Fairfield County Bank sponsors 20 Carver students to attend "An Evening with Rebecca Lobo" at Stepping Stones

Fairfield County Bank sponsored 20 Carver students to experience a fun and motivational evening with Rebecca Lobo! The UCONN legend and Basketball Hall of Famer visited Stepping Stones for a VIP reception followed by a personal and inspirational speech about the importance of balancing academics, family, and sports to achieve her goals. The audience had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ask Rebecca questions during a Q&A session in the museum's Multimedia Gallery. 

Proceeds from the event support the museum's summer learning programs. These programs work to educate the Rebecca Lobos of tomorrow by providing children from underserved backgrounds with little to no formal preschool learning, literacy- and language-rich learning experiences that will prepare them for entering kindergarten in the fall.

Carver STEAM Student Showcase!

Yesterday, Carver conducted another of its series of STEAM showcases. 

Science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) skills are in high demand among today’s workers, and one of the best ways to equip future employees with these skills is to start early. Carver STEAM programs help Norwalk students with these skills. After-school is a vital part of the solution for bringing more educational opportunities to kids, particularly for low-income kids and for kids who are in underserved populations. 

This study from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation found that 70 percent of students who participated in after-school programs such as those offered by Carver experienced positive gains in those subjects. The study found that 80 percent of students reported a positive gain in their science career knowledge, 78 percent said their interest in science had increased, 72 percent reported an increase in their perseverance and critical thinking skills and 73 percent reported an increase in the personal belief that he or she can do well and succeed at science.

Join the Edisun Pre-Memorial Day Salute to Veterans Benefit at Wall Street Theater!

Join many of Carver's friends at the Pre-Memorial Day Salute to Veterans Benefit at the Wall Street Theater on Saturday, May 26, 2018! The event will feature Norwalk, CT-rock group Edisun which has played for the United States Armed Forces overseas since 2005, touring in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. On their last tour in Afghanistan in 2016, the members of Edisun experienced a rocket attack by local insurgents, highlighting the ever-present dangers to performing in a war zone.  

Edisun is part of Factory Underground, a Norwalk record label and music studio that is a constant Carver partner on many important projects.

Edisun will receive an award from Connecticut State Senator Bob Duff at the show on May 26th. Mayor Harry Rilling will speak about Norwalk's proud history of military service. 

he performance will also feature Connecticut's Got Talent winner Riki Stevens, and Paul Green's Rock Academy Band. Paul Green is the original founder of School of Rock. This band is comprised of outstanding young musicians ages 15-18 from Norwalk and New Canaan.

The event is ten dollars, and all proceeds are going to Homes for the Brave, a highly regarded charity in Bridgeport that provides housing and support services for homeless CT Veterans. 

ickets are available online at: www.WallStreetTheater.co!

Novelette Peterkin received award at the 2018 LIVE UNITED Celebration

On Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at the Congregation B'nai Israel in Bridgeport, CT, the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County honored Novelette Peterkin, Carver's Executive Director, with the annual Elizabeth Roberts "Changing the Odds for Children Award."

The Live United awards are named for a key person in the life of each of the United Ways that came together in 2008 to form today’s United Way of Coastal Fairfield County:  Madison Sayles, United Way of Norwalk & Wilton; Norman Leeds, United Way of Eastern Fairfield County; and Elizabeth Roberts, United Way of Westport-Weston.  A few years after the merger, UWCFC created the August F. Serra Award, also given annually at our Live United Celebration.

Elizabeth G. Roberts, known as Betty by those close to her, was considered by many as the driving force and inspiration of United Way of Westport-Weston.

Here is the list of all of this year's honorees at this annual United Way event..

Award of Distinction
Joseph M. Carbone, President & CEO, The WorkPlace

Bridgeport Prospers Partnership Award
William M. Jennings, President & CEO, Bridgeport Hospital 

Collective Impact Leadership Award
Carmen Colon, Vice President, Bridgeport Ys 

Carla Miklos, Executive Director, Operation Hope

The Elizabeth Roberts "Changing the Odds for Children Award"
Novelette Peterkin, Executive Director, The Carver Foundation of Norwalk 

The Madison Sayles "Neighbors Helping Neighbors Award"
William J. Haas, Ph.D., President & CEO, LifeBridge Community Services 

The August F. Serra "Community Engagement Award for a Lifetime of Excellence in Community Engagement Work Award"
Charles B. Tisdale, Executive Director, Action for Bridgeport Community Development (ABDC) 

The Norman Leeds "Giving Back to the Community Awards"

Tocqueville Level Giving and Engagement
Carla Klein, The Klein Family Foundation 

Chairman's Circle Partnership: Aquarion Water Company; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; GE; People's United Bank; and Pepperidge Farm.

