Connecticut Children’s Medical Center: Aplace of little superheroes
By Bekah Wright
Saying goodbye and going home are often milestones for families of preemies.
“It was a bittersweet moment,” Jesse Costa said of her experience Suddenly, she’s hit by tears. “Things could have turned out so differently.”
In 2019, a 27-week and one-day pregnant Costa was admitted to Hartford Hospital with partial placental abruption, a complication in which the placenta detaches from the uterine wall, jeopardizing the devel-
oping baby’s ability to get oxygen and nutrients.
One morning, her gynecologist arrived unexpectedly, telling Costa she had been contracting all night Costa was in denial, hoping for more time for her son to develop in her womb, but she was dilated. In a flash, she was having an emergency C-section.
In short order, Telmo, Jr., aka Junior, was born weighing two pounds and seven ounces. Junior was whisked through an underground tunnel to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center’s Neona-
tal Intensive Care Unit
Once out of recovery herself, Costa was determined to see her baby
“It was jarring seeing how small he was,” she recalled. “Because he was born so early, his organs weren’t fully developed, so they placed him in a special incubator An oscillator shook his body to get his lungs to produce oxygen.”
Yet, she was able to touch him.
“I was able to put one finger on him,” she said. Junior was facing several issues – a stage two brain bleed and a patent ductus arteriosus, or
PDA, a congenital heart defect that leaves a small hole in the heart of premature babies. A couple of weeks later, the Costas’ primary nurse asked if they wanted to hold Junior “Are you sure?” Costa asked at the time “He was so small – the size of my hand – and had tubes connected to him.”
With the nurse’s encouragement, Costa held her tiny son against her chest. Ninety days into Junior’s hospital stay his neonatologist let the Costas know Junior’s brain bleed had healed entirely, but the hole in
Photos courtesy of Jesse Costa
Junior was facing several issues a stage two brain bleed and a congenital heart defect that leaves a small hole in the heart of premature babies. He was born early, weighing 2 pounds, 7 ounces in 2019 and spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.
Jesse Costa holds her son Telmo Jr., aka Junior
his heart wasn’t closing, which was impacting his breathing Surgery was necessary. The family met with a cardiology team. In lieu of the traditional openheart surgery used for such a repair, they proposed using a catheter that would be inserted through Junior’s groin. A tiny camera would guide them in placing a military-grade metalmesh coil into the hole, in the hopes that it would reroute blood flow in the right direction
At 5 weeks old, Junior had the history-making surgery on his heart. He was, at the time, the smallest-sized baby in Connecticut to have had this type of surgery. Medical professionals arrived from out of state to watch, Costa said.
“It was a miracle,” she recalled.
Ten days later, the Costas took Junior to their home in West Hartford, where his then-3-year-old sister Alessia saw him for the first time There were nerves, too Up until then, Junior had received 24/7 NICU support.
“We’d developed relationships with these people who’d saved my son’s life – they’d become family,” Costa said.
Connecticut Children’s was able to stay involved with its Neonatal Neurodevelopmental
Follow-up Program, which provides comprehensive assessment and care through interdisciplinary services of neonatologists, nurses, occupational therapists and physical therapists, who monitored Junior’s milestones until he was 3 years old.
The family’s relationship with Connecticut Children’s continues to this day.
Costa was invited to be on the Family Advisory Council, a volunteer group of parents of former pediatric patients who give input on the Connecticut Children’s experience. A project that excites Costa is the forthcoming eight-story clinical tower set to open in December
“We were able to see blueprints and give feedback on the tiniest things that will make it easier for the next generation of NICU moms,”
she said. These elements range from a new fetal care center with enhanced outpatient services to reliable cell service throughout the building Connecticut Children’s recently announced a $50 million philanthropic gift from entrepreneur and philanthropist Tom Golisano to name Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford.
“Connecticut Children’s has long been a leader in advancing pediatric excellence, and
“He refers to himself as Iron Man due to the coil in his heart.”
Jesse Costa
this gift allows us to elevate that mission even further,” Paulanne Jushkevich, president of Connecticut Children’s Foundation, said in a statement.
Junior is now 6 years old.
“He’s just a normal kid,” Costa said.
Junior also remains very involved with Connecticut Children’s As an All-Star Patient, his story is shared with others, bringing hope to families and children facing difficult births or diagnoses.
A favorite event of Junior’s is the annual Superhero Sunday 5K, Walk & Roll, Kids’ Mile & Community Bash that celebrates Connecticut Children’s courageous patients. When the event rolls around, Junior already knows which superhero he is.
“He refers to himself as Iron Man due to the coil in his heart,” Costa said. “Junior knows his story, and he’s proud of it.”
Photos courtesy of Jesse Costa
Telmo Jr., aka Junior, had surgery at 5 weeks old to place a military-grade metal-mesh coil into the hole in his heart. He was, at the time, the smallest-size baby in Connecticut to have had this type of surgery
Junior enjoys a treat at the beach.
Junior holds his father’s finger while in the NICU of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
Widow’s journey leads to nonprofit focused on the healing nature of animals
By Keith Loria
When you meet Kate Nicoll, the founder and CEO of Soul Friends, Inc., it’s impossible not to see the thread of healing that weaves through her life
From deep personal loss to unexpected disability, to the joyful resurgence of hope in children and families who feel broken or alone her journey and mission is one that blurs the lines between therapist, patient, advocate and
friend.
As a young widow at 32, Nicoll raised two small children and carried the pain of that void with her into her work as a hospice and home-care social worker
“I went to work one day and came home and
a virus attacked my spi-
nal cord and I was partially paralyzed from the neck down,” she said. Suddenly Nicoll found herself dependent, frightened and angry. Through it all, one constant companion was always by her side—the dog she had
rescued six weeks after her first husband’s death.
“I noticed Sam really responded to my pain, my anger and my frustration in a way that really got me thinking, like, what is this about the human-animal bond that is allowing me to see
things outside of myself and comfort me?” she said. That realization became the genesis of Soul Friends, a nonprofit based in Wallingford. Not long after, Nicoll embarked on a yearlong certificate in animal-
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Courtesy of Soul Friends
Soul Friends offers programs that promote the healing benefits of the human-animal bond. This includes therapy dogs, rabbits, chickens and horses.
assisted therapy and in May 2003, officially founded the nonprofit.
From the get-go, her vision was clear: develop clinical and educational programs that harness the healing benefits of the human-animal bond and of nature
In simplest terms, Soul Friends’ mission is to provide innovative clinical and educational programs that promote the healing benefits of the human-animal bond and nature for children, families, young adults, veter-
ans and first responders
Under that umbrella sit therapy dogs, rabbits, chickens and horses all animals chosen not just for their cuteness but for their capacity to embody presence, to reflect emotions and to teach connection.
“I’ve had seven therapy dogs and they’ve all been rescue dogs,” she said.
“And kids like when the therapy animal isn’t perfect. Even a mismatch, say, a child who is depressed and a more active dog, can become power-
ful through that tension and the kid comes out of their shell.”
The children brought to Soul Friends are varied. Social anxiety school refusal post-COVID, foster care, PTSD, autism, ADHD and grief and loss are all common challenges.
“If the child has social anxiety or selective mutism, part of the session is we might start with walking the dog in the parking lot with no direct eye contact or side-by-
Soulcontinues on S9
Hearst Connecticut Media file photo
Kate Nickoll, of Cheshire,with her dogs Noah, front left, Muffin, front right, and Bear Nickol uses dogs in her therapy with children.
