100+ Women Who Care Fairfield County

06/15/2026

Post 3 of 3

While we are still raising money for PEHT : Partnership to End Human Trafficking, and looking forward to our July 21st meeting, we wanted to give everyone a preview of the organizations we'll be hearing from. Last, but not least, is Amazing Girls Science (a program of Science Academy), which was nominated by Katie Augustyn.

Amazing Girls Science empowers girls ages 8-18 to become technology innovators and problem-solvers through their Technovation Program. They partner with an after-school program giving girls 12 weeks to build real apps solving real problems in their communities.

This spring, fifth-grade students in six Norwalk elementary schools worked in teams identifying real-world problems and designing app-based solutions addressing issues including violence reporting, animal welfare, nutrition, water conservation, and caregiver health alerts. Beyond the amazing technology skills, the girls grew in confidence, teamwork, public speaking, and creative problem-solving.

Intrigued? Check out their website for more information: https://www.amazinggirlsscience.com/

And please come to our July meeting--you'll be able to ask questions and get more details about girls in STEM and the great work this non-profit is doing locally. We can't wait to see everyone again and help make some good things happen!

Empowering Girls to Code, Create, and Change the World For over a decade, we've been proving that every girl has the power to solve problems. We've just gotten better at showing her how. WHO WE ARE Amazing Girls Science empowers girls ages 8-18 to become technology innovators and problem-solvers th...

06/03/2026

We have some news we'd like to share with you about PEHT : Partnership to End Human Trafficking, the group we're supporting this quarter! PEHT has recently purchased a small business in Fairfield, The Pantry. If you are familiar with The Pantry, you'll already know that it's a fabulous gourmet grocery store with excellent seafood, baked goods, fresh produce, and catering services. (When I headed my daughters' elementary school PTA's sunshine committee, we always bought world peace cookies there for the teachers on parent/teacher conference days--they loved them!) You can continue to count on The Pantry for good food and good service--in fact, Katie Rolleri, PEHT's CFO and COO, is the niece of The Pantry's founder, Andy Rolleri, and has assured the customers that she's keeping the same recipes and the staff.

If you don't know The Pantry, I encourage you to come check it out when you have a chance! (It's at 1580 Post Road in Fairfield.)

In any case, this new chapter for the organization will allow them to create more social good in our local community.

More information can be found on The Pantry's website: https://thepantry.net/

And of course, you can find out more about PEHT and the important work they are doing here: https://peht.org/

More good news: we're up to just shy of $6,900 so far this quarter--if you haven't yet donated, please make your $100 contribution and we'll see if we can get that number even higher! Here's the link to our Grapevine Giving page: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/l4WCz4/100-Women-Who-Care-Fairfield-County-CT

06/02/2026

Our member Kimberly Rodriguez asked us to spread the word about an upcoming event to benefit Believe Your GRReatness, a non-profit organization we've supported in the past. Their annual benefit concert is this Saturday, June 6th, at at the Bijou Theatre in Bridgeport. You can find out more and purchase tickets here and do your part to help support music education for young people facing mental health challenges: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/music-for-mental-health-benefit-concert-tickets-1990576359476?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=wsa&aff=ebdsshwebmobile

If you can't make it this weekend, you can still bid in their fundraising auction online here, and get some great items--tickets to shows, restaurant gift certificates, art classes, wine, gift baskets, and more: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/believe-your-grreatness-2026-benefit-concert-silent-auction

And if you'd like to learn more about the non-profit, reach out to Kimberly at our next meeting, or check out their website: https://www.believeyourgrreatness.org/

Believe Your GRReatness Believe Your GRReatness mission is to spread the healing power of music by promoting music education through the Gil Rodriguez Scholarship Fund, and through Free or Reduced cost instruments and music lessons for area youth that are battling depression or struggling with other...

06/01/2026

Part 2 of 3

We're still raising money for PEHT : Partnership to End Human Trafficking, but here's a preview of the presenting organizations for our July meeting.

