Together We Thrive: Fostering Education Equity
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to reconnect with the founding members of the Fairfield County Business Collaborative for Education Equity. We gathered virtually to recognize our first group of grant recipients - seven Connecticut-based nonprofit organizations focused on summer learning, kindergarten and college readiness, and food insecurity.
It was a packed hour hearing about each local nonprofit’s mission, and I found myself energized and inspired by how quickly these organizations planned to set the funding in motion with various summer programs. For example, Bridgeport Prospers will be teaching STEM through E-sports, the Carver Foundation of Norwalk is focusing on strategies for students to successfully transition into high school, and Horizons Bridgeport is providing one-on-one coaching to ensure on-time graduation from high school. And that’s not even half of the grantees.
For more than 100 years, Pitney Bowes has worked under the principle of “doing the right thing, the right way.” This past year has taught us that now, more than ever, we have a responsibility to our communities as business leaders and citizens, uniting and taking action at a local level to help shape the future of education.
Our commitment to responsible citizenship is making a difference in communities where we operate around the world. This past year we helped meet urgent needs through direct charitable contributions, partnerships with local and national nonprofit organizations, grants from the Pitney Bowes Foundation, volunteerism, and advocacy on key issues made more acute by public-health challenges.
In a year of immense disruption and calls for social justice, it is inspiring to see business leaders do more and, in this case, work to address the root causes of income inequality and opportunity gaps that restrict access to rights every person deserves. I feel strongly that our work is just beginning
Marc B. Lautenbach
President and Chief Executive Officer
You can find out more about the Fairfield County Business Collaborative here and check out the latest press release. If you know of other companies who have a presence in Fairfield County and would like to join this effort, they can contact Rebecca Mandell ([email protected]) or Pablo Colón ([email protected]) at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation or Kathleen Ryan Mufson ([email protected]) here at Pitney Bowes.
Editor’s Note: Read more about ESG actions with our Corporate Responsibility Report.
Photo Credits: Norwalk Community College Summer bridge program and Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County.
