in school and accessing affordable healthcare.
https://www.thecarolinehouse.org
Carver Community Center
Carver’s mission is to equip students for global competitiveness by organizing strategic partnerships with schools and communities that advance excellence and personal growth. Carver operates 65 before and after-school programs as well as summer programs at all of the Norwalk public schools, Side by Side Charter School in Norwalk, Carver Community Center and Classical Studies Magnet Academy in Bridgeport.
https://the-carver.org/carver-community-center
Catalyst CT
Founded nearly 40 years ago, Catalyst CT is the only agency in Connecticut that combines direct service, capacity building, policy and advocacy under one roof. Working with students, families and community leaders, primarily in Bridgeport, Catalyst collects data that informs their capacity-building and policymaking.
Center for Children’s Advocacy
CCA’s mission is to protect the legal rights of low-income children to ensure their basic needs are met and to help them access the services they need for health, education and well-being. CCA also provides legal services, legal rights education and advocacy for reforms to improve the educational, healthcare and juvenile justice systems.
CLASP Homes
CLASP Homes is a Westport-based organization that serves adults with autism and other developmental disabilities in Fairfield County. CLASP’s residences are home to 100 men and women in 7 towns, and their community center in Bridgeport provides day services to many more. CLASP relies on the support of donors and sponsors to offer opportunities that bring joy, growth and fulfillment into the lives of the people they serve.
Club 203
Club 203’s mission is to provide fun, engaging social and recreational activities for adults (18+) with disabilities. Club 203 was established in 2022 as a project of Westport’s Human Services Commission for People with Disabilities.
Clothes To Kids
Provides free, high-quality clothing to low- income or in-crisis school-aged children (K–12) through a boutique-style shopping experience that fosters dignity and self-esteem. Since opening in 2016, CTKF has provided in excess of 8,000 wardrobes serving over
5,000 children through its boutique. CTKF is the only organization in Fairfield County offering a free, dignified shopping experience year-round where children can select
clothing that fits their style, size, and needs, twice a year, receiving seasonal appropriate clothing. Rather than receiving clothing in a traditional manner or pre-packed bags,
children shop in a welcoming boutique, guided by trained personal shoppers who provide one-on-one support.
https://clothestokidsfairfieldcounty.org
Connect Institute for Refugees and Immigrants
Since 1918, CIRI has served clients statewide, helping refugees and immigrants resolve legal, economic, linguistic and social barriers so that they become self-sufficient, integrated, contributing members of their communities.
Connect Us
Connect Us brings together suburban and urban neighbors in partnership to improve the quality of outcomes for young people living in communities of concentrated poverty. Programs are designed to complement formal education with after-school growth opportunities that expand the vistas of youth living in Bridgeport.
Domestic Violence Crisis Center
DVCC’s mission is to provide effective services, support and education for the prevention and elimination of domestic violence across the Connecticut communities of Stamford, Norwalk, New Canaan, Darien, Westport, Weston, Wilton and beyond.
Earthplace
Earthplace is a donor-supported organization committed to building passion and respect for the natural world and a more sustainable future for our community. Earthplace blends science, conservation and education into pathways for learning about nature and the environment.
ElderHouse
ElderHouse is a state-certified medical and social adult day center for older adults with cognitive loss or other chronic health conditions that require supervision and care. ElderHouse’s mission is to provide the services and support that allow clients to be safe, live at home and enjoy life through social and intellectually stimulating programs.
First Serve Bridgeport
FSB’s mission is to provide a path to success for Bridgeport’s underserved youth through education and tennis. It provides comprehensive tennis and education programming year-round free of charge.
https://www.firstservebridgeport.org
Food Rescue US
Founded in 2011 in Fairfield County, Food Rescue is dedicated to eliminating hunger and food waste, keeping food out of landfills and reducing greenhouse gasses. They engage volunteers and food donors through a proprietary app to directly transfer nutritious excess food to social agencies serving the food insecure.
https://foodrescue.us/fairfield-county/
Friends of the Westport Center for Senior Activities
The mission of Friends of the Westport Center for Senior Activities is to identify, schedule, fund and manage new and exciting programs for seniors to augment and enhance the regular program offerings of the Senior Center.