Next up, Open Doors! Open Doors was nominated by Ellen Peck, and is a group that strives to make a direct impact in the greater Norwalk area by guiding every person in the cycle of homelessness towards housing stability. They use a three-part approach: work to prevent homelessness, homeless services, and housing stability. Prevention helps families in danger of losing housing by providing meals, classes, clothing, classes, and programs to reduce debt and grow income. For people already homeless, they provide shelter, outreach, and classes (and tutoring for children). And they own and manage affordable apartments so that families can stay housed for good.

You can learn more by checking out their website: https://www.opendoorsct.org/

And please come to our meeting on July 21st for the opportunity to hear their presentation and ask questions. We are looking forward to seeing you then!

(If you haven't yet donated, here's the link to our Grapevine Giving page: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/l4WCz4/100-Women-Who-Care-Fairfield-County-CT )

05/26/2026

Post 1 of 3

We hope everyone had a good long weekend and didn't get rained on too much!

While we continue to raise money for PEHT : Partnership to End Human Trafficking, we thought we'd share some information about the organizations that will be presenting at our July meeting.

First up is 100GirlsLeading! Nominated by Miri Citron , this Bridgeport non-profit works on empowerment and mentorship for girls. They provide access to mentoring programs for girls ages 9 to 18, to academically and economically empower them to become effective leaders in their lives, careers, and communities.

(Also--we love the name synchronicity! When these girls grow up, we hope they will join with us!)

You can learn more about this group and what they do on their website: https://www.100girlsleadinginc.org/ And of course, come to our meeting and you'll have the opportunity to hear more and ask questions. We can't wait!

P.S. If you haven't yet made your $100 donation this quarter, please do so here: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/l4WCz4/100-Women-Who-Care-Fairfield-County-CT Thanks to all who have given so far!

05/19/2026

Our member Meryl Japha has asked us to spread the word about a call for volunteers this summer.

Back to School Shop (one of the terrific organizations which will be in our hat for our July meeting) has provided over 3,600 children from low income families with the opportunity to shop for brand new clothes and school supplies in its annual one day pop-up store event.

Can you volunteer for a morning or afternoon shift on July 26 (or during their set-up on July 25?) Volunteer here: https://www.backtoschoolshop.org/2026-volunteer-registration or for more information please visit www.backtoschoolshop.org .

(Also, thanks to everyone who has donated so far this quarter--we're up to just shy of $6,900 for PEHT : Partnership to End Human Trafficking! If you haven't yet made your contribution, please make a payment here: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/l4WCz4/100-Women-Who-Care-Fairfield-County-CT)

Our annual Back to School Shop event is only possible with the help of our amazing volunteers. Information about volunteer registration will be available in May, but in the meantime:

05/15/2026

I don't know about you but we tend to have a lot of gifts to buy at this time of year--graduations, teacher end-of-year treats, hostess gifts when people invite us over. And while no one we know ever objects to a box of chocolates or a bottle of wine, if you are looking for some meaningful gifts which will do some good for our local non-profits, we have a few suggestions:

1) First up, PEHT : Partnership to End Human Trafficking (the organization we're supporting this quarter). They have a really lovely gift shop in downtown Fairfield at 1630 Post Road. They also have an online store if that is more convenient for you: https://peht.org/collections . This is a great way to help support survivors of trafficking.

2) There's also Our Woven Community (a project at the Burroughs Community Center), a group we've supported in the past. They make gorgeous bags and accessories. You can find their work at local farmers markets and some retail stores, or online here: https://burroughscenter.org/shop-1/ . This is a terrific way to support refugee women.

3) Or you can get some delicious treats from Sweet P Bakery, another group we've supported before. You can arrange for pick up in Norwalk or order cookies to be shipped--here's where to shop: https://sweetpbakery.org/collections/colossal-cookies . Your purchases here support training and employment for adults with disabilities.

4) You can also check out Believe Your GRReatness, yet another group we've supported. They have an etsy shop where they sell jewelry and gift items made from recycled cymbals here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BelieveYourGreatness . The money raised through these purchases is used to support music education for young people facing mental health challenges.