Ann’sPlace offers over 30 support groups,counseling, movement programs,art therapy, children’s therapy, andwellnessprogramstothe person with cancer andto theirloved ones -freeofcharge.
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Cancer patients find community both online andin-person across Connecticut& NewYork.
There is aplace wheretears and laughter coexist—anditmay be closer to home than youthink
Ann’sPlace,a nonprofitorganization basedinDanbury,has spent thepastfew yearsrefining itshybrid modelofcancersupport services offeringprogramsbothonlineand in-personsimultaneouslytopeople across thestate
“Since COVID, ourclients,who areoften fatigued andunwell, have made it cleartheydon’t want to lose theonlineoption,”saidShannon Cobb,President andCEO of Ann’sPlace
Thanks to innovative technology, theorganizationhas enhanced its hybrid experience -using cameras that focusonthe speakerand have enhanced sound. In addition to the weekly hybrid programs,theyhave startedspecial quarterlyin-person meetups, such as arecentpicnicfor families with youngchildren, which continue to buildfriendships
Ann’sPlace also provides awide rangeofsupport programs in Spanish, ararityinConnecti-
cut. Spanish-speaking clients come from across thestate and stay connectedthrough active WhatsApp groups,which offer supportbetween meetings.Many clientscoordinaterides to attend in-personsessionsormedical treatments together
Theexpansion of online services hasled to asurprisingdevelopment:the number of late-stage cancer patients served by Ann’s Placehas tripled. “Thesewerethe clientsweweremissing before, anddidn’tevenknowit,”Cobb said.“Nowwe’re able to offer counseling to people whoare bedriddenorinhospice.”
This increase in stageIVpatients haspromptedthe launch of severalnew programs,including ametastaticbreastcancersupport group, meaning-centered psychotherapy, griefyoga, and bereavementgroups.
Ann’sPlace hasalsoextendedits reachthrough partnerships with TheHaroldLeeverCancerCenterinWaterbury andNuvance
Health in NewMilford, offeringart therapyat both satellitelocations.Art therapyprovidesa powerfuloutletfor clientswhen wordsfallshort
Whileall services areprovidedfreeofcharge, they arenot free to offer.With thehelpof800 volunteers, Ann’sPlace candeliver a full year of supporttoone
person facing cancer forjust $1,200.
“Itisheartwarmingtosee people from across Connecticut step up to help as ourfootprint expands,” Cobb said
To sign up forservices or learnmoreabout supportingAnn’s Place, visitannsplace.org.
Parentsfacingcancerwho have young children metatAnn’s Place fora family daypicnic. Events like this allowthe children to meet others whohaveparents fightingcancer.
side noticing things how the dog is doing in a social environment,” Nicoll said. “The therapist and animal form a kind of bridge into the child’s world.”
In the equine programs, similar meaningful metaphors emerge. For instance, in one case, a three-generation family in a six-session program at the farm said the horse “was carrying their grief” and “broke the chain of three or four generations of trauma.”
But it’s not just about hearing the nice stories, Nicoll is committed to showing measurable outcomes in empathy, hopefulness and relationship building
Since Nicoll herself lives with a neurological disability, she admits she couldn’t practice clinically if not for her own therapy dog, Emmett
The fact that she runs a nonprofit, supervises clinicians, and builds
training programs while managing her own health shows the depth of her commitment.
Soul Friends has grown steadily since its founding The organization has served more than 10,000 children and families in Connecticut through its work It collaborates with more than 25 community agencies, are credentialed by the state child welfare department and offer multiple services including
interactive psychotherapy, equine-assisted therapy, group therapies, such as “Come, Follow Me” for dog-training and social skills; and “Healing Hearts” for trauma and attachment.
The science backing her work matters The human-animal bond has been shown to reduce blood pressure reduce the stress hormone cortisol, and increase the bonding hormone oxytocin.
“We now have the science to know that it works, but back in 2002, people thought ‘Why are you doing this mission incorporating dogs? she said.
In October, the nonprofit did close to 260 clinical visits and have set a goal for up to 400 visits per month in 2026
With that goal in mind, Nicoll is taking Soul Friends into a new phase, with an incoming executive director, expanded training more clinicians and deeper research. She is also exploring work with long-COVID populations and hopefulness in veteran and first responder families.
“Soul Friends is more than a therapy practice; it’s an embodiment of a simple truth that when we connect to another being be it dog, horse or rabbit we tap into something bigger than ourselves,” she said. “We open space for trust, for movement and for change.”
Courtesy of Soul Friends
One family who participated in the equine program said it felt like the horse “was carrying their grief.
From page 7
Hearst Connecticut Media file photo
File photo of Charlie the therapy dog during a program at the Derby Neck library. Charlie is part of Soul Friends in Wallingford, a group that uses animals in therapy with at-risk youth.
Courtesy of Soul Friends
Soul Friends offers clinical and educational programs.
Courtesy of Soul Friends
As Soul Friends expands, it hopes to deepen its research to work with long COVID clients and offer a sense of peace to veterans and first responders.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut helps children reach their full potential
By Linda Tuccio-Koonz
Pahola Ortiz loves teaching first grade, but said school wasn’t fun as achild. She struggled with spelling and faced challenges at home
When her fourth grade teacher told her about the possibility of connecting with a volunteer mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut, she asked her parents to sign her up
“That decision was one of the best I ever made,” she said, adding the con-
nection changed her life forever. Ortiz became among the first in her family to graduate college, and now mentors a student of her own.
Ariiana was in fifth grade when they met; now she’s in eighth, said Ortiz, who now lives in Cheshire
“She was really shy in the beginning,” Ortiz said, but is “definitely coming into her own now. She tells me more about school.”
After three-plus years together, the two have shared all kinds of expe-
riences, from art projects to pumpkin farm visits. Sometimes they just do brunch, talking about everything from Ariiana’s schoolwork to her love of dance
“One of the reasons I wanted to become a mentor was because for myself it was such a transformative experience to have someone dedicated to me and taking the time to talk and spend time with me,” said Ortiz, who grew up in Willimantic, and whose parents emigrated from the Dominican Republic
When Ortiz entered elementary school, she didn’t know any English.
“I was going through a difficult time because my parents were getting divorced,” said Ortiz, whose mentor was a University of Connecticut student named Dana.
Ortiz, whose only sibling is a younger brother, said she always looked forward to seeing Dana because she’d longed for a sister and Dana felt like a “big sister figure” to her “It was really nice to have someone to talk to,” Ortiz said. “I was really
shy and would get picked on in school and she really helped build up my confidence Those are my memories. I’m 32 now, and I still remember.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut makes meaningful, professionally supported matches between adult volunteers, known as “Bigs,” and children, called “Littles.”
There’s nearly 500 mentors and about 150 kids are waiting to be matched.
Having a mentor was “an amazing experience,” Ortiz said. “She would
help me with my homework We would talk play—simple things. She was a contributing factor to me wanting to go to UConn.” Ortiz said when Dana spoke about college, “it made it seem real for me.” Her Dominican Republic family members worked jobs, but didn’t really have careers, she said, so there were no role models to show her how different life could be Dana helped her realize she wanted more
Courtesy of Pahola Ortiz
Cheshire resident Pahola Ortiz, a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut, shares an October afternoon with her mentee, Ariiana, at Treat Farm in Orange
“Spelling was really hard for me because I’m bilingual,” Ortiz said“I didn’t feel confident She worked with me on my spelling words and encouraged me to put in the effort and not give up
“Those are things I try to instill in my own Little—that it’s important to try your best and make sure you surround yourself with people who are good influences,” Ortiz continued. “Dana always told me, ‘If people aren’t being kind to you, they’re not your friends. Make sure you find people that care about you.’”
