FAIRFIELD COUNTY BANK PLEDGES TO MATCH $7,500 IN DONATIONS FOR RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE’S “FROM PAGE TO STAGE” INITIATIVE
Fairfield County Bank is pledging to match up to $7,500 of donations made to the Ridgefield Playhouse’s “From Page to Stage” book initiative.
Fairfield County Bank has been a longstanding supporter of the Ridgefield Playhouse Arts in Education program and with it, the “From Page to Stage” initiative that began last year. In 2024, the Playhouse gifted over 3,600 books to students attending free performances, which correspond to the performance and the students’ current curriculum.
The relationship between theater and literature fosters the children’s imagination and love of reading, helping students digest the material, and further reinforces the learning modules associated with the shows. In addition, the Playhouse provides lunch to Title I schools, who otherwise would not be able to attend the performances. During the 2023-2024 school year, over 840 lunches across 34 free performances were provided to students attending these performances.
“It’s been incredibly rewarding not only for myself but countless colleagues across the Bank to participate in the Arts in Education program at the Playhouse by volunteering during the shows,” said Laura Silver, Marketing Vice President and Playhouse volunteer coordinator at Fairfield County Bank. “For some of the students, this is their first, or only, live performance in a theater. Being able to witness and give them something to bring home from that experience, like the books through “From Page to Stage”, is so valuable.”
“We are grateful for our partnership with Fairfield County Bank” said Arts in Education Director, Jodi Simon Stewart. “Their commitment to our mission of sharing live, curriculum-related theater with our students from all communities in our region is unwavering. We look forward to their employees volunteering with us on Arts in Education show days greeting busses, handing out book bags and seating students. It fosters a creative, exciting and safe theatrical experience for our youngest audience members!”
Bank employees have been assisting with ushering and lunch distributions at the Playhouse’s shows for the last four years. Fairfield County Bank will be matching up to $7,500 of donations made to help fund the books for four shows throughout the spring semester: the Magic School Bus, Frog and Toad, Ada Twist, and Pete the Cat. Each donation of $25 covers the cost of four books or five lunches for students. Every Fairfield County Bank branch will feature a copy of the books as well as a QR code linking to the donation page.
To make a donation and learn more about the Arts in Education program, please visit:
Ridgefield Playhouse "From Page to Stage" Initiative and Fairfield County Bank Matching