NEW BRITAIN - Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) kicked off its "April is for Ana" Love Wins Month on April 4 in celebration of the birthday of Ana Grace Marquez-Greene, who was one of the children killed in the Sandy Hook school shooting.eventbrite.com, search for Dance For Ana. More information about the event is available by e-mailing info@dfawlfund.org or calling 203-900-4ANA (4262).newarka.edu/page/news-detail?pk=997970&fromId=193277.ccsu.showare.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=230.eventbrite.com/e/love-sings-a-new-day-tickets-43060301521.More information about the Ana Grace Project is available online at anagraceproject.org.[naviga:img class="aligncenter wp-image-313198" src="https://newtownbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Ana-Grace.jpg" alt="Ana Grace" width="442" height="233" /]Approximately 800 Central Connecticut State University faculty, staff, and students gathered on April 4 in CCSU's Kaiser Hall for the kick off of its "April is for Ana" Love Wins Month. The event was organized by the CCSU Ana Grace Project on the birthday of Ana Grace Marquez-Greene. Participants, in addition to receiving purple t-shirts, were asked to carry out random acts of kindness on behalf of Ana.

Throughout the month CCSU and the Ana Grace Project will host additional on-campus and statewide events to embody the project's mission to promote love, community, and connection for children and families.

According to a release for the April is for Ana month, in Newtown, Figs Wood Fired Bistro, 105 Church Hill Road, will offer special desserts and offerings to benefit the Ana Grace Project and DOrazio Sisters Bakery, 266 South Main Street, will have all proceeds from the sale of special cupcakes also go to the Ana Grace Project. Both programs were scheduled to run from April 3 to 7.

Other upcoming events throughout the month include the annual Dance for Ana with Love FUNdraiser, scheduled for April 7, from 10 am to 3 pm, at the CREC Academy of Science and Innovation in New Britain, centrally located directly off of I-84 Exit 36 at 600 Slater Road. The day will include refreshments and many interactive activities, including an Open Dance Party, a performance by the Ana Grace Academy, Off the Wall Zumba with Elsa, and a Parent Child Dance-Off. Vendors and raffle prizes will also be available. A full day of events are $30 for a Family 4-pack, $10 for an individual, $7 for students with a student ID; and children under 3 years old attend for free. Pay at the door on the day of the event or register online at

On Friday, April 13, the Newark Academy Jazz Concert Benefit for the Ana Grace Project will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 pm at the acedemy's Rose Auditorium, 91 South Orange Avenue, Livingston, N.J. More information is available online at

Then on Saturday, April 14, the Ana Grace Project will host "Love Wins Because She Persisted, An Afternoon With Chelsea Clinton." The general university event will run from 4 to 5 pm at CCSU at its Welte Auditorium, 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain. Registration is required. More information about the event is available online at

On Friday, April 20 a benefit concert for the Ana Grace Project called "Love Sings A New Day" will be held at 7:30 pm, at the First Baptist Church of West Hartford, 90 North Main Street, West Hartford. The event's suggested donation is $20 for tickets, and tickets are available online at

CCSU will also host a Finish the Race event on April 27, when more than 500 New Britain students will participate in activities to expose students to college and remind them that finishing the race of schools does not end with high school, according to CCSU.