Ariiana said Ortiz is fun to be around, and helps her with things, including homework and studying for tests.
“My grades got better and my attitude is better,” Ariiana said. “I feel like I’m ready for school more and I communicate better Ifeel like we’re a team because of the way she talks to me.”
One school night when
Ariiana performed in a dance showcase, Ortiz went and sat with her parents in the audience and greeted her afterward.
“I was excited to see her,” said Ariiana, who enjoys all kinds of dancing, including modern and hip-hop. It was a really special moment because Ariiana was so happy, Ortiz said.
“That’s one of the most rewarding things—having your Little know that you’ll show up for them,”
Ortiz said “It made me feel great because that’s how my mentor made me feel; I want to make sure she feels the same, like I’m there for her, I’m a support system, and I’m going to be her cheerleader.”
Ortiz started giving back to BBBS CT while attending UConn; she signed up to mentor students at North Windham Elementary School.
“My cousins went to that school, so it was nice because I felt like I was contributing to my com-
munity, in a way,” she said.
She was also a BBBS CT site manager at Windham Middle School, went on to work for Teach for America, and is in her eighth year as a teacher, currently at Beecher Road Elementary School in Woodbridge.
Ortiz is married and has “a house full of animals” with three dogs and two cats Visits with Ariiana are usually on weekends. They’ve done everything from carving pumpkins to creating sand art and visiting the mall. They also keep in touch via text.
“I want people to understand the impact these kinds of programs have on kids’ lives, especially kids who need to see people who are in different circumstances than the ones they’re in, Ortiz said. “Because when you’re only surrounded by the things you know, you’re going to think that’s it in life, but when you see people that look like you that are achieving things, it really shows you, ‘I can do that, too,’ instead of being stuck in the box that you find yourself in.”
She said the program is rewarding because she can see the impact on the children’s behavior how they interact with others, and how they behave with their families.
“Even just being a trusted adult, a confidant, it’s so rewarding to know this child feels comfortable enough with me to tell me what’s going on in her life,” she said.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut said its community-based mentoring program is “where volunteers help children discover their potential and build brighter futures.”
Volunteer or donate at ctbigs.org or call 860-5255437
This holiday season, Berni & Murcer – Friends for Life is reaching out to the greater Fairfield County communities to share an opportunity to spread love and light to some of the bravest children in our community – those battling cancer Every year, countless children are diagnosed with cancer, and their young lives are turned upside down The emotional and physical challenges they face can be overwhelming Medical procedures can be painful and scary, often leaving them to feel isolated and afraid
The Berni & Murcer Comfort Backpack Program is dedicated to bringing rays of hope and joy into the lives of these precious children by delivering specially curated comfort backpacks free of charge (with input from medical professionals and families impacted by cancer) to help brighten their days during treatments and provide a sense of childhood normalcy
Each backpack is a reminder that they are not alone in this fight and that there is a community of caring individuals cheering them on!”
Each child receives a Berni & Murcer Comfort Backpack filled with unique items such as: Berni Therapeutic
Plush Companion
Murcer Chemo Bag Cover
• The Adventures of Berni & Murcer Storybook
• Writing Journal/Water Bottle/Blanket
Mini-Quest Activity Book I
• Berni Bead Kit/Notes of Hope
• Love Your Melon Mask Pencil Case with crayons, pastels
• Lunch Box/Drawstring Bag
During this season of giving, you can make a difference in the lives of children diagnosed with cancer and their families in our communities To give the gift of hope and to learn more about the Berni & Murcer Comfort Backpack program, please visit: www.berniandmurcer.org or scan the QR code above.
VOTE FOR BERNI & MURCER! We have a chance to win a $10K advertising grant with Hearst CT Media Group which helps us to reach more supporters and deliver more Comfort Backpacks to children diagnosed with cancer in the region‛s hospitals and outreach programs! Voting opens November 24th –December 26th, 2025. Share the QR code with your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues!
Photos courtesy of Pahola Ortiz
Pahola Ortiz and Ariiana share a moment in front of a colorful mural in New Haven. They spotted the vibrant artwork while enjoying a walk after brunch
Pahola Ortiz and her mentee, Ariiana, display works of sand art they created together
Connecticut Foodshare is the food bank serving the people of Connecticut, and a partner of Feeding America’s nationwide network. 1 in 6 Children lack consistent access to healthy meals. *United Way 2025 ALICE Report A family of four needs to earn to get by. nearly $120,000* In Connecticut, 1 in 7 people are facing hunger. This is more than the populations of Hartford, Bridgeport, and New Haven combined (Over 516,000 people)
Peter Hvizdak/Hearst Connecticut Media
Yale University police officers, shown here in a file photo, help organize food during a Thanksgiving turkey drive in New Haven.
During tough economic times, agencies help families facing insecurities
By Cassandra Day STAFF WRITER
NEW HAVEN Local organizations are stepping up efforts this year to address rising rates of homelessness, an increase in food insecurity and other difficulties families are facing as the winter season approaches.
Increasing health care costs, inflation, the high cost of living and other factors have prompted families to seek help.
Forty-two % of households in Greater New Haven don’t make enough money to afford basic necessities such as food, rent and child care according to the United Way of Greater New Haven ALICE Report.
Perhaps the largest impact was felt by the disruption of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps feed 360,000 state residents.
“Bottom line, the well has run dry” due to the federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture posted on its website
“This will have a trickle-down effect, which has adirect impact on children,” said Gwendolyn B. Williams, New Haven director of Youth and Recreation.
The state provided emergency funding to Connecticut Foodshare to temporarily continue feeding households CEO Jason Jakubowski said the infusion of state cash would be enough to provide six million meals for two weeks through the network of more than 650 community-based food banks, meals pro-
grams and mobile food pantries that the nonprofit organization supplies.
Winter clothing
Some families are also having trouble affording warm outerwear for their children.
The Youth and Recreation office runs an annual coat giveaway in partnership with New Haven Police and Dalio Philanthropies, of Westport.
“It’s about giving a little warmth to the people of the community that need it,” Police Chief Karl Jacobson, joined Deputy Director of Youth Services Ronald Huggins, said in an Instagram video. More than 700 coats
are available, from size 2T to XXL
For more information, contact a police district representative by visiting newhavenct.gov.
The Warm The Children program also provides new winter clothing and footwear for children in need, ages birth through age 12, across the state.
During the 2024-25 season, Warm the Children helped 493 kids in 270 families, according to its website Donations can be made by visiting warmthechildren.org.
Food assistance
The government shutdown also added to food
instability, Williams explained.
Food assistance is an immediate need, said New Haven Community Services Administrator Eliza Halsey
“Because it’s been a changing landscape, the Coordinated Food Access Network is working to mobilize immediate response,” Halsey said last month. “Food insecurity in New Haven is real and we want to make sure all children and families have access to food a basic need.”
The recreation department planned to hold a a drive-through turkey giveaway on Nov 20 from 4p.m. until supplies are
exhausted. “We know the need is great,” said Williams, who expects to supply turkeys to at least 1,000 people that day. There is no need to sign up It will be held at the Edgewood Park Coogan Pavilion, 720 Edgewood Ave., New Haven.
Last year the department and partners distributed more than 1,700 turkeys that fed 6,000 community members, she said.
Those who’d like to donate should contact Felicia Shashinka at 203-410-0336.
For locations of Greater New Haven food pantries visit 211ct.org.
