Norwalk Nonprofits and Charities

Smart Kids with LD has been such a blessing to me and my family! I have three sons and two were diagnosed with specific learning disabilities when they were younger. As a parent, navigating all the ins and outs of these diagnoses can be overwhelming at times but having Smart Kids provided me with exactly what I needed…resources, information, guidance and the comfort that I wasn’t alone! I cannot thank this organization enough for what they have meant to me as a parent and would highly recommend them to parents, caregivers, families, pediatricians, therapists, intervention specialists, counselors, teachers, administrators and any other individuals who work with and support students with learning differences!

Pink Concussions has been life changing for me. The information and support I’ve gained from conferences, webinars and other pink tbi survivors has saved my life. I had no idea of the many facets of TBI; how it affected my balance, my vision, my vestibular system, my nervous system, my processing speed….Thanks to Pink Concussions, I’ve learned from experts what to do and where to seek help. <br><br>Sharon Naulty

The CACNA1A Foundation has been an incredible resource for our family. It’s a source in invaluable information, opportunities, and connection with other families. We are so encouraged by the incredible progress they have made in generating research and interest among clinicians and researchers to work on finding a cure for our CACNA1A kids.

It was a blessing for me to find The Ticked Off Foundation during my search for financial help for Lyme treatment. My family and I had gone through our almost $70,000 in savings (we were saving to buy a home) on multiple IV antibiotic and other drug treatments, as well as on handfuls of expensive diagnostic tests and doctor appointments. None of my treatment was covered by my insurance. Overall, the medical system fails people with Lyme disease, but thankfully there are organizations like The Ticked Off Foundation to help us out. If you are struggling financially to afford Nutramedix supplements, I recommend contacting them.

Conocer NicaPhoto fue todo un descubrimiento. No puedo decir otra cosa que no sea cosas buenas y bonitas. El trabajo que hacen allí es increíble; la atención y dedicación que le dan a los niños son impecables. En Nagarote no pueden ser más afortunados de contar con una asociación como esta. Ronnie hace una excelente labor dirigiendo el programa, además de ser una persona maravillosa. Es de admirar, cómo con tan pocos recursos, son capaces de hacer tanto. No solo están haciendo una gran labor para los niños, al tratar que tengan la vida que deseen y merecen, sino que a nivel de sociedad están haciendo que Nicaragua crezca y se desarrolle como merece. Cómo proyecto me parece algo increíble y digno de admirar. Como voluntaria, solo tengo palabras de agradecimiento a todos y sobre todo a Ronnie y su pareja. Nos trataron como parte de su familia. Nunca os olvidaré, y en cuanto pueda volveré. Muchas gracias por todo, volví a España con el corazón lleno y eso no tiene precio.

Education and Hope is a non-profit that blows me away. Julie Coyne is the leading light of this non-profit, and the miracles she’s accomplished over the last 2 decades (almost single-handedly) are incredible. <br>I have been fortunate enough to be involved with E&H my whole life and visit the program in Guatemala on numerous occasions. This is so much more than an educational program — though the academic opportunities it provides are changing lives and family situations. This organization is a family... a community that steps up for each other in times of need, that constantly<br>Works to better itself, that is built on love.<br>I can’t think of a more worthy charity.

Builders Beyond Borders is an excellent organization that provides local and global building, leadership, and inspirational experiences for high school students. The program gives students opportunities to participate in physically and moving challenges that often take them outside their comfort zones. With these experiences, the students grow tremendously both in maturity and in confidence. They also experience such a sense of accomplishment and bond with each other like a family, that they often are forever changed in an exceptional way. I wholeheartedly recommend this organization for any high school student.

PAWS is tremendously dedicated to helping cats and dogs of all types and sizes find loving, forever homes. They never turn down an animal and will do whatever it takes to nurse them back to health (if necessary), give them training, or just provide lots of TLC. I have adopted a dog and 4 cats from PAWS over the years, and I can tell you first hand that they are a wonderful organization with a HUGE heart for homeless animals. You will never regret paying them a visit!

As a former Director of Development, Monitoring & Evaluation for Thirteen Threads in Panajachel, Guatemala, I can attest to the professionalism and honesty with which Computers for Guatemala and Don and Kirk, conduct their organization. As a non-profit that provides education and empowerment to indigenous Maya women in 20 rural communities, Thirteen Threads is incredibly grateful to CFG for giving us the chance to work according to best practice standards. Researching and creating community education curricula for over 400 women is not an easy task for the Field Supervisor and Community Facilitators, and without computers, (and ones that work!) we would not be able to do our jobs well. Likewise, the organization recently enhanced its monitoring and evaluation program and the computers allow for us to enter and analyze data in meaningful ways so that we can be accountable to the indigenous Maya women members of the organization, ourselves, and our funders. Thank you Don and crew for helping us maintain a transparent, professional organization. Anyone who knows what it's like to work for a non-profit in a developing country (or any non-profit for that matter!), knows the value of partnering with organizations like Computers for Guatemala. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

Carver plays such a significant role in providing children with programs and services that elevate, inspire, develop and support. As a Board member, I could not be more proud to be associated with this outstanding organization-- its leadership team, its network and community, the Carver children and their parents, educators, donors and local leaders are all deeply committed to its success today and many tomorrows. Carver never rests on its laurels. Its current work AND vision for a future where all children have boundaryless opportunities draw well-deserved praise and awe!

