Fairfield County Sports Commission

 2008 Was a Year of Giving Back For the Sports Commission

JAN 29,2009

While much of 2008 was a trying time for many as economic conditions challenged all of our communities, the Fairfield County Sports Commission helped to meet those challenges by donating $17,000 back to youth organizations throughout the area. The year-end grants to these outstanding non-profit groups will hopefully get their programs off and running in 2009 to give their youngsters more opportunities to stay fit through an active, healthy lifestyle.

The donations were announced by the Commission at its 4th annual Sports Night awards dinner in late October. For the first time as part of the 2008 Sports Person of the Year ceremony, where a local person or group is recognized in each of the 15 towns the Commission oversees for their positive impact on their sports community, the Commission donated $1,000 in the Sports Person's name back to a youth organization in their town.

And also for the first time, $2000 was donated to the Chelsea Cohen Memorial Scholarship Fund, which was established by her parents and friends to help area youngsters reach their full potential. Cohen was the recipient of the first Courage Award, which was subsequently named in her honor following her passing from a long battle with a rare form of nervous system cancer. The Commission teamed with the Forever Young Foundation, the charitable entity of NFL Hall of Famer and Greenwich native Steve Young which now sponsors the Courage Award, to make the joint donation.

Here is the list of youth organizations and their programs that will be supported by the $1000 donation to each of them from the Commission:  

Bridgeport - Boys & Girls Club -- Scholarship Funds
Darien -YMCA- Financial Assistance Program
Easton - Boys & Girls Club -- Scholarship Funds
Fairfield - Wakeman Boys & Girls Club -- After-School Programs
Greenwich - Boys & Girls Club -- Sports Leagues Assistance
Monroe - Ron Wallisa Memorial Scholarship Fund
New Canaan - YMCA-SNAG Golf Program
Norwalk - Norwalk Grassroots Tennis-- Junior Program Teaching Staff
Shelton - Lower Naugatuck Vallet Boys & Girls Club-
Power Hour After- SchooL Homework Program
Stamford - Boys & Girls Club- Health & Fitness Programs
Stratford - Sterling House Community Center- Athletics Scholarship Funds
Trumbull - Trumbull Loves Children- Recreation & Sports Enrichment Programs
Weston - Weston High Captain's Circle- Build a Bike Program
Westport - Westport PAL- Sports Leagues Assistance
Wilton - YMCA- Financial Assistance Program

Greenwich