Homelessness
The number of un-
housed people has also increased since 2024, Halsey said.
In 2024 homelessness in Connecticut increased by 13%. “There was a 79% increase in calls to 2-1-1 for housing and shelter,” she told the General Assembly in February.
In Greater New Haven, that figure has doubled to more than 630 people over the past year she said.
Organizations providing aid include the Greater New Haven Regional Alliance to End Homelessness, a collaborative of stakeholders in the greater New Haven region.
The United Way of Greater New Haven supports the Greater New Haven Coordinated Access Network, which, according to its website, streamlines and standardizes the process for individuals and families to access assistance across a 19-town region.
Columbus House of New Haven and other agencies that run family shelters are accepting donations at columbushouse.org
Toys and holiday meals
New Haven recreation will again this year be partnering with Southern Connecticut State University for the annual Friends of Rudolph toy giveaway Details are yet to be finalized, Williams said. Those interested in donating or volunteering can call 203-946-7582
Next month, holiday community meals are being prepared across Connecticut. For more information, visit 211ct.org.
Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media
Warm the Children of Middlesex County and the New Haven Youth and Recreation office, in partnership with New Haven police, host annual winter outerwear programs.
By Cassandra Day STAFF WRITER
Courtesy of Middletown police
The Middletown Police Athletic League hosts an annual Christmas party for youth involved in the program, where they
toys donated by the community
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“Whether it’s Thanksgiving Christmas, the holidays as a whole, everyone deserves toys during the holidays They are the most vulnerable individuals in our community,” he said. Through PAL, he added, law enforcement has built trust. “These are mentors all summer long to these kids. They’re getting them off the street, they’re teaching them valuable lessons, whether it be sportsmanship, teamwork, camaraderie all these things these kids might not have the opportunity to do.”
All the officers are also parents, he said. “It’s a lot more than collecting toys We know what it feels like to be a parent and maybe struggling financially. It’s hard to ask for help.”
Families who no longer receive public assistance are being hit hard. “This is a tough year,” Bodell acknowledged. “We try to make it really easy. If you need help, we’ve got you.”
It’s often an emotional experience to see how excited children are receiving gifts, he added.
“To see a kid smile, to have them give you a hug, have them thank you thinking this is the best day ever, that fills my cup.”
During the annual PAL Christmas party, the entire boxing ring and walls are filled with presents. Children can pick out a toy or two based on their ages, Bodell said. For more information, visit middletownpal.org.
Half the toys go to the recreation department’s Bernie O’Rourke and Detroit Hunter toy drive Recreation Manager Karen Nocera has been overseeing the 74-year program for nearly 20 years.
Last year, 400 children ages 12 and under were served, she said. Donations can include arts and crafts, sports equipment and board games for boys and girls of all ages. Parents can register by calling 860638-4500 or emailing rec@middletownct.gov.
Toys for Tots
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve oversees the Toys for Tots program, which began in 1947 They accept toys for infants to 14-year-olds, as well as monetary gifts.
Donations, which aid less fortunate families during the holiday season, are being taken at
drop-off points across Connecticut through mid-December
Last year, the New Haven office, which serves New Haven and Middlesex counties, helped 4,000 families and 14,000 children, according to local campaign coordinator Anthony Liquori.
More families are experiencing financial difficulties, he said. “It’s a lot of families who are lowincome or down on their luck.”
Toys for Tots aligns with principles embraced by the Marine Corps, Liquori continued, especially “being a good person,” he said. “We’re
Since2021, your supporthas createdrealimpact.
dressed in our uniforms, are courteous and talk to every child.”
Toys are kept in a giant warehouse where families pick them out. “We want parents to give toys to their children. It helps provide a better Christmas for everyone,” Liquori said.
Distribution runs from Dec 15 to 20
The New Haven office collects new, unwrapped gifts for infants through 14-year-olds, Liquori said.
Gifts for young children include stuffed animals, and sensory toys for children with autism or other conditions. The latter are set
aside for families who need them, he said.
Plenty of toys are donated for children up to age 8, he explained; however, last year they didn’t get enough for the 9- to-14-year-old age range, so volunteers purchased gifts such as light-up speakers, headphones, makeup kits, paint, Legos and Nerf guns.
Being able to give through Toys for Tots is heartwarming, Liquori said. “We’re a family and this is our family trying to help your family.”
To host a drop-off point, request a toy or volunteer, visit toysfortots.org.
Toys and clothing
The Salvation Army in Middletown also conducts atoy drive at its 515 Main St location For more information, visit easternusa.salvationarmy.org.
Torrington-based United Way of Northwest Connecticut collects children’s clothing as part of Warm the Children, which provides new winter clothing and footwear for families in need.
Acoordinator assigns families to a volunteer shopper who meets the families at Walmart and assists in selecting up to $80 in goods for older children and $60 for those 4 and under To donate, visit northwestunitedway.org.
Courtesy of Middletown police
In partnership with the Middlesex United Way, police will be taking toy donations Dec 13 in front of Main Street Market, 386 Main St
Since1984, we have been fulfillingdreamsfor childrenages4-19inFairfield, Litchfield& New Havencountiesdiagnosed with awiderange of chronicand terminal illnesses.
As an independentlyregistered501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer-based organization,our goal of fulfillingDREAMSisdependent upon our Volunteers,Individualand CorporateDonations, Sponsorships,Grants, PlannedGiving, Memorial Tributes andour variousFundraising Events
Learnhow youcan supportDream Come True andcontributeto ourmission.Todonate
By Andrea Valluzzo CORRE SP ONDENT
Educatingthe Fightfor theCure.
Tonie’sFundisa 501(c)(3)Foundation dedicated to supporting theEarly DetectionBreastCancer programfor theHospitalofCentral Connecticut. In ourfirst year of operation, we were able to assist over five hundredunderservedunique patients so that no womanfacinga breast cancer diagnosisgoeswithout thesebasic and potentiallylife-saving services.The program provides breast cancer screeningand early detectionprogramsand services to at-risk andmedically underservedwomen in our communityand reducesthe number of women whoselives areimpactedbybreastcancer.
In addition,Tonie’s Fund also provides scholarships to students entering medical disciplines or to FirstResponderslooking to expand theireducation.
Come take atour! Seefor yourself! In this currentfinancial climate, many non-profitsare facing funding cuts andfederal uncertainties. Fundingthatspecificallyaffects CCSisthe school lunchprogram,Title 1teachers, andpreschool school readiness, as it is a pass-through forthe federalgovernment. Ourstudentsrelysignificantly on theseresources allowing CCStoprovide free breakfastand lunch, one-on-one tutoring andsupport,and an accredited preschoolprogram with extendedhours.CCS prides itself on providingeducational success by offeringa robust curriculum anduniqueexperiences at alow cost to avulnerablepopulation. We wouldnot be able to meet ourmission and continue a55-year-old legacy withoutyourhelp. We askfor your continued generosity,and please come take atour! Thankyou foryourconsideration andsupport!
