Bigelow Tea

2012 marks the 25^th Anniversary of the Annual Bigelow Tea Community Challenge, the one-day 5k Road Race, Fitness Walk and Kids' Fun Run that always takes place on the last Sunday of September, rain or shine. 

The first event attracted 50 participants and raised $3k.  Today, 25 years and over $800k in donations later, the family-friendly event attracts over 1,000+ runners, walkers and kids from all over Connecticut and beyond, and continues to be a major source of support to the community in which we work and live.  100% of the donations are awarded to Bridgeport- and Fairfield-based charities that provided shelter, food, educational services, counseling, crisis management services, after-school tutoring and recreational programs to people in the community.

How many lives will be touched as a result?  "Lots.  But it's impossible to calculate," says company president Cindi Bigelow, who started the yearly event in 1986.  "I can tell you I take a personal interest by visiting these charities regularly to observe, first hand, the positive impact these dollars make.  Some of the charities use the money to provide educational programs, some for sports.  Others use the funds for critical services like safe haven housing and youth and family crisis management.  Each year I am overwhelmed by the enormous need here in our community and by the fine services these charities provide." 

The sixteen charities that will be receiving funds from the event this year are:

• The Bridge House

Since 1986, the mission of the Bridge House has been to provide a positive, supportive environment that helps Greater Bridgeport Area residents with persistent mental illness acquire the skills and confidence needed to develop meaningful relationships and live productive, satisfying lives.   Learn more

• Bridgeport Rescue Mission

Established in 1993, the Bridgeport Rescue Mission is a non-profit, faith-based organization committed to providing food, shelter, clothing, education, job training and residential discipleship for the urban poor and addicted. In 2010 it provided over 32,000 nights of shelter, 527,000 meals for guests and working poor, and 57,384 mobile kitchen meals. Learn more

• Burroughs Community Center

Originally the Burroughs Home assisted single women, many working in Bridgeport factories. In 1997, responding to community demands, it transformed itself into The Burroughs Community Center and offers a variety of youth and adult programs to Bridgeport constituents, providing educational, recreational, social, and economic tools needed to lead successful lives. In addition, the facility provides space and support to over 60 non-profits and community groups, bringing over 42,000 community members through its front door annually.   Learn more

• Cardinal Shehan Center

The Cardinal Shehan Center is a non-profit organization located in Bridgeport, CT, that opened its doors in 1962.  Its mission is to enrich lives by offering a variety of programs and activities that address the educational, recreational, cultural, and social needs of moderate and low-income families and young people in lower Fairfield County.  It offers After School & Saturday Youth Development Programs, Summer Day Camp, basketball and softball leagues, Sign-Up Programs, and alternative education programs. Learn more

• Caroline House

Since 1995, its official opening, Caroline House has helped some of the poorest, most isolated women and children in Connecticut acquire the basic knowledge and skills they need to improve their own lives and the lives of their children.  Learn more

• Center for Women and Family

With roots in the greater Bridgeport community dating back to 1895, the Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield County has a long tradition of providing high quality support and services to women and families.   Its primary goal is to eliminate violence and abuse through education, intervention, advocacy, and community collaboration.  Among the many services it provides each year, it teaches more than 7,000 children and teens about preventing bullying, building healthy relationships, and preventing dating violence.  It trains more than 3,000 adults to prevent abuse and help victims, answers over 2,000 crisis calls on 24-hour crisis hotlines and provides a safe home for more than 100 women and their children fleeing domestic violence annually.   Learn more

• Connecticut Food Bank

Founded in 1982, Connecticut Food Bank is an affiliate of Feeding America, the nation's food bank network. Connecticut Food Bank is the largest centralized source of donated, emergency food in Connecticut. It provides food products to more than 650 soup kitchens, shelters, food pantries and child and adult day programs.  The Connecticut Food Bank uses the money it receives from the Bigelow Tea Community Challenge to supplement its ongoing distribution of donated food during the holiday season to 164 food pantries, soup kitchens, school and other programs in direct support of Fairfield County neighbors who have been adversely affected by rising costs and the economic downturn.  Learn more

• Fairfield Senior Center

In addition to offering daily lunches, health screenings and transportation services, the Fairfield Senior offers a broad spectrum of eldercare social services recreational and educational enrichment programs to area seniors.   Learn more

• Fairfield YMCA

Focused on building strong kids, strong families, strong communities, the Fairfield YMCA offers family programs, child care services and aquatic programs that nurture the healthy development of children, support families, and strengthen communities through quality, values-based programs and services.  Learn more

• Grasmere by the Sea

A key resource for elders in the Fairfield County area, the Adult Day Center of The Jewish Home has over 30 years of experience providing day care, different levels of nursing services, rehabilitative therapies, care management, therapeutic recreation, socialization, and interactive programs to enrich the quality of life for participants and provides caregivers with respite support. Learn more

• Janus House

The Janus Center primarily serves Greater Bridgeport youth who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, who are not under the supervision of the CT Department of Children and Families (DCF) and would otherwise "slip through the cracks."  It assists youth facing serious problems with their families, schools or the juvenile court.  Its mobile intervention team supports the program's Safe Place network, maintains a 24-hour Youth In Crisis Hotline, and provides counseling and referrals to necessary services and short-term respite care to youth who cannot return home.  Learn more

• Mercy Learning Center

Since 1987, Mercy Learning Center has provided basic literacy and life skills to low-income women in the greater Bridgeport area. As its motto "Educate a woman...Educate a family" demonstrates, the mission of the Center is to bring about a positive change to the problem of illiteracy, provide basic literacy and life skills training within a compassionate, supportive community. The Center's programs focus on empowering, and providing dignity, economic self-sufficiency and hope to the most vulnerable members of society by helping functionally illiterate women improve their skills and earning potential and create a more hopeful future for themselves and their children. Learn more

• Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County - formerly Music and Art Center for the Humanity

The Neighborhood Studios/Music and Arts Center for Humanity is a non-profit community school of the arts that for 30 years has enlisted the universal language of the arts to promote tolerance and understanding. Its creative approach serves children and adults with special needs, and others who may benefit with educational programs and services that inspire them take an active role in the community. Learn more

• Norma F. Pfriem Best Care Center

The Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center is a fully accredited facility recognized for its extensive range of support services providing quality care for all patients, including a large underserved population.  In addition to offering medical counseling, surgery, breast surgery, general surgery and education, the center promotes overall health to its patients by offering yoga, massage, mental health counseling, naturopathic medicine, nutrition counseling and Pilates.  Learn more

• Operation Hope

Operation Hope was formed in 1986 when local residents became aware of individuals in the community unable to meet their own basic needs of food and shelter. Today it continues to provide the opportunity for individuals and families experiencing transformative change by addressing basic needs for food, shelter, and by offering long-term solutions to hunger and homelessness, affordable housing, life skills training and personalized clinical support.  Learn more

• Sandcastle Playground

Built in 1996 entirely through volunteer efforts of 2,500 community volunteers, the Sandcastle Playground is a large, wooden village playground at Jennings Beach in Fairfield that continues to be a focal point for the Fairfield community.  Learn more

• Wakeman Boys and Girls Club

A hub of activity year-round, the core of this center's mission is to enhance the physical, social, and emotional development of area youth through athletic programs, activities and summer programs that promote a foundation for sound citizenship. Learn more

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