I am so happy to be receiving the regular communications from the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and have easy access to its website. Both are full of updates on research across the US and abroad about new treatments and their possibilities. Hearing about Kathy Giusti and her non-stop efforts to get the medical community and the pharmaceutical community to work together is so impressive. I have great respect for her and the way she has established this foundation and its focus on putting the best minds together to find a cure for Multiple Myeloma. The most important aspect of this connection is the hope it offers. After reading the new information, I am always encouraged. I feel this is evidence that all involved are working their hardest and using all of the available resources to help ME. I can't ask for anything more.

Slant of Light looks to be a rising star in the Connecticut community Theatre arena. Of the many community Theatres, SOL is a proactive and outreaching organizatino that is attempting to bring all forms of theatre arts to the community. I look forward to good things to come from this organization and hope to be a consistent volunteer.

I am so grateful to Riedel & Cody! My kitty baby & bestfriend was diagnosed with HSA in October 2018. We began chemotherapy and I applied for a grant with Riedel & Cody. In December, my girl had a terrifying pancreatitis attack and her kidney levels shot up. Soon after, I found out that I was awarded a grant with Riedel & Cody! But we could no longer continue chemotherapy because of too much risk to kidney levels. I was disappointed, but I reached back out to Riedel & Cody, and they allowed me to put my grant toward holistic treatment my Diddles is now receiving. I am so thankful for this organization, for helping me help my bestfriend. Thank you Riedel & Cody!

What &ldquo;Norwalk&rdquo; Means<br><br>To most of us, Norwalk is a small city in Connecticut. But to many in Nagarote, Nicaragua, &ldquo;Norwalk&rdquo; means so much more. Say &ldquo;Norwalk&rdquo; to a taxi driver in Nagarote &ndash; no street name, no address &ndash; and he will bring you to the Norwalk/Nagarote Community Center. Ask a group of kids what &ldquo;Norwalk&rdquo; has meant to them and they will bring tears to your eyes. <br><br>Javier, a fifteen-year-old, says he is learning computers in &ldquo;Norwalk.&rdquo; That $300 scholarship eighteen-year-old Evaristo receives from &ldquo;Norwalk&rdquo; enables him to attend college for a year; in return, he tutors younger kids at the Center. Velia, a nineteen-year-old, tells us that in &ldquo;Norwalk,&rdquo; her teachers are friends. Now a university student in Managua, she says she&rsquo;s studying law because of &ldquo;Norwalk.&rdquo; <br><br>&ldquo;&rsquo;Norwalk&rsquo; is family to me,&rdquo; says Jeffry.<br><br>Juan Gabriel Hernandez Rocha, the ex-Mayor of Nagarote, told us Nagarote and &ldquo;Norwalk&rdquo; have been married to each other for 27 years. &ldquo;Till death do us part,&rdquo; he half-joked.<br><br>&ldquo;Norwalk&rdquo; means promise, hope, opportunity. <br><br>The Norwalk/Nagarote Sister-City Project means so much in the lives of the people of Nagarote.<br><br><br>http://www.sistercityproject.org

I've been working at The Marvin for over six years now. The residents are treated with the utmost respect and we make sure that their every need is fulfilled. Our goal is to make them feel at home, by ensuring them their safety and well-being. Here at The Marvin everyone works together to make sure that our residents are given the care that they deserve and need.

As a volunteer, donor and supporter of the Norwalk Emergency Shelter (aka Open Door Shelter and Manna House Soup Kitchen), I have seen firsthand the good work and invaluable services provided by the staff. They care about people in need and do their absolute best to provide temporary assistance and to offer counsel and services to help their clientele regain their footing in society. <br> <br>I was surprised by the low overall rating, but see that one old and misguided review is dragging down the average. This is a homeless shelter operating on a shoestring budget. They are understaffed and overworked, but do their absolute best. The food provided through the soup kitchen may not be gourmet, but it is prepared in a Health Department certified environment by staff and volunteers who care.

This is a great organization and I admire the person who runs it. Circle of Friends provides inclusion for children and teens who could benefit from one on one buddies while at the same time providing opportunities for teen volunteers to learn about friendship, kindness and diversity.

