Mentoring Program Awarded Funds

DANBURY — Mentoring took a giant leap forward this week when Good Friend, a program of Green Chimneys Children’s Services, received a grant from the Fairfield County Foundation, the County’s community foundation. Good Friend, a mentoring program for children ages 7 to 14 of the Greater Danbury area, is celebrating 25 years of service. Children, known as Littles, from local single-parent families are paired with Bigs, professionally screened and supervised adult volunteers. The Good Friend office is located at 185 Main Street in Danbury.

“The program relies on volunteers becoming mentors to children. Good Friend develops programs that connect children and their families to a caring community,” Christ Barrett, director of Good Friend, said. “The goal is to promote the establishment of positive relationships between children and adults which foster confidence, competence, and caring.”

“Good Friend requires private sector operating funds in order to operate. We must raise 74 percent of the program operating budget each year,” said Joseph Whalen, executive director of Green Chimneys Children’s Services/Green Chimneys School. “We do this with the help of individuals, corporations, and foundations whom we rely on for contributions. Everyone can help a Little is our motto.”

“The Fairfield County Foundation is interested in supporting the local youth development field. We realize that quality mentoring programs such as Good Friend are an important part of this growing field,” stated Karen R. Brown, the foundation’s program director.

In addition to the mentoring program, Good Friend provides an After School Program at the Roberts Avenue School in Danbury for fourth and fifth graders and weekend recreational activities for community children and families.

For information on how to become a Big or to become a Little, call Good Friend at 203-790-0032, visit our Web site at www.goodfriend.org, or email us at gdfriend@mail2.nai.net.