Homesbridge Ventures
HomeBridge Ventures seeks to break the cycle of recidivism through transformative relationships, trauma-responsive job training and placement, and a supportive community for justice-involved people that leads to the opportunity to heal and obtain gainful employment.
https://www.homebridgeventures.org
Homes for the Brave
Homes for the Brave provides temporary housing and services necessary to help homeless veterans return to a productive and meaningful life.
Homes with Hope
Homes with Hope is dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness for individuals and families by providing safe emergency shelter, supportive services, food and housing as essential tools to achieve independent living.
Horizons at Green's Farms Academy
Horizons at GFA partners with Bridgeport public school students impacted by educational inequity to help them develop strong academic and social-emotional skills to succeed in school and pursue a purposeful, choice-filled life. The program at GFA was established in 2000 with just 26 students and now serves over 330 students in three component programs: Pre K - 8th grade, high school and college and career launch.
Horizons at Norwalk Community College
It is Horizons at NCC’s mission to advance educational equity for Norwalk students by providing them with academic and enrichment opportunities, a collaborative community and an inspirational learning environment.
Horizons at Sacred Heart University
Horizons at SHU is a transformational, community-centered program that has proven to help close the opportunity gap that impacts many Bridgeport children. Educating the whole child is at the core of what they do, helping students thrive in a community of support that integrates the life skills necessary for long term success.
Kids In Crisis
Kids in Crisis’ mission is to build healthy communities where children and families thrive through prevention, counseling and crisis services available 24 hours every day. They have provided critical crisis prevention and intervention services to 164,000 children, newborn to age 18, and their families since 1978. Kids in Crisis serves any child and their family, without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender identity, socio-economic status, community of origin or sexual orientation.
Mercy Learning Center
Mercy Learning Center provides basic literacy and life skills training for women with low incomes using a holistic approach within a compassionate, supportive environment. All women are welcome without regard for race, religion, color, creed, sexual orientation or national origin.
https://mercylearningcenter.org
Mid-Fairfield Child Guidance Center
Mid-Fairfield serves as the safety net for the many families who cannot afford private mental health services for their children. Mid-Fairfield’s programs and services promote optimal mental health from prenatal to early adulthood. The mission is to ensure equitable access to mental health and community support services that improve the health and quality of life for all individuals.
Norwalk Housing Foundation
The Norwalk Housing Foundation is an expanded vision of what public housing can be, going beyond safe and affordable living to taking a proactive role in breaking the cycle of poverty. The mission is to connect residents with education, which they can use to transform their futures and leave public housing behind forever. The College Scholarship Program provides housing students with financial support to successfully enroll in 2-year, 4-year, technical or graduate schools.
https://www.norwalkha.org/norwalk-housing-foundation
Open Doors
Open Doors is committed to ending homelessness in the greater Norwalk area. They provide street outreach, shelter case management and affordable housing opportunities to help those most in need get on a path toward housing stability.
Park City Prep Charter School
The mission of Park City Prep is to maximize the academic achievement of each student in preparation for admission to, and success at, selective college preparatory high schools. As part of a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes mathematics, scientific inquiry and technology, the faculty and staff work to instill in each student the Prep values of responsibility, excellence and perseverance.
Positive Directions
Positive Directions’ vision is that all individuals and families will have the skills, support and resources they need to live a healthy life and contribute to a strong community. To that end, the mission is to provide leadership in the community with the aim of improving the lives and health of individuals and families through comprehensive behavioral healthcare.
https://www.positivedirections.org
Read to Grow
At Read to Grow, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive through the power of words and stories, starting at birth. We work to build strong foundations for lifelong learning by promoting language skills, increasing access to books, and
supporting families as their child’s first and most important teachers. Rotary provided funding for our flagship early childhood literacy program, Books for Babies (BFB), which provides free literacy resources and children’s books to families of every newborn at Bridgeport Hospital —fostering language development, bonding, and school readiness from birth. The BFB Newborn Project gives free literacy packets to families of
all babies born in Bridgeport Hospital. Literacy packets include copies of our booklet A First Guide to Parents of Newborns and our board book Welcome to the World!
