Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Fund for Women & Girls Celebrates 20 Years of Impact with Billie Jean King at Annual Luncheon

Jan 11, 2018

Tickets Now on Sale

(Norwalk, Conn.)  2018 marks the 20th year that Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Fund for Women & Girls is making a difference for women and girls throughout the region and beyond. Part of the year-long celebration of this momentous milestone will be its Annual Luncheon themed the COURAGE to CREATE CHANGE on April 5th featuring keynote speaker Billie Jean King, an inspirational champion for social justice and equality. The luncheon is held at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich, Conn., and tickets are now on sale.

Over the years Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Fund for Women & Girls has invested more than $5 million in sustainable solutions, informed by research, leading to economically secure, safe and healthy women and girls throughout Fairfield County. Established in 1998 by a small group of visionary women, The Fund for Women & Girls is now New England’s largest women’s fund and partners with national coalitions.

Last year, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Fund for Women & Girls awarded $860,000 IN GRANTS TO 27 ORGANIZATIONS that share a commitment to education and increased the number of smaller grants to leadership development and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs for girls. The Fund raised nearly $500,000 from nearly 600 attendees at the 2017 annual luncheon and those proceeds directly benefitted the Family Economic Security Program (FESP) at Housatonic Community College (HCC) in Bridgeport, Conn. Also, a cause for celebration, FESP, now in its third year of operation at HCC, is retaining students at a 72%-86% rate versus the college’s approximate 52%.

“For Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Fund for Women & Girls turning 20 is indeed an occasion to celebrate. While reflecting on two decades of history and impact, you cannot help but contemplate the courage, leadership and determination needed to create change. Our pioneers were women with great vision who challenged the status quo. We are grateful for their foresight and commitment to the establishment of a fund that is making a profound difference in the lives of so many, and we look forward to honoring them and our many steadfast supporters with our special guest Billie Jean King,” states Tricia Hyacinth, Director, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Fund for Women & Girls “We hope you will join us for this exciting celebration,” she continues.

At the luncheon, guests will celebrate making an important difference for thousands of women and girls throughout Fairfield County, learn about the Fund’s work and hear from women who have benefited from their support. Net proceeds from the 2018 Annual Luncheon will once again support the Family Economic Security Program (FESP) at Housatonic Community College. Built on the successful pilot program at Norwalk Community College, FESP will ensure that 400 low-income students, over a four-year period, persist, graduate and move into family-sustaining employment.

Sponsorship information is available by emailing Tricia Hyacinth, Director, Fund for Women & Girls at thyacinth@fccfoundation.org or calling 203.750. 3200. Purchase your tickets for the 2018 Annual Luncheon for Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Fund for Women & Girls here.

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Trailblazer Billie Jean King is the featured keynote speaker at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Fund for Women & Girls Annual Luncheon on April 5, 2018, at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich, Conn. The Fund for Women & Girls is celebrating 20 years of impact. Ticket are now on sale.


About Fairfield County’s Community Foundation

Fairfield County’s Community Foundation promotes philanthropy as a means to create change in Fairfield County, focusing on innovative and collaborative solutions to critical issues impacting the community. Individuals, families, corporations and organizations can establish charitable funds or contribute to existing funds. The Community Foundation is in compliance with the Council on Foundations’ national standards and has awarded over $220 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond. As a trusted nonprofit partner and thought leader, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation brings together community organizers, business experts and philanthropists to solve our region’s challenges. Our goal is to create a vital and inclusive community, where every individual has the opportunity to thrive. fccfoundation.org

About Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Fund for Women & Girls

The Fund for Women & Girls, a special interest fund of the Community Foundation, is the largest women’s fund in New England. Our mission is to engage philanthropists and invest in sustainable solutions that lead to economically secure and healthy women and girls throughout Fairfield County.  Since 1998 The Fund has invested over $5 million in grants to programs serving females ages 5 to 90. The Fund is a member of the global Women’s Funding Network and the White House endorsed Prosperity Together.

For more information, please visit:

About Billie Jean King

As one of the 20th century’s most respected and influential people, Billie Jean King has long been a champion for social justice and equality. She has created new inroads for both genders in and out of sports during her legendary career and she continues to make her mark today.

King, who won an astounding 39 Grand Slam titles during her career, blazed trails for women everywhere in 1970 when she became one of nine players to break away from the tennis establishment and accept a one dollar contract from tennis promoter Gladys Heldman to compete in the newly created Virginia Slims Series. The revolt led to the birth of women’s pro tennis and the formation of the Women’s Tennis Association.

In 1973, King produced one of the greatest moments in sports history when she defeated Bobby Riggs in the famous match dubbed “The Battle of the Sexes.”  The Riggs-King match took place at the Houston Astrodome and garnered huge publicity. In front of more than 30,000 spectators and a worldwide television audience estimated at 90 million people in 37 countries, 29-year-old King beat the 55-year-old Riggs 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. It still remains one of the most viewed sports events of all time, and the story is now a major motion picture starring Emma Stone as Billie, and Steve Carell as Bobby Riggs.

In 1974, King co-founded World TeamTennis, a mixed-gender professional tennis league, and remained heavily involved with the league for over 40 years, selling her majority ownership stake in 2017.

She currently owns the Philadelphia Freedoms and heads up the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative. She also serves on the executive boards of the Women’s Sports Foundation (which she founded) and the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF).

Named one of the “100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century” by Life and a 2009 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, King was honored on August 28, 2006, when the National Tennis Center, home of the US Open, was renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

She is also the author of Pressure is a Privilege: Lessons I’ve Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes to commemorate the 35th anniversary of that historic match.