FAIRFIELD COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION RECEIVES HUD SECRETARY'S AWARD
HUD and Council on Foundations honor work of place-based funding organization

BOSTON - Across the nation, philanthropic organizations and community foundations work to improve neighborhoods and the lives of the people who live in them, often without much recognition for the critical work that they do. Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in partnership with the Council on Foundations, announced the 2013 winners of the HUD Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships (www.huduser.org/portal/about/Pub_Phil_2013_Intro.htmlwww.huduser.org/portal/about/Pub_Phil_2013_Intro.html).

Fairfield County Community Foundation is being recognized for their outstanding partnership with the public sector to improve housing and neighborhoods, education, health and recreation, transportation, community participation, arts and culture, public safety, sustainability, and economic development. The award was presented at the Council on Foundations' Community Foundations Conference in San Diego.

"These organizations are doing the heavy lifting to improve neighborhoods, often without much thanks. Today, we say 'thank you!'" said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "These foundations are teaming up with public and private partners to bring about positive change and lasting solutions that are making a real difference in their communities."

"These awards provide us all a moment to reflect on the good work that foundations are doing to advance communities across the country," said Vikki Spruill, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations. "I am grateful to HUD and Secretary Donovan for recognizing the many different ways that foundations are thoughtfully responding to the needs of those around them."

"A safe, stable neighborhood is an essential foundation to helping families succeed," said Juanita James, President/CEO, Fairfield County Community Foundation. "The P.T. Barnum Partnership's innovation lies in its conviction that public housing residents can be the drivers of positive, sustainable change in their community."

The Fairfield County Community Foundation is being recognized for their Stable Families Program. This program provides intensive case management and support services to high risk families in Bridgeport public housing. Services are aimed first at helping residents resolve issues that could lead to eviction and then to providing services and support that help improve the health, stability and economic and educational success of these families. The program is unique because of the strong relationship that has been built between the project's key partners: FCCF, Bridgeport Housing Authority, Connecticut Legal Services, New Haven Home Recovery, and, most importantly, public housing residents. Since November 2009, 96% of the 154 families enrolled in the program have avoided eviction, gotten back on their feet financially and moved their lives forward.

While the Stable Families program has led to a number of very positive outcomes for families, the partners recognized that creating broader and lasting improvements for residents required a deliberate focus on creating positive community level outcomes. As a result of this recognition, the partners created the P.T. Barnum Partnership (PTBP) in the fall of 2011. PTBP is a place-based partnership that extends and deepens the Stable Families partnership work with a focus on a single public housing project: P.T. Barnum Apartments. 

HUD Secretary Awards are given to place-based funders for completed or ongoing initiatives that are executed in partnership with a local, regional, or federal government agency.  

Read more about the winners announced today and the HUD Secretary's Award for Community Foundations (www.huduser.org/portal/about/Pub_Phil_2013_Intro.html).

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews, on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.

The Council on Foundations (www.cof.org), formed in 1949, is a nonprofit membership association of grantmaking foundations and corporations. Council members include more than 1,700 independent, operating, community, public and company-sponsored foundations, and corporate giving programs in the United States and abroad. The Council's mission is to provide the opportunity, leadership, and tools philanthropic organizations need to expand, enhance, and sustain their ability to advance the common good.