Helping to eliminate educational disparities in Fairfield County
Press Release from Fairfield County’s Community Foundation
The Fairfield County Business Collaborative for Education Equity (BCEE) today announced the addition of three new corporate partners from the Greenwich and Stamford regions: Gallatin Point Capital, The Ashforth Company and Henkel Corporation.
The BCEE is a local impact and funding collaborative that works to reduce and eliminate educational disparities among Fairfield County’s most vulnerable pre-K through 12+ students, parents and guardians, as well as teachers and staff.
It was established in 2020 in partnership with Fairfield County’s Community Foundation to serve the Greater Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk and Stamford regions and has awarded more than $400,000 in grants to date. In addition to financial contributions, BCEE partners also provide employee volunteerism and expertise and other resources.
The three new partners join the Collaborative’s seven Founding Partners: Bank of America, First County Bank, Lapine Associates, Pitney Bowes, Synchrony, The Tudor Foundation, Inc. and Xerox.
Together, the new additions will bolster the business community’s commitment to advancing education equity, according to Lee Sachs, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Gallatin Point Capital.
“Gallatin Point Capital is honored to have the opportunity to join the Fairfield County Business Collaborative for Education Equity,” Sachs said. “As corporate partners and community stewards, we are eager to offer our expertise and lend support to help eliminate the educational disparities happening in our own backyard.”
“It will also build on the Fairfield County business community’s tradition of coming together to support important local causes,” said Kim DePra, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for The Ashforth Company.
“The Ashforth Company is pleased to join The Collaborative and to be able to work together with our local businesses and their talented teams to collectively make a greater impact in education equity for our community,” DePra said.
Joining from the Stamford region, the Henkel Corporation brings a global brand with a hyper-local presence to the Collaborative aimed to reimagine and improve everyday life.
“We are dedicated to increasing access to quality education to help close the equity gap for today’s students and generations to come,” said Clayton Sinclair, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Henkel. “The Collaborative is an excellent pathway for businesses to join together in supporting local nonprofits and community organizations who are on the ground and know the work that needs to be done in this space.”
Serving as the Collaborative’s community foundation partner, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation provides administrative and advisory services to local business members, helping them achieve greater combined impact.
The Collaborative’s growing membership comes as Fairfield’s County Community Foundation finalizes a new strategic plan and prepares for the forthcoming retirement of Juanita T. James, its President and CEO.
“The Community Foundation is thrilled to welcome Gallatin Point Capital, The Ashforth Company, and Henkel Corporation as the newest members of the Collaborative,” said Juanita T. James, President and CEO of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. “We are so appreciative of the business community in Fairfield County whose commitment to eliminating the local educational disparities is beyond measure.”
“In a very short time, we have seen the strength in working together and the promise that this partnership can accomplish in building resiliency and opportunity for all,” said Marc Lautenbach, President and CEO of Pitney Bowes. “We welcome our newest members and invite other companies who call Fairfield County home to join us as we work together to help build brighter, more equitable futures for all children and families in our community.”
About Fairfield County’s Community Foundation
Based in Norwalk, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation promotes philanthropy as a means to create change in Fairfield County, focusing on innovative and collaborative solutions to critical issues impacting the community. Individuals, families, corporations, and organizations can establish charitable funds or contribute to existing funds. The Community Foundation is in compliance with The Council on Foundations’ national standards and has awarded over $366 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond. As a trusted nonprofit partner and thought leader, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation brings together community organizations, business experts, and philanthropists to solve our region’s challenges. The Community Foundation’s goal is to create a vital and inclusive community, where every individual has the opportunity to thrive. www.fccfoundation.org