My history with Creative Connections In the middle of 2002, I&rsquo;ve participated for the first time in the Creative Connections&rsquo;s program with the children of a shelter (Meu Guri &ndash; São Paulo/Brazil). This innovation, besides contemplating a rich pedagogic proposal of education through the art, also provided the increase of the self-esteem and the promotion of the family and cultural values, that are so important in a psicossocial reinsert process. The job was developed with dedication, excitement and affection, once that for the sheltered children, the art and education became an educational allied and a partner-affectionate protection. After all, we were informed that we were awardee for the creativity of the sent works. Since then, the news dispersed, parents, children, adolescents, collaborators and employees acquired a new perception of the artistic works&rsquo;s importance. Now we developed this partnership&rsquo;s (Creative Connections) with public school students&rsquo;. Nowadays, that sheltered adolescents group are adult, they work, and all of them remind of Creative Connections with a lot of thank. &ldquo;All that participate in Creative Connections are winners, but in a shelter of careless children this kind of job makes all the difference.&rdquo; PS: I cannot forget about the teachers, in my case besides learning constantly, since the beginning of the partnership, I will developing a doctorate project with Creative Connections (study of case) that is in phase of project development and of financing. Thank you very much, Luiz Pereira de Souza Brazil SP

TCC is a safe and welcoming place where the LGBTQI community of all ages and cultures in the Fairfield County area of CT can feel safe and supported. TCC's calendar is full of events, meeting and support groups, and educational programming. I am a volunteer for the center, serving on the board of directors since 2008 and love being involved and giving back to a place which has done so much over the years for the LGBTQI community, most importantly our youth via our Outspoken group. TCC is a non-profit, running mainly on member donations. If you're in the area, please become a member now so that the center's doors can remain open. Check us out and join today!

great organization to work with. Very dedicated group.<br>

My puppy Roscoe needed emergency surgery for his eye. LLL worked tirelessly to help us take care of this puppy. They called me the day of the surgery and after. Their generosity will not be forgotten. Please contribute to this amazing organization. They are fair, considerate, and we would not have been able to help Roscoe without them. Thanks so much, LLL!

Save the Sound is a wonderful resource for CT and NY residents. Its annual reports on the state of the Sound is very informative, and the organization provides many different tools for understanding the environmental health of specific regions. Save the Sound appears to be incredibly effective as a result of their multiple-method approach, including legal work, advocacy, and hands-on restoration. In my opinion, only thing missing from this organization is a scalable actions that individuals can take to advance their cause without donating or volunteering. I would love to see information on how local homeowners can, for example, reduce nutrient pollution or other environmental concerns. However, overall, this organization is informative, transparent, and impactful.

I recently volunteered for The Citrone Foundation's Play It Forward Pittsburgh events, whose goal it was to increase the Organ Donor Registration list, in the Pittsburgh area. This was the first campaign PIFP has directed, and they did a great job. As with a first-time event, there were some bumps along the way: <br><br>(1.) Underestimated the number of giveaways for each event. The events that I volunteered at ran out of shirts and were low on sizes.<br><br>(2.) Some issues with communications, but as a first time campaign, volunteers got the messages, eventually, although at the last minute<br><br>(3.) Since this particular campaign focused on local sports figures, and the potential of the local community as potential organ donors, it would have been nice to have the entire campaign developed, finalized and monitored by a local (Pittsburgh) advertising/marketing agency.<br><br>As a volunteer and a kidney transplant recipient of 18 years, this campaign really connected to everyone, whether you were a fan or not, featuring players from the Steelers, Penguins. and Pirates was a terrific connection, especially since one of the athletes (retired) received a heart transplant, (possibly could have used him in a higher profile). Here is a sample of the local sports stars used in a print campaign: Cam Heyward (Steelers), Chris Letang (Penguins), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Francisco Cervelli (Pirates), Kent Tekulve (Pirates and a Heart TX Recipient), Brett Keisel (Steelers). <br><br>This was a fun event for me and my fellow volunteers, most of them transplant recipients, which helped when potential donors would speak of their concerns about donating, we would step right up and tell our story., which in a small way helps seal the deal. <br><br>Hope they do this again in 2018, with a little better planning and tighter communications, this will be a terrific event, and more successful than 2017.<br><br>Rich Morgan<br>Team Allegheny Transplant<br>President<br>Board of Directors<br><br>

I am an entertainment professional who recently moved to Rowayton, Ct. I wanted to get involved in the community and Shakespeare on the Sound offered an excellant opportunity. Because performances are presented in the local parks outdoors in the summer, being a greeter at the gate was my first volunteer role. I was priviledged to see wonderful performances and to meet fellow enthusiasts in a beautiful setting. From that I became a Board member and have been pleased to meet such caring, enthusiastic people. The minimal staff is terrific and the organization works hard to bring Shakespeare to a wide audience both through performance and educational programs.