By Julie Faryniarz
Recently, someone asked why it was important in 2006 to start an education foundation in Greenwich, Connecticut – a town with a thriving community and excellent public schools. While many students held impressive academic records, there were many in our socioeconomically diverse school system who did not have access to programs and services they needed to be successful. Greenwich Alliance for Education (Alliance) started with a group of town parents and leaders who were concerned about the persistent achievement gap in the Greenwich Public Schools. This group approached Dr. Larry Leverett, (superintendent from 2003-2006), who suggested and fully supported forming a local education foundation because he saw this working in other municipalities. The goal was to establish an education foundation that would make it possible for community resources to fund opportunities for all students to build promising futures.
Over the past 18 years, the Alliance has spent $5.1MM on a variety of programs with 90% of those funds reaching under-resourced students. We supported the implementation of AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), an evidence-based college readiness system at Greenwich High School. Thanks to AVID, nearly 400 first-generation students have been able to pursue their dream of going to college. The program has since expanded to Western Middle School, now a designated AVID Schoolwide Site.
We are especially proud that our scholarship awards for AVID students in college recently reached $1,000,000! Recipients tell us these scholarships are transformative—reducing financial stress, allowing them to cut back on work hours, and giving them the freedom to fully engage in academics and extracurriculars.
Our Reaching Out Grants program has given educators a chance to think big—bringing fresh, creative, and critical ideas into classrooms across the district. To date, $2 million and seventy eight grants have been awarded. Standouts include ten years of Innovation Lab at Greenwich High School, media center makerspaces, Unbound Innovations VR at Western Middle School, comprehensive theater arts programs and visual arts with The Developing Artist workshops, Dare 2 Care mindfulness activities throughout the district and sensory spaces, AVID, eSports and many more. Two summer camps have evolved from our grants – The Developing Artist and Unbound Innovations STEM Camp and are registering campers now. We are currently evaluating grant proposals for the 2025-2026 school year.
Tuning In To Music has provided over $1 million in private music lessons to students in grades 4–12 who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Our lessons, taught by the CT School of Music, equip the students with the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to succeed and access the vast array of music ensembles offered in the middle and high school. It is our understanding that Tuning In To Music is one of only a few programs in the state that focuses on under-resourced students in the music education space. Thanks to all of the talented GPS music teachers who work with us on this program.
We have recently embarked on writing a three year strategic plan with consultation from The Strategy Group. The information collected in the environmental scan from GPS leaders and educators, community organizations, PTA’s, AVID alumni and others is helping us define and guide our decisions and future priorities. More than ever we need public support for our public schools. Our commitment to bringing community resources to the Greenwich Alliance for Education – the local education foundation – to address the opportunity gap for students and support our educators in the Greenwich Public Schools is as strong as it was in 2006!
Julie Faryniarz is the Executive Director of the Greenwich Alliance for Education
She has 3 children who graduated from Greenwich Public School
Julie is a PTAC Essence Award recipient and a YWCA Women Who Inspires