Carver's 80th Anniversary Gala raises more than $1 million

Carver's 80th Anniversary Gala was truly an event for the ages!

Here is a Facebook photo album of 148 gala reception photos. Here is a photo album of 206 gala evening program photos. 

Joining us in this celebration were Ray Dalio presenting our Child of America award to Sean Combs, elected officials, Carver students and alumni, many generous supporters, program partners and staff, devoted friends and volunteers. It was a time of joy and of raising crucial support for the enduring work of the Carver Foundation of Norwalk. 

There were many moments during the evening that deserve their own blog posts. Carver alumnae Gabriel Pierre-Louis singing during the reception; a special video greeting by Carver kids; Carver alumni sharing their stories; the high drama of the Silent Auction, Paddle Raise and Live Auction managed by the thrilling Robbie Gordy; Ray Dalio presenting the Child of America award to Sean Combs; a music video of Carver kids and Carver Alumnus Kenneth "FNX" Shuler rapping Carver's new anthem, "We Are Carver"; and then the exuberant fellowship afterward.

See the music video: WE ARE CARVER!

Carver alumnus Kenneth "FNX" Shuler (and here) wrote and rapped "We Are Carver" as a tribute to Sean Combs who received the Child of America award at Carver's 80th Anniversary gala on May 11th. FNX was joined by Carver alumnae Gabbie Pierre-Louis and a chorus of Carver youth. Kenny Cash produced the music, cinematography was by John Shyloski, and Marc Alan edited the music video. All are associated with Carver's great supporter, Factory Underground. "We Are Carver" will now live on as Carver's anthem! 

The 80th Anniversary Gala was truly an event for the ages!

Carver's 80th Anniversary Gala was truly an event for the ages! Joining us in this celebration were Ray Dalio presenting our Child of America award to Sean Combs, elected officials, Carver students and alumni, many generous supporters, program partners and staff, devoted friends and volunteers. It was a time of joy and of raising crucial support for the enduring work of the Carver Foundation of Norwalk. 

There were many moments during the evening that deserve their own blog posts, Carver alumnae Gabriel Pierre-Louis singing during the reception; a video greeting by Carver kids; Carver alumni sharing their stories; the high drama of the Silent Auction, Paddle Raise and Live Auction managed by the thrilling Robbie Gordy; Ray Dalio presenting the Child of America award to Sean Combs; a music video of Carver kids and Carver Alumnus Kenneth "FNX" Shuler rapping Carver's new anthem, "We Are Carver"; and then the exuberant fellowship afterward.

And those are merely the headlines. This is the first post of more to come!

Carver's 80th Anniversary Gala Auction -- now LIVE online!

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK! Join us in celebrating our many teachers!

Carver in the news: Carver is an Impact Fairfield County finalist

Greenwich Time, by Ken Borsuk, Monday, April 30, 2018              See the entire article here. 

 

Greenwich giving group gets ready to make a double Impact

Impact Fairfield County, the women-run philanthropy organization that aims to make game-changing gifts to non profit service agencies, will determine its next recipients this week.

The group’s 190-member governing body will vote on the recipients of two $100,000 grants from a slate of four area finalists Wednesday morning. This is the third year of operation for the Greenwich-founded giving circle, and the first time it will award two large Impact Grants. All four of the finalists will walk away with something after an application and evaluation process that began last fall.

“We are so excited and thrilled to be at this point,” Impact Fairfield County co-President Vicki Craver said on Monday. “This time of year is so exciting. So much has happened to get us here. We have reviewed all the proposals and done all the site visits. Now it is time for the big vote.”

Craver and fellow co-President Wendy Block, both of whom are from Greenwich, said Impact is a chance for women to make a real difference and the community is responding as this year’s 190 members represent a sharp jump from last year’s 80 members.

The four finalists being considered are the Carver Foundation of Norwalk’s middle school summer transition program; Open Doors: Changing Lives Through Living Wage Jobs, based in Norwalk; the Stamford Public Education Foundation’s Ready. Set. Shine! program; and the Supportive Housing Works’ Vehicle for Change program, which is based out of Bridgeport....