Classsizes arelimited to 16 students, allowing forIndividualized instructionand favorablestudent-teacher ratios
TheCharacter Developmentprogram is an integral part of every grade, instillingwithinCCS students thevaluesofrespect,selfesteem,and theart
Arts
https://www.aflct.org/
ASAP! in Washington Depot serves more than 100,000 students with portable and immersive educational programs in the arts. Led by women, the nonprofit seeks to make learning meaningful and joyful
https://asapct.org/
Arts4Schools in Hamden targets underserved schools and communities throughout Connecticut, offering after-school
programs, interactive workshops, cultural performances, art displays and classes. https://arts4schools.org/
Bridgeport-based Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County is trying to create tomorrow’s generation of professional artists, but instead offer educational and creative opportunities for Bridgeport students, ages 4-12, to thrive while boosting their self-esteem and academic acumen. It also provides art, music, theater and dance classes for teens. https://www nstudios.org/
The City School of the Arts at Charter Oak Cultural Center in Hartford delivers free arts programming,
including workshops, and classes to more than 1,000 children in Hartford annually. https://charteroak center.org/school-of-arts/
Offering opportunities for children to creatively express themselves for more than 25 years, the Village Center for the Arts in New Milford is a walk-in center for all ages. After-school programs for children include drawing, cartooning sculpture and mixed media. https://www.village centerarts.org/
Open Arts Alliance in Greenwich works to empower kids through performing arts education, supporting tomorrow’s leaders on and off the stage. https://openarts alliance.com/
Courtesy of Kyle LeMaire
Cast members from the Open Arts Alliance production of “Annie JR. at the Cole Auditorium at Greenwich Library April 27 and 28.
The Trumbull Nature and Arts Center in Trumbull offers hands-on activities and programs in E-STEM (environmental science technology, engineering and math education) and sustainability to students and families, especially in underserved neighborhoods.
https://www.trumbull natureandartscenter.org/
Room 17 in Milford offers activity-centered tutoring to improve math skills for children in grades 1-12 As a nonprofit, its stated goal is to improve math fluency through interesting activities, helping to dispel “math phobia.” https://room17math.com/
New Haven Counts in New Haven also offers tutoring, using a combination of paid tutors and volunteers to assist K-8 students work on their math skills after school using math-based games, tools and research-driven tools to boost math mastery. It also has sports programs.
https://www.newhaven counts.org/
The Connecticut Institute for Communities, Inc. in Danbury offers early learning programs, including early Head Start, Head Start and school readiness, starting for infants at six weeks of age. It also works to bolster communities by offering health and housing services for people and families.
https://www.cifc.org/
The Talcott Mountain Science Center and Academy’s mission is to “inspire today’s curious minds to invent tomorrow. With its K-8 programs and a STEM-focused research center in Avon, it seeks to be a breeding ground for inciting curiosity in young minds to encourage them to make discoveries and collaborations. https://talcottscience.org/
Healing the Children Northeast in New Milford offers medical care for underserved children around the
world as one of 15 chapters in the country. It provides services abroad and domestically, including a scholarship program at New Milford High School to students interested in a career in the medical field. https://htcne.org/
The youth-led organization Kids Helping Kids in Stamford develops leadership skills in youth. Youth volunteers work on issues they are passionate about to create important projects in their communities. https://kidshelping kidsct.org/
Save the Children in Fairfield is well known for its international efforts but its stateside programs include working to better children in rural areas, where often one in five children lives at a poverty level. Its initiatives include education and post-disaster emergency response https://www.savethe children.org/us/ where-we-work/usa
Courtesy of Trumbull Nature & Arts Center
Trumbull Nature & Arts Center provides activities that combine STEM and sustainability to children and families.
Connecticut Voices for Children in New Haven works on behalf of children, calling out for public policy and investments that will benefit children and families in Connecticut, particularly those considered historically disadvantaged. It undertakes research and analysis with like-minded partners to co-create policy recommendations and speak out for systemic changes that would improve access to affordable housing and health care and other programs.
https://ctvoices.org/
Founded by the late actor Paul Newman in 1988, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford provides a respite for children with major illnesses and their families, letting children just be children and experience the uplifting effects of friendship and nature https://www.holeinthe wallgang.org/
The Connecticut Children’s Alliance in
Hartford has had one mission through its existence to prevent child neglect and abuse and now also has anti-trafficking initiatives. With a statewide team of professionals and centers, the CCA has created a response effort to address trauma and provide support to children and families. https://ctchildrens alliance.org/
The Connecticut Children’s Foundation in Hartford, was created to support the work of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Donations support hospital staffing, programs and researching new treatments.
https://www.connecticut childrensfoundation.org/ why-give/what-yourfunds-support
Supporting families of children with cancer, the Circle of Care in Wilton gives newly diagnosed children resource care bags, as well as offering resource guides to parents along with peer
support from families who have been in that situation.
https://thecircleofcare.org/
Family and Children’s
Aid in Danbury provides behavioral health programs and services to children, families and adults. Among its services is an intensive treatment in-home program designed for children with psychiatric disorders to assist them and their families and keeping them home safely.
https://www.fcaweb.org/
Reach Western CT in Brookfield supports at risk children through its mission of transforming the lives of underserved and underprivileged children and creating life-changing relationships https://reach westernct.org/
With programs to create stronger families, and break the cycle of child abuse and neglect, Help For Kids in Stamford is dedicated to preventing child abuse
Fifty Years at the Heart of Helping Victims of Interpersonal Violence
For 50 years, we’ve stood beside our community adapting to changing needs, building safer communities through prevention and education, and helping thousands of survivors reclaim their strength and their stories.
The next 50 years call on us to dream bigger, reach further, and continue evolving to meet emerging needs with the same courage and compassion that have defined us from the start.
With the unwavering support of our community and the wisdom earned from decades of service, we are ready to shape a future free from violence—together.
If you or someone you know needs support,don’t hesitate—turn to CEE.
Courtesy of SeriousFun Children’s Network
Actor Paul Newman established The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in 1988 to allow critically ill children to “raise a little hell” each summer.
and being a lifeline for families in Fairfield County https://helpforkidsct.org/
The mission of Dream Come True of Western Connecticut in Danbury is to realize dreams for children living in Fairfield, Litchfield and New Haven Counties who have been diagnosed with serious, chronic or terminal illnesses. https://www.dream cometruect.org/
Distressed Children and Infants International Inc. in Cheshire had programs
to help children, including orphan support, blindness prevention, sponsoring severely underprivileged children around the world to provide education and prevent children from early marriage or joining the labor force https://distressed children.org/
The CT Early Childhood Funders Collaborative is part of the Connecticut Council for philanthropy and devoted to building an early childhood system that is effective and accessible for all
children and families in Connecticut and to amplify family and community voices in state policy making on children’s issues. https://ctphilanthropy .org/donations/
The Families Network of Western CT in Danbury supports families by working to educate parents and offer support to prevent child abuse and neglect. Its mission is to keep children safe by connecting with families before a crisis. https://fnwc.org
The Charter Oak Amateur Boxing Academy and Youth Development Program in Hartford is more than a boxing club. Featuring a holistic approach to each child, its goal is not to create professional boxers but to create amateur champions in the ring and in life overall. It focuses on personal development and life skills education. Programs are for ages 8-18 https://www.cobaboxing net/index
The Miracle League of Connecticut in West Hartford is centered in the belief that “every child deserves a chance to play. The volunteer-based organization provides recreational and sporting opportunities for children with physical and or cognitive challenges at accessible facilities. Its efforts started with a wheelchair-accessible Little League field in West Hartford. Today, it offers a bowling league a brick club along with biking, dance and adaptive swim programs as well as spring and fall baseball. https://www.miracleleaguect.org/programs/
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Pictures from the dedication of the Vernon Miracle League Field on Sept. 20, 2023, at the Northeast School in Vernon.
These Connecticut teens and kids show you can make a difference at any age
By Keith Loria CORRE SP ONDENT
Across our state, a new generation of changemakers is proving that compassion and creativity can have a powerful impact, turning empathy into action.
