Happy September!  

Greenwich Alliance for Education is 20 years old! All year we will be celebrating with the Greenwich Public Schools, hosting community events, and super-sizing our fundraisers. We are even going to award a one-time $2000 grant to a GHS student who has a creative idea they want to make happen at the high school.

You will see us in the news and on social media a whole lot more.

Funding and programming in our focus areas - Arts, STEM, College & Career Readiness, Academic Enrichment, Mental Health & Wellness and Scholarships - will take place as usual!

Make sure to click on our NEW website - www.greenwichalliance.org:

• See our 20 years of investment and impact
• Learn “Why Greenwich Needs an Education Foundation”
• Be inspired by student and teacher stories 
• Sign up to sponsor and participate in events
• Make a meaningful gift

This is going to be wonderful school year!

REACHING OUT GRANTS 2026-2027 SNAPSHOT

Partnership with GPS 
Benefit GPS students ages 5 - 21 years old
Programs elevate achievement for all students by

• Providing innovative enrichment opportunities
• Fostering educational success for under-resourced students

Grant programs:

CMS, EMS, WMS - Science Bowl & Robotics Teams
ISD, JC, NL, CMS, WMS - Theater Arts experiences
NL & WMS - Farm to School hands-on STEM learning
Community Connections & GHS Special Ed Classroom - Daily living and skill building, experiential learning trips
HAS & WMS - AVID expansion to elementary and ESOL students

AVID EXTENSIONS

Hamilton Avenue School Launches AVID Elementary
Teachers and administrators at HAS attended their second summer at AVID’s Summer Institute. This training and the sessions with AVID trainers during the 2025/26 year prepared them to start AVID. Learn more about AVID elementary here.

Western Middle School grows AVID with AVID Excel
WMS ESOL teachers Jillian Pellegrino and Michele Thompson attended AVID Summer Institute for AVID Excel. This section of AVID builds essential academic language for ESOL graduates to excel in higher education.

AVID Scholarship Fund

We awarded $87K for fall tuition bills. The Scholarship Fund makes a significant difference for AVID First Generation students in college. They report the money not only reduces financial stress, it allows them to work fewer jobs and gives them time to concentrate on academics and campus activities.

Thanks to Greenwich United Way CIP for the generous support of the AVID SUCCESS Scholarship Fund.

Trish and the AVID Alumni Advisory Council planned workshops for GHS AVID graduates to make the successful transition to college (T2C). Many sessions were taught by the Alumni and our community partners. Over the two-weeks, students learned about:  

• Academic strategies and study skills
• Safety on Campus
• LinkedIn
• Drug and Alcohol Safety - Liberation Programs
• Financial literacy tools and budgeting - The First Bank of Greenwich
• Networking - Ivonne Zucco/People & Culture Consultant

Students also had the opportunity to have professional headshots taken by Melissa McCann Photography. 

At the end of the two weeks, students had greater confidence, stronger connections to AVID Alumni & the Greenwich Alliance, and practical tools to arrive on campus ready to learn.

Thanks to the Greenwich Department of Human Services for supporting T2C.

Spruce Up Your Fall Wardrobe & Celebrate 20 Years of the Greenwich Alliance!

Support the Alliance and join Julie for sips & shopping on Thursday, Sept. 24th from 3-6pm. 10% of the sales proceeds benefit the Greenwich Alliance for Education.

On Friday, September 25th, Greenwich Alliance Day, mention the Alliance for your purchases to benefit.

16th Annual Turkey Trot 5K, 1 Mile & Mini-Trot
Saturday, November 28, 2026

Registration opens soon!
Race sponsors need! Click here for sponsor form.
New this year - put your name on the t-shirt with a Family Sponsorship! 

Attention all GHS Students - have an idea for a program that would benefit the GHS Community?

In conjunction with our 20th anniversary, the Alliance is offering up to $2000 to turn your program idea into reality. Applications open September 25th. All GHS students in grades 912 are eligible.

Submission deadline: October 30, 2026

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

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Board of Education Meeting, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, Central Middle School, 7:00 PM 

Shopping Event at J.McLaughlin, Thursday, Sept. 24 202, 3-6 PM.  Celebrate 20 years of the Greenwich Alliance for Education and join Julie for shopping at J.McLaughlin, 55 E. Putnam Avenue. 10% of sales proceeds will benefit the Alliance. View flyer here.

Greenwich Alliance Day, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026.  District-wide celebration in every school with special activites for students and teachers.  View more details here.

Business Roundtable, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 @Milbrook, 8-10am. "The Power of Philanthropy in Public Education". Sponsored by the Greenwich Alliance for Education. 

Election Day, Tuesday. Nov. 3, 2026.  Learn more at the League of Women Voters of Greenwich website. 

Greenwich Alliance for Education's 16th Annual Turkey Trot, Saturday, November 28, 2026.  Registration opening soon.  

Questions about the Greenwich Alliance for Education? Want to share your ideas on how to spread the word?

Contact me at julie@greenwichalliance.org.

Sincerely,

Julie Faryniarz, Executive Director
203.912.9543
julie@greenwichalliance.org
www.greenwichalliance.org
https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie.faryniarz

PS. Follow us on FB and Instagram for Alliance updates.

The Greenwich Alliance for Education is a public/private funding partner 
to the Greenwich Public Schools.

Funding Innovation, Expanding Opportunities, Inspiring Educators