Impact Fairfield County (FFC), a women’s collective giving organization, is celebrating its 10th year of giving with a special project spotlighting its 17 grant winners from the past decade. In collaboration with Sacred Heart Greenwich, an all-girls’, independent, Catholic school. Impact FFC is launching a video series that highlights the remarkable work of these nonprofits, which have used their $100,000 Impact grants to drive meaningful change in the community.
In honor of Impact FFC’s “Decade of Impact,” the videos showcase the nonprofits that have received Impact FFC grants over the last 10 years. These organizations have made a significant difference across Fairfield County, from tackling homelessness and food insecurity to advancing education, health and social equity. Through this series, the community will gain insight into how these nonprofit partners are transforming lives and building a stronger, more inclusive community.
The 17 Fairfield County-based nonprofits featured in the series include: Boys & Girls Club of Stamford, Filling in the Blanks, Catholic Academy of Bridgeport, The Center for Empowerment and Education, New Reach, nOURish BRIDGEPORT, Hall Neighborhood House, INTEMPO, All Our Kin, Career Resources Inc., Building One Community, Kids in Crisis, The Center for Family Justice, Stamford Public Education Foundation, Supportive Housing Works, The Rowan Center, and Inspirica. Each of these nonprofits has been a standout in Fairfield County, using their Impact grants to make a measurable, transformational change for the constituents they serve.
Sacred Heart Greenwich’s Filmmaking & Media Studies program was established in 2001, creating a dynamic, interdisciplinary program that integrates media, technology, and entrepreneurship. Designed to empower both students and faculty, the program fosters creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to address real-world challenges. Students took on the mission of creating compelling video documentaries to showcase these nonprofits as part of their Advanced Real World Filmmaking course, an elective that provides students an opportunity to create social change through filmmaking. By bridging technology and creativity, the Filmmaking & Media Studies program continues to position Sacred Heart Greenwich at the forefront of academic innovation.
Over the past six months, students worked closely with the organizations to bring their stories to life. The process included researching the nonprofits, conducting interviews, capturing video footage, managing audio, and editing the documentaries. Each student collaborated in pairs to produce videos for two of the nonprofits, with each taking the lead on one of the projects.
“This project has been an incredible opportunity for our students to apply their skills in a real-world setting while learning about local nonprofits and the positive change they’re driving,” said Ellyn Stewart, Director of Media Studies, Design & Innovation at Sacred Heart Greenwich. “The students have worked hard to understand the mission of each nonprofit and communicate their impact in a meaningful way. It’s been inspiring to see their passion grow as they bring these stories to life.”
The video series went through a thorough review and edit process, with feedback from Sacred Heart Greenwich educators, Impact FFC leadership and peers. The end result is a powerful collection of videos that celebrates the mission of each nonprofit and highlights the crucial role they play in Fairfield County.
“Collaborating with IMPACT FFC was both enriching and inspiring for me as a young filmmaker and student,” said Natasha Arakal ’25, a senior in the Advanced Real World filmmaking class. “I had the chance to learn from and work alongside nonprofits in my local community. What made it even more special was having my all-girls’ filmmaking class partner with an all-female organization.”
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Sacred Heart Greenwich on this exciting project,” said Annika Kennon, co-president of Impact FFC. “These videos are not only valuable for the nonprofits, many of which operate with limited resources, but they also provide our younger community members with an opportunity to learn about organizations they might not have known about before. It’s a ripple effect: students engage, learn and share their newfound knowledge with others.”
Sacred Heart Greenwich’s commitment to empowering young women aligns well with the mission of Impact FFC’s all-female membership. Both organizations are dedicated to fostering leadership and social responsibility in the next generation.
“We’re proud to be part of this inspiring partnership,” said Sacred Heart Greenwich President Michael Baber. “This project is a fantastic way to celebrate the 10-year journey of Impact Fairfield County, while also providing our students with a platform to not only learn but also to give back. By highlighting these amazing grantees, we’re educating our girls about the power of philanthropy and helping create content that will serve the nonprofit community well into the future.”
Impact FFC is a collective giving organization whose mission is to empower women to engage in local philanthropy through deeper knowledge and active participation in grantmaking. Since its founding in 2015, Impact FFC has provided over $2.1M million in grant funding.
Founded in 1848, Sacred Heart Greenwich is an all-girls, independent, Catholic school that educates and empowers students to pursue excellence, build courage and confidence, and lead lives of purpose and integrity. Sacred Heart Greenwich provides a vibrant Catholic tradition of spiritual and intellectual thought for girls and young women in kindergarten through 12th grade to prepare them to become confident, intelligent and compassionate global leaders.