From Ridgefield to Middletown to Southington, teens are finding innovative ways to support others and these young people are showing that age is no barrier to making a difference
Cards for Israeli children Take Ella Tiktin of Ridgefield for example The 16-year-old was dis-
mayed to learn about the devastation that Israeli children were facing since the Hamas-led attack in the fall of 2023 and wanted to do something about it So, she crafted notecards with floral designs that she sold in nearby stores and donated all profits to the Israeli Children’s Fund, a nonprofit that came out of the wake of the attack She sold dozens of cards at Stacey’s Totally Baked, Nature’s Temptations and Nancy O in Ridgefield and The BookSmiths Shoppe in Danbury and sent the money for the cause What’s more, Titkin started a GoFundMe page
called “Ella’s Art for Healing Young Hearts,” which has raised about $1,400 as of late October “I wanted to find a way to use my art to help children in Israel who lost one or both parents,” she said on her GoFundMe page “This fund will help these children by providing financial support like housing, food and home schooling For their futures, trust funds will be established for long-term education. Additionally, these children will be able to connect with mentors to help them within their personal lives and education.”
Kids continues on S30
Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media
Ella Tiktin, 16, shows two note cards she designed that are being sold in local stores. Tiktin is donating 100 percent of the profits to the Israeli Children’s Fund.
In 2024,CIRI helped 344 youth find stability and belongingand provided safety for 105 unaccompanied children.
Ourlegal team guided 202children through complex immigration cases, eachstep abridge toward healingand hope.
Nowwehave the chance to do even more Nearly 1 in 4children across the stateare part of an immigrantfamily. A$10,000 gift helps CIRI continue opening doorsfor children and families rebuildingtheir lives across Connecticut.
H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media
Kayla Scatterday’s fundraiser she operates with her mother, “Born to Thrive,” supports Danbury Hospital’s Spratt Family Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media “Born to Thrive” raised over $10,000 in support of Danbury Hospital’s NICU As Kayla Scatterday is away at college, her sister Caitlyn will take the reigns.
machines, milk pumps and warmers, diapers, newborn clothing blankets, swaddles, toys and more, according to the Scatterdays
“Thanks to your incredible generosity we’ve raised $10,802 in support of the Greater Danbury Community’s smallest patients,” the Scatterdays wrote on their fundraising page this fall. “Your support is greatly appreciated, and we are excited to continue Born to Thrive in winter 2025.” Now, Kayla’s sister Caitlyn is leading the charge along with their mom since she is off at college and the fundraising efforts are continuing
For more information on “Born to Thrive: Nurturing New Beginnings,” visit the fundraiser’s website at borntothrive.funraise.org
Saving the ocean In Middletown, 9- and 11-year-old sisters Autumn and Scarlett Mier-
Kids continues on S33
Achilles International transforms the lives of people with disabilities through athletic programs and social connection.
Since our founding in 1983, we have empowered over 150,000 athletes of all ages and ability levels to participate in endurance events around the globe…including right here in Connecticut!
While our programs focus on adaptive running, walking, or wheeling, our main objective has always been to bring hope, inspiration, and the joys of achievement to all.
Tonie’sCountry Roads
ConcerttoCollege Tour
Come to seeour next fundraisingconcert: March21, 2026 @6pm KinsmenBrewery Company 409Canal Street,Milldale, CT
AboutUs
Tonie’sFundisa 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization focusing on theEarly Detection of Breast Cancer andprovidesscholarships to students entering themedical field or expandingtheir knowledgeasfirst responders.
Programs
Localand National Scholarships College Scholarships Fire/EMS/Police/Dispatcher Training TributeWallfor allthose touchedbyCancer. Fundinglocal programs forEarly Detection andtofight fora cure forBreastCancer
Team Achilles CT at the 2025 Achilles Hope & Possibilty® race in Central Park
Contributed by Kayleigh Mierzejewski
zejewski, used their love and skill in crafting to advocate for the ocean and the environment
In the spring, the girls sold colorful canvas paintings, earrings, bookmarks and beaded and rubber-band bracelets at the weekly farmers market on the South Green and took their beautiful drawings to the web.
“We started making Drawings For Dolphins art in 2023, and we’ve gone a long way,” the sisters posted on their website, Drawings for Dolphins. “From making art to doing research, we’ve worked hard on everything we’ve done Our goal is to raise $2,000 to donate to Blue Ocean Society and
Friends Of Hammonasset. So far, we’ve raised $1,310.”
A Couple Finds Way to Share Love In the spring, two Southington teens left notes and flowers on the windshields of vehicles at the Children’s Hospital in Hartford and promised to repeat the process once a month while they could. Both seniors at Southington High School at the time, Liliana Vera and Evan Jekubovich found time between sports, prom and making plans for college to give back
“I saw a TikTok, similar to that one we made of people leaving flowers on people’s cars and I wanted to do the same thing, but put notes with it,” Vera said in an in-
terview in May. “I sent it to Evan, and we decided we wanted to do it for our 4-month anniversary.
The pair recorded their efforts on TikTok and as of October 27, had reached more than 783,000 views, with thousands of comments from people around the world, including some of those who actually received some of their notes.
“We felt proud and happy reading those responses,” Jekubovich said at the time “It’s a great thing to hear back from these people and it just makes you feel better too.”
These are just a few of the amazing young people helping out in their communities and inspiring others to do more
Ahmed attended a summer research program at the Aortic Institute of Yale-New Haven Hospital at the Yale University School of Medicine While there, he worked on a research project entitled “How Many Patients with Silent Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Can be Detected by the ‘Guilt by Association’ Paradigm?” under the direct supervision of Professor John Elefteriades, Director of the Aortic Institute at Yale-New Haven, Section of Cardiac Surgery. Ahmed wants to take the skills he’s learned along the way to help the people of Yemen.
The Hadhramout Foundation was established to help the people of Yemen like Ahmed by providing educational resources such as higher education, but also high schools, vocational schools, and language learning opportunities. We’re doing exactly that both with our partner on the ground in Yemen as well as through partnerships and collaborations with other nonprofits With our contributions to these educational opportunities we believe that we can improve living conditions as well as employment prospects in both Hadhramout and Yemen at large, as investing in these students is also an investment in the country itself
Ahmed credits the Hadhramout Foundation for not only for its financial support but for the
continuing belief and trust in his potential. In his own words, he has said “what the Hadhramout Foundation does is part of something greater: it is about development through education, about planting seeds that grow into social, economic, and human impact.” We hope to continue supporting students like Ahmed and hope you will help us
To find out more about Ahmed and students like him, scan the QR Code to the right:
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Autumn and Scarlett Mierzejewski of Middletown sell crafts at the farmers market on the South Green. So far they’ve raised nearly $1,000 for environmental groups. From page 31
From adaptive fields to special swim class, Miracle League of Connecticut helps kids play
By Keith Loria CORRE SP ONDENT
When Mike Michaud discusses the Miracle League of Connecticut, his pride comes bursting through not because of any personal accolades, but because of the thousands of children who now get to play swim, dance and laugh freely, often for the first time
For the past 15 years, Michaud has been at the heart of the West Hartford-based nonprofit, whose mission is to remove barriers that prevent children with disabilities from participating in recreational activities along-
League continues on S37
Over 20% of peopleinConnecticut have a disability.Chances areyou, or someone you know,has adisability or willsomeday.
Help us to protect, defend,and advance the rights of children and adults with disabilities in Connecticut. Our work may help you and those you know andlove.
