Funding for Stamford Nonprofits, Electric Bill Help, and Protecting Our Ocean

April 12, 2024


A couple of nonprofits in Stamford are receiving state funds to improve their facilities. Keep scrolling to see which amazing organizations are getting major support for our community.

Eversource is offering a discounted rate for low-income earners on their electric bill. Please look below to find out if you are eligible for that deal!

You and your family have new available resources to learn about protecting our ocean and the rest of our planet. You will find free classroom teaching guides below.

Here are the sections of today's email:

  • Funding for Stamford Nonprofits!
  • Low-Income Discount Rate on Electric Bill
  • Operation Fuel's Energy Assistance Program
  • National Library Week
  • Protecting Our Ocean
  • Rare Disease Awareness Concert
 
Funding for Stamford Nonprofits!

Two nonprofits in Stamford are getting major financial support to better serve the people of our community. ARI of Connecticut will receive more than $1.4 million to renovate the day program facility on Richmond Hill Avenue and to buy vehicles. Inspirica will receive $55,800 for ADA upgrades at the women’s emergency housing complex.

ARI of Connecticut aims to improve the lives of people with disabilities by enabling them to achieve their full potential at home, work, and in the community. The goal is for those folks to achieve a higher level of independence. ARI offers employment, recreation, clinical, and many more services.

Inspirica strives to break the cycle of homelessness by helping people achieve and maintain permanent housing and stability. The nonprofit is one of only a handful in the nation that is able to address both the physical aspects of homelessness and housing insecurity and its underlying root causes. Support services include a jumpstart career program, job retention, and healthcare.

The state is providing a total of $35.5 million in state grants to nonprofit providers around the state. The grants are coming from Connecticut’s Nonprofit Grant Program. The funds will support capital projects not typically reimbursed through other funding mechanisms. CLICK HERE to learn more.
 
Low-Income Discount Rate on Electric Bill 

As of January 2024, households with incomes that are below 60% of the state median income are eligible to receive a 10% discount on their monthly electric bill. Additionally, customers earning 160% of the federal poverty guidelines will have their bills reduced by 50% each month.

If you believe you qualify, contact Eversource to have the discount applied to your rate, check out the income levels per household size below, and click one of the links below to learn more online!

This bill is about more than just numbers; it's about making a tangible difference in the lives of families who deserve access to quality, affordable childcare.

Together, we can ensure that this legislation reflects the needs and priorities of the families it aims to serve.
 
Operation Fuel's Energy Assistance Program

Operation Fuel has received nearly 8,000 applications for energy assistance since January. Staff is working hard to review applications quickly.

If you have questions about your applications, please visit operationfuel.org/gethelp to check your application status or contact our programs team. Due to the high volume of calls, Operation Fuel has limited phone hours of:

  • 9 A.M. - 2 P.M. on Mondays and Fridays
  • 9 A.M. - 12 P.M. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
In February, the Connecticut General Assembly allocated an additional $3.5 million to Operation Fuel for additional aid as part of the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program. This crucial support allowed organizers to extend the program season through March 15 and help thousands of additional households facing emergency heating needs.
 
National Library Week 
Connecticut House Democrats stand with local librarians as we heed their invaluable insights and work together to pass legislation that supports literacy, education, and access to knowledge for all. Let's write a brighter future, one chapter at a time.
 

The Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS) is excited to share its newest edition of free classroom teaching guides. Its documentaries expose critical issues facing our planet like climate change, wildlife trafficking, deforestation, and overfishing.

The OPS teaching guides are a fantastic companion to our films. They contain engaging video clips while encouraging critical thinking to help educate students on the global challenges facing our planet.
Racing Extinction
The Cove
Click Here to Screen the Films!
 
Rare Disease Awareness Concert
You are invited to attend a piano concert that will benefit an organization that funds research to better understand autism and related neuro developmental disorders. The US MEF2C Foundation raises awareness for rare diseases, creates biomarkers to measure treatment efficacy, and publishes that information to the public.
A mother-and-son duo will perform on Saturday, April 13th at 7:30 P.M. at Rye Country Day School to raise money for the foundation. The performers are proud to partner with the MEF2C Foundation, which spends every possible hour championing this cause for all children and families.
Click Here for Tickets
Parents share emotional stories of their children's journeys with rare diseases.
The National Institutes of Health estimates there are 7,000 rare diseases in the U.S., affecting 10% of Americans. About 6,000 of those diseases are caused by rare genetic diseases. Many of these diseases lack a cure and there are around 250 new, rare disease discoveries each year.