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Abilis Receives Play To Learn Grant In Stamford

STAMFORD, Conn. -- The United Way of Western Connecticut recently announced a grant award of $20,000 to Abilis, a nonprofit agency that runs family-centered programs for infants and toddlers in Stamford and Greenwich as part of its Birth to Three program. 

Parents and children attend a recent Play to Learn event.

Parents and children attend a recent Play to Learn event.

Photo Credit: UWWC

The grant will be used to bring “Play to Learn” playgroups to families who live in the KT Murphy Elementary School neighborhood in Stamford. The “Play to Learn” playgroups will begin this summer and extend through the 2016 - 2017 school year. 

Held twice a week, the 90-minute sessions provide instructions for parents and caregivers, and play for children. Each playgroup outing provides free play group time with activities such as finger plays, stories, and music, a snack, a hands-on project or experience, table-top games and parent education. 

“We know from national studies that playgroups provide foundational literacy and socialization skills for children and an opportunity for parents to meet and connect with other parents,” said Kim Morgan, CEO of UWWC. “These playgroups will include time for parent education on topics such as understanding developmental milestones, baby bottle syndrome, and creating healthy meals for picky toddlers.” 

The Play to Learn playgroups are part of UWWC’s KT Murphy Neighborhood Initiative aimed at ensuring that all children are ready for kindergarten. UWWC is partnering with foundations, local businesses, and community providers to offer programming in the areas of early literacy, parenting skills, early developmental screening, school orientation events, and financial stability and health of the families. 

For more information about Abilis, visit www.abilis.us.

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