At DRCT we:
•Investigate abuse and neglect andunnecessary seclusion and restraint
•Protect and defend access to comprehensive healthcare coverage
•Advocate fordisability accommodations forwork, school,healthcare,and community access
•Educate people about their individual rights so they can advocateontheir own behalf, and
•Pursue systemic change so that allpeople can live in fully accessible communities
We have achance to WIN a$10,000 advertising grant from Hearst CT Media Group! Vote from Nov.
Courtesy of Miracle League of Connecticut
Miracle League of Connecticut aims to remove barriers that prevent children with disabilities from participating in recreational activities alongside their peers.
HearstCTMediaGroup’sBig $100,000 Giveaway will award10advertisinggrants of$10,000each to localnonprofitswho participate in theonlinevoting contest. Thetop 10 nonprofits with the most votes will receive agrant to usein2026. Youcan vote foryourfavorite local nonprofitonce aday.The contestis powered by Curtain Call. The contest ends Friday,December 26 at 11:59pm. The winning nonprofits forthisyear will be announced in January 2026.
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side their peers.
“It’s about giving them the same opportunities every other kid has,” he said. “Whether it’s through adaptive equipment or adaptive methods, we make sure everybody can participate.”
At the center of it all is the Miracle League field in West Hartford, a uniquely designed baseball field where children of all abilities can play without limitations.
“It’s all wheelchair accessible,” Michaud said. “No raised obstacles like bases or pitcher’s mounds; it’s all level, so it’s easily accessible.”
The field opened in 2012, but the idea for it began two years prior It grew out of the West Hartford Little League, which had enough space for a new field but not a full-sized one So when organizers heard about the Miracle League, a national nonprofit helping communities build adap-
tive baseball fields, they decided to bring the concept to their state.
Fundraising efforts began in 2010 and within two years, the dream became reality with the first Miracle League field in all of New England opening for play.
“At first, that was really all we wanted,” Michaud said. “A nice little baseball league for kids with disabilities. But as families began to participate, they shared both their gratitude and their frustra-
tion: there just weren’t enough recreational options for children with disabilities. They’d tell us, ‘The town lets us sign up for swimming lessons, but they’re not designed for our kids.’”
That feedback sparked awave of growth and over the last 15 years, the Miracle League of Connecticut has evolved far beyond baseball. Today, it offers adaptive dance classes, a popular swim program, a family bowling league, the “I Can
Bike” program and even a Lego Brick Club that teaches social and problem-solving skills through play
“It’s kind of like hiding vegetables in cupcakes,” Michaud said. “They’re getting something they really need, but they don’t realize it They think they’re just having fun.”
The organization’s reach has also spread geographically. In 2020, the Miracle League of Connecticut helped launch a new field in East
Lyme, supporting the Miracle League of Southeastern Connecticut with startup funds and guidance More recently, the Miracle League of Northern Connecticut opened its own field in the Tolland-Vernon area.
“Now we have three fields in the state, Michaud said. “All separate nonprofits, but we’ve helped each of them get started, giving them logistical advice and a map of how we did it.” Each of the programs
Courtesy of Miracle League of Connecticut
offered has grown organically out of community need and by listening to what was needed. For instance, the dance program started because a mom said she’d heard about adaptive dance and thought it would be cool to have one
“We found a partner to run it, and now it’s one of our biggest programs,” Michaud said. “The adaptive swim program is
another favorite and one of the few in central Connecticut designed specifically for children with disabilities.”
The organization now impacts between 3,500 and 4,000 children a year That includes its regular programs, as well as large community events like the Halloween “Trick-orTreat” celebration, which draws more than 1,200 attendees.
“Our family fun days are some of my favorite things we do,” Michaud said. “They’re designed for the whole family to come and enjoy time together That’s something that can be hard to find for families with children with disabilities.”
Of course none of this could be done without the many volunteers who are the backbone of it all.
“Certain programs
Weprovide food for low-incomeresidents ofthe six town area we serve through approximately 80 member agencies and programs.
Donate, host a food drive, or volunteer at The Food Bank this holiday season.
In 2024, The Food Bank distributed a little over 1million pounds of food to its partners.
VOTE FORUS! We have a chance to wina $10,000 advertisinggrant from Hearst CT MediaGroup!Votefrom November 24 –December26 2025
foodbanklfc.org
Photos courtesy of Miracle League of Connecticut Miracle League of Connecticut has evolved far beyond baseball. Today, it offers adaptive dance classes as well as other programs
A family bowling league is among the programs Miracle League of Connecticut, a West Hartford-based nonprofit, offers
depend entirely on volunteers,” Michaud said. “Our baseball and dance programs rely on them but ‘I Can Bike’ is the big one. It’s a one-week program in the summer that takes about 1,000 volunteer hours total.”
For that program, each rider is paired with three volunteer spotters, and with five sessions a day for five days, the math adds up quickly. Thankfully, he noted, local universities, high school teams and community members step up in big numbers.
“You don’t have to be a baseball player or a danc-
er,” Michaud said “You’re there for moral support and for safety to help the kids succeed.”
Not surprisingly, running an organization of this scale takes significant funding Recently, the Miracle League completed a$400,000 capital project to resurface its first field after 13 years of use
“That one hurt, but it was necessary,” Michaud said, explaining the nonprofit operates largely on registration fees for its programs, but cost is never a barrier. “If finances are an issue, we remove that barrier too. We have a very liberal fee
waiver and scholarship program. Our goal is inclusion.”
Fundraising events also play a key role Each year, the Miracle League hosts agolf tournament that raises more than $70,000, and an annual appeal that brings in over $40,000
“Kids with disabilities often have lives filled with therapy extra learning and extra services and too many times, recreation becomes an afterthought,” he said. “We wanted to change that. These aren’t ‘special’ kids, they’re just kids who want to play baseball, bowl and dance We make that possible.”
Since2016, Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County (CTKF) hasprovided free, qualitywardrobes to schoolaged childreninneed. CTKF provides aunique, boutique-stylesetting where childrenselecttheir ownclothing with theassistance of avolunteer.Lastyear, they provided 1,000wardrobes to childreninneed When children feel good abouthow they look, they walk taller,learn better,and fit in more easily with theirpeers. By providinga week’s worth of school clothing,CTKFhelps families stretch theirlimited resourcessothey canfocus on other necessities—likefood andshelter. Learnmore! clothestokidsfairfieldcounty.org
Courtesy of Miracle League of Connecticut
The organization hosts large community events like the Halloween “Trick-or-Treat celebration, which draws more than 1,200 attendees.
Connecticut’s Save the Children aims to restore the dream of childhood worldwide
By Bekah Wright CORRE SP ONDENT
Eglantyne Jebb was “outraged by injustice.”
It prompted her to create Save the Children in 1919
Having seen photographs of children starving in war-torn countries, she was determined to change things. In 1924, she presented the Declaration of the Rights of the Child to the League of Nations in Geneva, which stated, “The child that is hungry must be fed, the child that is sick must be nursed, the child that is backward must be helped, the delinquent child must be reclaimed and the orphan and the waif must be sheltered.”
The declaration would go on to inspire the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Today, Save the Children, which has its U.S. headquarters in Fairfield works domestically and globally, serving more than 110 countries.
“We prioritize programming around humanitarian crises,” said Amanda Morgan, Save the Children’s senior director of humanitarian partnerships. “We average 65 emergency responses a year, be that to aconflict, severe weather, disease outbreak or climate change impacts.”
Their core focuses are ensuring children have a healthy start, access to education and programs to keep them out of harm’s way.
“Our programs support children so they’re living a life free of violence,” Morgan said.