Saint Catherine Center for Special Needs
At Saint Catherine Center, the goal is for each student and young adult to achieve the greatest level of independence possible. Programming integrates individualized learning with the development of life skills and vocational experiences. In a supportive environment, relationships are nourished and skills are reinforced to create a sense of belonging and purpose for all participants.
https://www.stcatherinecenter.org
Staples Tuition Grants
STG was founded in 1943 on the belief that all young adults should have the opportunity to continue their education beyond high school. By providing tuition assistance to Staples High School graduates with demonstrated financial need, STG helps to close the gap between what students and their families are able to afford and the expected cost of tuition at the student’s chosen undergraduate college, university or trade school.
https://staplestuitiongrants.org
Sustainable Westport
Sustainable Westport’s mission is to inspire, support and connect Westport residents, organizations and the Town of Westport in making both small changes and big commitments to a healthier and more sustainable future. Sustainable Westport’s roots stem from the “Green Task Force,” a town committee that was appointed in 2006 by the first selectman to address the growing problem of climate change caused by excessive carbon emissions.
https://www.sustainablewestport.org
Team Woofgang & Co.
Team Woofgang was founded in 2017 by three Fairfield mothers of young adults with developmental disabilities. Their mission is to provide meaningful job skills and vocational training for disabled individuals who have aged out of public school system support.
The Rowan Center
For over 45 years, The Rowan Center has been the leader in providing sexual violence, prevention, education, counseling and advocacy across lower Fairfield County. Free confidential services include a 24/7 hotline, crisis counseling, advocacy during medical treatments and court proceedings, empowerment groups and long-term therapy clinics for HUSKY-insured adults who have experienced any form of trauma.
The Susan Fund
For 42 years, The Susan Fund has provided educational scholarships to Fairfield County students who have been diagnosed with cancer. It has grown significantly since 1982 in both the number of grants awarded and the total amount bestowed, which now exceeds $2 million.
Urban Impact of Black Rock
Urban Impact’s mission is to offer the youth who reside in the Bridgeport PT Barnum Public Housing Complex educational opportunities through in-school and after-school activities. Programs revolve around one-on-one sessions, small group tutoring sessions and mentoring. Urban Impact strives for their students to achieve academic success, develop positive character traits and lead fulfilling lives.
https://www.urbanimpactct.org/about
Westport Book Sales Ventures
Westport Book Sales Ventures’ dual mission is to provide meaningful, competitive employment and job training for adults with disabilities, while raising funds for the Westport Library through used book sales. Since opening the Westport Book Shop in 2021, they have provided over 10,000 hours of paid employment and job training for more than a dozen adults with disabilities.
https://www.westportbooksaleventures.org
Westport Country Playhouse
Through the art of theater, Westport Country Playhouse brings stories to life that re-examine our own experiences, shine a light on those that have been ignored and ensure a space for those yet to be told.
https://www.westportplayhouse.org
Westport Dept of Human Services
The mission of the Westport Department of Human Services is to promote independence, personal development and an enhanced quality of life for Westport residents of all ages. The Department is organized into three service areas: Youth and Family Services, Social Services and Senior Services. In all three areas the Department works in partnership with other community organizations, service providers and funding sources.
https://www.westportct.gov/government/departments-a-z/human-services
Westport Volunteer EMS
The mission of the Westport Volunteer EMS is to assist the community by providing the volunteer staff, equipment, vehicles and supplies necessary to operate the Town of Westport’s Emergency Medical Service. They also undertake to educate the public in handling medical emergencies.
YL Trapped
Young Ladies Taking Responsibility And Portraying Proper Educational Development
(YLTRAPPED) is an organization dedicated to the empowerment and enrichment of underrepresented and underserved youth through mentorship and advocacy. Birthed
through the desire to fill the need of helping young ladies, founder Dr. Julia L Moore set out on a path to help build up the esteem of females in her community by establishing
a safe-haven in 2004 in the city of Norwalk, CT. YLTRAPPED is an amazing organization that helps the lives of young women find their true potential by building character,
relationships, and by fostering good citizenship practices while creating an awareness for their community.