As Executive Director of Stamford Young Artists Philharmonic, a youth symphony orchestra organization which partners with Starfish Connection, I cannot say enough about the caring, nurturing atmosphere fostered by this wonderful organization. The leadership is stellar, and the students benefit by committed attention to their needs. Just in the several years we have partnered with them, we have seen students transition from wide-eyed children enthralled with their new-found exposure to the instruments to actual learning musicians ready to transition into membership in our selected-by-audition program. This organization is a treasure to our community! Joyce DiCamillo

I first came to Starfish 2 years ago and recruited a friend as well. We are so pleased with the organization and the mentors involved. We all work well together and Judy Martin is an angel. I love being a mentor and friend to my mentee's family.

It is with great pleasure that I write this review. The Starfish Connection came to us ( The Young Mariners Foundation, a non-for profit Org.) several years ago and asked if some of their children could be included in our program. The Young Mariners Foundation serve the inner city young population. The Starfish Connection have their mentors bring their children to our once a week all school year 5th grade program. They learn many things related to the sea, ecology, navigation, knot tying, rules of the road/safety at sea etc. Upon completion of the Young Mariner Program the Starfish Connection children are considered for scholarships to the Blue Water Bound summer sailing camp. Several of the Starfish Connection children have attended both programs and they are exemplary students. We at YMF feel fortunate to have such a meaningful and productive relationship with Starfish Connection. For further information you may contact us at http://youngmarinersfoundation.org/
Peter Gunn
Program Director

The Starfish Connection pairs mentors with third-grade students who show academic promise, have good attendance records (indicating parental involvement), but are held back by economic circumstances. These children are bright, high potential kids for whom mentoring will hopefully provide the extra edge they'll need to score high throughout their k-12 schooling and then to go to college. As a mentor, I've committed to work with my mentee for 10 years, until he graduates from H.S. His parents are from Haiti. Both work. The father works two jobs. Starfish provides the opportunity for my mentee to attend cultural events (concerts, plays) with me, to go to summer camp, to learn a musical instrument, to participate in the City of Stamford's Recreation program (my mentee has taken piano lessons; others do swimming, art, sports), to go on educational field trips. On our first day together, not quite a year ago, we went to the library and got him a library card. We go there frequently. We read together several times a week, over the phone and in person. He has a refurbished printer courtesy of Starfish (his family already had a computer). He has a piano, donated by a friend of Starfish. Donors make it possible for Starfish Connection to provide backpacks and camp clothing, to pay for the camp itself, and to provide at full-cost or a scholarship rate all of the programs I've mentioned. I can see the enormous benefits my mentee has had so far from Starfish. I can't wait to see his success as a result. The founder, Judy Martin, is inspiring me and my fellow mentees to do all we can to make our mentees' lives all they can be.