PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 19, 2010

For information contact the Rev. Dr. Brian R. Bodt, President/CEO

203.334.1121, ext. 233

The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport Receives $100,000 Grant from The Norma F. Pfriem Foundation

The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport, Inc. is pleased to announce that the Norma F. Pfriem Foundation has awarded them an unrestricted grant of $100,000 to be used to support of the organization’s “general charitable purposes.”  The Norma F. Pfriem Foundation is a private foundation managed by trustees with a focus on supporting Greater Bridgeport human welfare and educational programs, particularly those that address the needs of those who are economically disadvantaged.  Ms. Pfriem, now deceased, was a life long resident of Bridgeport and Fairfield whose family owned and published the former Bridgeport Post and Telegram.

The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport is a 65 year old faith-based, non-sectarian social service agency.  Originally founded just after World War II as The Council for Interchurch Cooperation, we respond to human need and develop cooperative action to leverage hope and change lives ~ for all people, regardless of religious affiliation.  Our service area is concentrated on people from Bridgeport and the suburban ring: Fairfield, Easton, Trumbull, Shelton, Monroe and Stratford, with additional partners in Westport, Milford and other portions of Fairfield and New Haven counties.

This generous vote of confidence in the work of The Council of Churches is especially meaningful in the current economic climate.  This unrestricted gift provides the flexibility to direct resources to the area of greatest need and will strengthen The Council’s financial foundation for generations to come.  This support translates directly into the vital work of helping inner-city school children with their homework, providing counseling and temporary respite care to youth in crisis, guiding ex-offenders to a second chance, supports a network of over 41 feeding programs that served over 2 million meals to hungry people last year, and engages youth and adult community leaders in facilitated dialogues to promote understanding in the midst of diversity and building collaborations for the betterment of our Greater Bridgeport community.