5) Last but absolutely not least, you can shop at Nourish Bridgeport, a terrific organization we've also supported previously. You'll have to go pick up your greens if you'd like them (and you can pay any price you'd like), but they will ship coffee and gift items--check it out here: https://nourish-online-store.company.site/products . The money you spend at nOURish Bridgeport supports the Bridgeport community through a variety of programs focusing on food, education, and health.

Happy shopping, everyone! Let's keep helping good things happen around here!

(If you haven't yet made your $100 contribution to PEHT, please do so here: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/l4WCz4/100-Women-Who-Care-Fairfield-County-CT )

Learn more about 100+ Women Who Care- Fairfield County, CT on Grapevine.org

05/12/2026

Greetings, all! Wanted to give you a quick preview of the organizations that are going to be in the hat for the July meeting!

We have a great mix of organizations we've supported in the past, organizations which have presented but haven't (yet) been selected, and organizations new to us. Here they are:

Our Woven Community (a program of Burroughs Community Center), nominated by Cynthia Davis
Fairfield County House, nominated by Hanni Heller-Ram
Back to School Shop, nominated by Meryl Japha
Food Rescue US - Fairfield County, nominated by Martine Kessler
The Center for Family Justice, Inc. nominated by Adriana Mazza
Hall Neighborhood House nominated by Deana Salese
Circle of Care nominated by Elizabeth Salguero
Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestras - GCTYO, nominated by Beth Ulman
Family & Children's Agency, nominated by Maria Wilcox

If we have any of this wrong, please let us know!

If you are a member in good standing and aren't listed above, you are welcome to make a nomination--if there's a local charity you'd like to see the group consider, please let us know so we can add it to the hat!

If you haven't made your donation yet to PEHT : Partnership to End Human Trafficking, now is the time! You can do so here: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/l4WCz4/100-Women-Who-Care-Fairfield-County-CT

And if you're not sure whether or not you've made your donation, get in touch, and we'll help you out with whatever Grapevine-related confusion you may be experiencing!

Learn more about 100+ Women Who Care- Fairfield County, CT on Grapevine.org

05/08/2026

There are two reasons to shop at the PEHT Shop in Fairfield.

One is that it's a distinctive part of PEHT : Partnership to End Human Trafficking's survivor programming, empowering survivors by providing economic opportunities and fostering personal growth. At the shop, survivors of trafficking create and sell handcrafted products while benefiting from paid employment, access to banking services, financial counseling, and assistance in obtaining identification and work authorization–all helping to lay the foundation for economic independence. They also receive on-the-job training in time management, computer proficiency, resume and interview prep, and financial planning through a savings match program–all these practical skills and support go toward empowering them to achieve long-term stability and independence.

The other reason is that it's a lovely environment with helpful and kind staff and absolutely beautiful gift items--candles, napkins, pet supplies, jewelry, coasters, pottery, and more. It is a perfect place to pick up hostess gifts and treats for your friends (or for yourself). And you can feel absolutely terrific about supporting this fine organization (see above, reason number one) while spreading some kindness and beauty in our communities.

A group of PEHT people and some of the 100 Women met there yesterday for some shopping, education, and conversation--it was a really nice time, and we followed it up with lunch at a local restaurant. We highly recommend you do the same at your earliest opportunity!

Make your donation here if you haven't yet: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/l4WCz4/100-Women-Who-Care-Fairfield-County-CT

05/06/2026

Reminder: a few of us are making a visit to the PEHT Shop and having lunch tomorrow (May 7) -- all are welcome! (Just let us know if you want to join!)

12:30 meet at PEHT Shop (1630 Post Road, Fairfield)

12:45 lunch at Lantern Point Taverna (right down the block at 1612 Post Road)

Group picture, shopping to support PEHT : Partnership to End Human Trafficking good food, good company, a good way to spend a Thursday afternoon!

Also, thanks so much to all who have donated so far--we're up to just shy of $6,700! Can we get that number even higher? Make your contribution here:

Learn more about 100+ Women Who Care- Fairfield County, CT on Grapevine.org