At a meeting of the Sunrise Rotary last week, Boas presented the status of the work he has thus far accomplished as the founder of the Charter Oak Challenge Foundation.  continue reading

visit Harold’s website

On May 8, 2010, Harold started his journey in Los Angeles. On June 26, he  arrived in Boston.  3415 miles, or about 1,200,000 revolutions of the pedals. One major reason to do this is to support our high performing charter school, Achievement First Bridgeport Academy Middle School.

12th Annual Charter Oak Classic Bike Tour  September 28 – 30, 2012.

Click here for complete details.

ConnCAN

ConnCAN (Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now) is a state-level advocacy group. Its mission is to “bring Connecticut together to provide every child with a great public school.” Its major projects include the ranking of Connecticut public schools, video profiles of successful schools, parent outreach and education, legislative advocacy in support of its Great Schools for All plan, and  its annual State of Connecticut Public Education research report.

website www.conncan.org

Connecticut Association for Human Services

An independent statewide organization that works to reduce poverty and strengthen families and communities through advocacy, the Connecticut Association for Human Services makes it easy for those eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit to apply for it. CAHS operates the Greater Bridgeport Family Economic Security Coalition, which with the help of Charter Oak’s grant runs eleven volunteer income tax assistance (VITA) sites in greater Bridgeport during tax season. In addition to money they may receive through tax credits, VITA site participants save a significant amount of money by using the free tax preparation service instead of paying tax preparers. They also have the opportunity to connect with organizations and businesses in the community that can help increase their economic security.

WEB SITE

Bridgeport Rescue Mission

The Bridgeport Rescue Mission provides free shelter, clothing, meals and a faith-based drug- and alcohol-rehabilitation program to homeless people in greater Bridgeport. The mission serves about 300,000 meals a year. Each year, Charter Oak partners with Seneca Foods and has donated thousdands of  cases of canned vegetables to the mission.

WEB SITE

Connecticut Food Bank

The Connecticut Food Bank is the largest centralized source of donated, emergency food in the state. Its five warehouses and distribution sites serve 560 feeding programs, including soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters and adult and children’s day care centers. The food bank provides food for about 250,000 people every year. Charter Oak partners with companies like Seneca Foods to donate tens of thousands of cans of food to the food bank.

WEB SITE

Operation Hope

Operation Hope works to end homelessness by providing shelters,
transitional housing and related programs and services to some
4,000 people in Fairfield and Bridgeport. Charter Oak’s original grant
to the organization allowed Operation Hope to employ an additional
clinical case manager, so the organization could serve at least 40
more families. Charter Oak awarded Operation Hope its second grant
to help fund a full-time development director. The addition of this
position will allow Operation Hope to grow and stabilize its
infrastructure to meet the demand for solution-focused housing and
service programs among low-income individuals and families.

As a yearly project, Operation Hope and the Charter Oak Foundation receive and distribute over 100,000 pounds of canned goods throughout the greater Bridgeport area.

WEB SITE

RYASAP

RYASAP attacks the root causes of substance abuse by involving
children and teenagers in their communities. Charter Oak’s grant is
enhancing Youth As Resources, an after-school program in the
Bridgeport schools.

WEB SITE

Original Works

Original Works provides a creative outlet for Bridgeport adolescents
interested in drama. Original Works involves its 30 students in plays,
television documentaries and song and dance routines. The students
write their own material and perform for the public and in local
schools. Original Works is often its students’ sole exposure to the
theater.