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New York Times op-ed columnist Gail Collins to be a keynote speaker for Fund for Women and Girls luncheon
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Mar 4, 2010 - 6:29 AM

Gail Collins

The Fairfield County Community Foundation’s Fund for Women and Girls has announced that Gail Collins will be the keynote speaker for its 11th annual luncheon on April 8 at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich. Ms. Collins is a New York Times op-ed columnist and author. She will sign her new book “When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present” at the event. Books will be available for sale. Ms. Collins joined The New York Times in 1995 as a member of the editorial board. In 2001, she became the first woman to be appointed editor of the Times editorial page.

The Fund for Women and Girls luncheon, held at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich, brings together 800 supporters each year. Tickets begin at $250 and can be purchased by calling the Foundation at 203.750.3221 or emailing fwgevents@fccfoundation.org.

The Fund for Women and Girls is the largest fund of its kind in New England. Since its establishment in 1998, it has awarded over $1.4 million in grants to Fairfield County nonprofit programs that help women and girls overcome obstacles and reach their potential.
In Fairfield County, 38,500 households are headed by women with children under 18. To pay for the most basic living expenses, a single parent with an infant and one school age child needs an income of approximately $60,000. Women who work full time in Fairfield County earn a median income of $47,000.

Higher education opens the door to better earnings, yet a college scholarship is not enough for women supporting dependents. Even though many are motivated to improve their financial situation, juggling child care, work, class attendance, study time and running a household make it nearly impossible to pursue the education they need to move up to better-paying jobs.

In late 2007, the Fund for Women and Girls initiated a partnership with Norwalk Community College and the Norwalk Community College Foundation to create the Family Economic Security Program. In this five-year pilot program, low- and moderate-wage NCC students who support dependents receive a comprehensive suite of services and assistance to help them earn an Associate degree, a Bachelor’s degree and enter careers that allow them to support their families. The Fund for Women and Girls has made a five-year $1.25 million commitment to support women in the program.

The Fairfield County Community Foundation promotes the growth of community and regional philanthropy to improve the quality of life throughout Fairfield County. Individuals, families, corporations and organizations can establish their own charitable funds or contribute to existing funds focused on specific areas of need or communities in Fairfield County. The Foundation also provides philanthropic advisory services, and develops and leads initiatives to tackle critical community issues. It is in compliance with the Council on Foundations’ national standards for community foundations. The Foundation has awarded over $110 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond. For more information, visit www.fccfoundation.org.

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