Welcome to A Better Chance of Westport, Connecticut!

ABC ScholarsThis program selects motivated students of color from educationally disadvantaged areas who demonstrate potential for academic excellence and leadership in life.

It offers them the opportunity to live in the Westport community during the school year, attend the town’s award-winning Staples High School, engage with Westport’s residents and participate in the town’s activities.

ABC of Westport gives its young scholars a better chance. The program also gives all of Westport a better chance: to share the community’s resources, to support the program’s purpose and to benefit from its diversity.

 

 

10th Anniversary

A Decade of Dreams
Celebrating our 10th Anniversary
Saturday, March 31, 2012
The Unitarian Church in Westport

RSVP online now!

Help our scholars by donating items on their "Wishlist"

Auction donors - please fill out our online form

ABC House Renovation

In 2002, we opened the doors of the Glendarcy House.  With two adults, and  four young boys, the house worked very well.  Due to town restrictions, we started without any addition to the footprint of the house and we did the best we could to maximize the existing interior space.  We installed walls in the garage space and windows in the back porch to make bedrooms and a dining room.  We filled the space with used cabinetry, appliances and fixtures.  We added to and reinforced an old conference room table top to make a dining table. Over the past few years we've had up to 8 young men living in our house at one time, and now a wonderful Resident Director Family,  who lovingly wished that we had space for the scholars to invite their friends to their house for homework or social time.   Parts of the house were in dire need of an overhaul, and additional common spaces are needed.  It was  very confining and we've found that 2,024 sq ft just wasn't enough space to house 12 people. 

Our long overdue renovation is now completed. We have expanded common spaces, including a larger kitchen and dining room. We also have several new kitchen appliances.

Despite a very ambitious construction schedule, we had the scholars back in the house shortly after the school year started. (They lived elsewhere in Westport for the start of school.) Considering that we didn't start until after last year's graduation, this might be a record for a Westport construction project.

 

Many thanks to all of our supporters for this project. Funds were raised specifically for the renovation at last year's Dream Event. Also, many contractors and retailers have generously donated time and materials to help us keep costs down. If you think this is a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a donation.

We're confident the scholars' new home will be an environment more conducive to learning, as well as a place they will be comfortable having friends over.

 

Go Green and Support ABC!

New England Smart Energy Group will perform an energy audit on your home. Normally, New England Smart Energy Group charges a $75 co-pay, for which homeowners receive a Home Energy Services (HES) Assessment. During the visit, homeowners can receive up to $700+ in ‘energy related’ products and services paid for by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF). Under our fund raising program, we discount the co-pay to $75, $25 of which is donated to ABC of Westport, for every home tested as a result of this 'Energy' fund raising promotion.

The goal of this Smart Energy Fundraising program is to enable A Better Chance of Westport to raise money in a way that benefits both the donor and the charity. This we feel provides an ideal balance, a ‘win-win’, so to speak and still keeping within the ‘Spirit of Giving’. All donations are tax deductible.