In the U.S., Save the Children works in com-
munities facing poverty across six states
“We believe education is the ladder out of poverty,” Morgan said
Key to this mission has been Head Start programming which provides more than just education.
“At Head Start, kids can access services critical to their development, from healthcare to physical and speech therapy services,” she said
This is particularly important when an area is hit by emergencies, which can range from the COVID pandemic to disasters like floods and fires, that prevent children from attending school.
“There’s an assumption
that schools and child care centers are all supported by federal funding to get back online, but that’s not the case,” Morgan said.
She gives examples of floods in Kentucky and fires in Los Angeles that left children unable to attend school for weeks or months until temporary solutions could be put in place Childcare centers often don’t qualify for FEMA assistance, stopping early education in its tracks.
“Kids under the age of 5are impacted in a very critical time during social, emotional and brain development,” Morgan said, adding families who use daycare are hindered from getting back on their feet.
“Child care in the US is the underpinning of a family’s ability to be selfsufficient and to put food on their table.”
Save the Children provides these daycare centers with emergency grants to restore classrooms and for temporary locations in the interim.
Last January, Save the Children U.S. President and Chief Executive Officer Janti Soeripto visited California, where the organization partnered with Project: Camp to support children displaced by wildfires and whose education was disrupted – over 55 public schools were impacted by the fires.
“Many of the staff and volunteers helping are from the region, and many of them have lost their homes, too,” Soeripto reported back. “This support is so important it allows the children to feel more comfortable
Save continues on S42
Photos courtesy of Save the Children
Two-year-old Aubree plays with Jack the Fox in 2022 at her community resource center in South Carolina.
Six-year-olds Madelyn, left, Joey, center, and Cirila participated in Save the Children’s SummerBoost program in 2023 in New Mexico
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and helps protect their mental health and wellbeing But we can’t ignore the reality that it will take years for families to fully recover after this traumatic event.” And Save the Children will be there for them.
“We stick around for months and sometimes even years long after the cameras stop rolling —to help children return to normal,” Soeripto said.
Advocacy is another area where Save the Children steps in.
The government shutdown puts programs, including early childhood education and Women Infants and Children funding at risk. The nonprofit and the Save the Children Action Network urged policymakers to reopen the government and protect those programs, such as WIC, as well as restoring funding
for international development.
“Children should never bear the brunt when leaders fail to act,” SCAN
Executive Director Christy Gleason stated on the website.
Then, there are countries ravaged by war.
On Save the Children’s website, 16-year-old Sophia was in physics class when explosions roared six miles away Her teacher rushed the class to a shelter
“I only managed to sit next to the wall, close my ears, and open my mouth to avoid being shocked by the blast wave,” Sophia wrote
Even in the shelter fragments flew across the roof and basement floor
“I sobbed, Sophia continued. “It was a typical morning and here we are.”
In countries, including Ukraine, Save the Children runs digital learning
centers where schools are no longer standing or where there are no bomb shelters. Along with giving them access to computers, the centers are places where children can socialize with peers their own age. Adults provide classroom support in these learning centers.
These can be residents of the towns who’ve stayed behind to help those unable to relocate
Lesia, who lives in Sumy, facilitates classes through a Save the Children-supported organization, the League of Modern Women. A sense of normalcy prevails during classes, bringing back a sense of childhood.
Games, art, communitybuilding activities – activities like these aren’t just educational, according to the website “They are acts of resistance, allowing children to dream beyond war, the website reads.
From page 40
Courtesy of Save the Children
Rose, 9, puts her handprint on a canvas during the Community Mural Celebration, marking the end of the 2023 SummerBoost program for kids
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Earthplace in Westport teaches children to unplug and learn through nature
WESTPORT At Earthplace, science, conservation and education come together
That descriptor, while true fails to fully sum up the magic of this place Situated on 62+ acres, the nature center is known for its preschool and
after-school and evening programs for children and adults, extensive walking trails and nature experiences. It also provides care to 50 animals whose injuries prevent them from being released into the wild. Staff will say their most important mission though is inspiring youth how to appreciate and
care for the environment through hands-on lessons in nature-based education as well as teaching by example Veronica Swain, the center’s director of nature education and conservation, said in this age of social media and people being on their devices so much, this is important work
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“Studies have shown that just being out in a green space can uplift mental health and also help us focus,” she said “In all of our programs, I’ve never even had to tell kids to put away their phones. It’s usually that it is so engaging and fun while being educational that they are distracted from their screens by what we do.”
Executive Director Amee Borys discovered Earthplace accidentally more than 20 years ago when she was taking a break from being an elementary school teacher to stay at home with her daughter, then 2. Driving around the area looking for preschools, she saw Earthplace’s sign and was hooked, enrolling her daughter and joining staff as a teacher
“The work we do here really does have an impact on future generations and I have lived that first hand,” she said, adding her children attended its preschool, camps and after-school activities.
Centercontinues on S46
Courtesy of Earthplace
National Charity League volunteers help out at Earthplace The nature center offers preschool and after-school and evening programs for children and adults.
By Andrea Valluzzo CORRE SP ONDENT
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“My daughter went to school to become an environmental biologist and now works in a nonprofit as a recycling specialist so she is boots on the ground doing the work,” she said. “My son is training to be a chemistry and environmental science teacher because of the experiences he had here and teachers who inspired him to pay it forward.”
Earthplace is the steward of an open space that would otherwise be developed, Borys said.
“The work that we do to connect people with nature inspires them to go out to either make choices in their everyday life that helps the environment or inspires them to pursue a career in environmental stewardship or sciences,” she said.
Besides its preschool, children’s programs typ-
ically involve open-ended outdoor play, rain or shine, including FreeRange Homeschoolers for ages 4-13 and after-school groups for grades K-2 and 3-6. Earthplace also offers Kids’ Night Out on Friday evenings, giving parents free time while children enjoy naturethemed programs.
Lessons are developed with specific grades in mind but the power of a child’s imagination plays no small part. Preschool director Amanda Ciardi said getting children outside in nature and away from devices is so rewarding to see them interacting with nature.
“We are blessed with this wonderful property so we are able to offer families and children as much time outside during the day as they want,” she said. “As a society, we are so plugged into our technology and screens and even at these young ages, they are
using phones and devices. I love that we can offer them time outside unplugged to just play with natural materials and expand their brains using their imaginations.”
The focus on learning about sustainability continues inside classrooms where students, even at the preschool level, aid in Earthplace’s composting efforts of fruits and vegetables. Students learn about lifecycles and how compost makes soil that helps grow food in the community garden.
“We talk about that as a full cycle so they understand how everything we do as humans impacts the Earth but how we can also use the Earth in a safe and sustainable way,” Ciardi said The center is always looking for new ways to serve its families and reach out to others. Thanks to a private donor funding transporta-
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tion costs, an urban initiative brings students from cities, such as Norwalk Danbury and Bridgeport, to experience what it’s like to walk in the woods and climb trees. A new program, piloting next summer, will add structure to summer camp to better meet the needs of neurodiverse
children. This camp for grades 1-2 is planned to integrate five neurodiverse children with 10 neurotypical children.
Borys said federal cutbacks have not impacted them yet but expects they will as federal funding cuts trickle down to the state and local levels, affecting grants.
“Letting children know what they are capable of and to take those appropriate risks within a safe setting, that’s really what nature-based education is all about,” she said “Offering experiences like that to people of all ages is what really keeps me here and having a commitment to continuous improvements.”
Courtesy of Eon by Victoria Kasey Burns, associate director of Harbor Watch and the laboratory director at Earthplace, interacts with children at a fall festival in October
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