PFD Foundation recipients

 The Peter F. Dalton Foundation set up a scholarship at Peter's alma mater Norwich University located in Northfield, VT.    Since inception we have given out 15 scholarships!

Their mission is to give our youth an education that shall be American in character—to enable them to act as well as to think—to execute as well as to conceive—“to tolerate all opinions when reason is left free to combat them”—to make moral, patriotic, efficient, and useful citizens, and to qualify them for all those high responsibilities resting upon a citizen of this free republic.

The distinctive terms and phrases found in this definition provide important clues in understanding the essence of this organization, and ultimately the directions we will seek and the outcomes we will require of our students. The most distinguishing terms are:

• American in character
• Global in perspective
• Mutual respect
• Service
• Thinking and acting
• Conceiving and executing
• Making moral and patriotic citizens
• Making useful citizens
• Qualifying graduates for responsibilities of a free republic

 Queens Centers for Progress is committed to providing person-centered services and supports to children and adults who have developmental disabilities.  The goal of these services and supports is to promote independence, community involvement, and quality of life.

Queens Centers for Progress will:

1. Provide individually-designed services and supports which will maximize:
   (a) independent decision-making capabilities;
   (b) integration into community life; and,
   (c) daily living, educational, and work-related skills.
2. Advocate for the rights and entitlements of persons with developmental disabilities.  Demonstrate our commitment to these rights by always treating those who use our services, and their families, with dignity and respect.
3. Engage in community outreach and public education to further awareness of the Agency’s services and the contributions made by persons with developmental disabilities.
4. Establish relationships with community and governmental organizations involved with services and funding for people with developmental disabilities.
5. Attract, train and retain staff who are committed to providing services of consistently high quality, who are compensated fairly for their work and who are treated with respect.
6. Operate the agency in a manner which demonstrates adherence to high ethical standards and assures financial stability and thereby protect the ongoing ability to carry out the Agency’s Mission.

 Inspirica is unique for 4 key reasons: 

1. SCOPE OF HOUSING

By operating emergency shelters, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, deeply affordable housing, and rapid rehousing we work across the spectrum of housing, allowing us to break the cycle of homelessness rather than provide only a temporary fix. 

2. COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH

We address not just the physical component of homelessness (residential), but all the reasons a person becomes homeless (support services). Our ability to deliver comprehensive integrated services is a key element of our success. 

3. SCOPE OF PEOPLE SERVED

By serving single women, single men, families, people with mental illness, and persons living with HIV/AIDS, we work across the spectrum of people who are homeless rather than with just one segment of those in need.

4. FOCUS ON RESULTS

We measure success not by how many people we serve, but by the ultimate goal: how many people achieve - and maintain - permanent housing and stability in their lives

Inspirica is one of the largest providers of services to the homeless and those facing housing insecurity in Connecticut and the largest in lower Fairfield County. Inspirica serves individuals and families who are homeless, facing housing insecurity, or are at risk of becoming homeless. Each night we house approximately 475 people and each year we serve more than 3,000 people).

Inspirica operates 12 facilities in lower Fairfield County and provide an extensive array of support services, including vocational training, workforce education, job placement, housing placement, job & housing retention support, early childhood & parenting services, children’s services, counseling, case management, and much more.

Inspirica is one of only a handful of organizations in the nation that address the physical components of homelessness and housing insecurity and the underlying root causes on a single, powerful end-to-end platform.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to help the needy and most vulnerable of all faiths to permanently improve their lives. We provide supportive services that enable families to rise up out of poverty, overcome barriers, and achieve self-sufficiency and independence.

OUR VISION

We envision a Fairfield County where all individuals have the basic necessities – food, shelter, and support – in order to reach their full potential as healthy, educated, and self-sufficient individuals.

New Covenant Center is focused on hunger prevention and social services for a better life. Our facility in Stamford provides expanded basic need services to our guests. By creating a safe, warm and compassionate environment, we are taking the first steps toward empowering men, women and children to reach their full potential and regain their dignity and self-respect.

Services

Our soup kitchen serves 300 healthy, hot and nutritious meals daily.

Over 1,200 individuals receive 10 days / 3 meals a day worth of groceries each month from our food pantry.

New job skills programs focused on the food/hospitality industry are offered for clients.

Staff provides assistance to address basic individual and family issues, to identify and overcome barriers/obstacles and to provide links to supportive services such as medical and mental health referrals.

We offer over 100 showers per month and provide laundry services, barber services and hygiene items to clients.

Xavier High School located in Middletown, CT is an all boys Catholic School. Peter's son and John's brother Pete attended before he suddenly passed away in 1985.  We have an annual scholarship given each year in his honor.

Since opening its doors in 1963, Xavier has remained true to its Xaverian tradition of fostering excellence in scholarship, leadership and service.

 This requires the commitment of a large community of alumni, parents, family, friends, faculty, coaches and staff. In that community, we all share a common bond of helping preserve Xavier as a top-tier private, all-boys Catholic high school that challenges its students to use their God-given talents in service to others.

We send out to the world outstanding young men prepared to meet any challenge. They step out from our community, their home for four years, and become even more engaged in the larger community, our world. Yet they never step away from Xavier. It is always home.

Says Bernie Hallums ‘81, a retired Manchester Police Officer who now is on the Board of Directors:

“The high standards set forth by Xavier more than prepared me for college and future successes beyond as a Xavier man.    A caring and supportive community truly made me feel like family … the faces have changed since my days at Xavier, but every time I walk in that building I am home.”

The school is home to nearly 10,000 alumni.