Fairfield County Community Foundation
Awards $15,000 to St. Luke’s LifeWorks
Stamford, CT., July, 2010 – The Fairfield County Community Foundation recently awarded a $15,000 competitive grant to St. Luke’s LifeWorks for its executive director transition and board transition/training. St. Luke’s LifeWorks is a non-profit organization that helps people achieve – and maintain – permanent housing and stability in their lives.
Jason T. Shaplen joined St. Luke’s LifeWorks as Chief Executive Officer earlier this year. Mr. Shaplen came to St. Luke’s LifeWorks from Project Renewal in New York City - an organization that serves homeless adults, a mission similar to St. Luke’s LifeWorks. His appointment came shortly after the retirement of the organization’s founding executive director, the late Rev. Richard Schuster, who led St. Luke’s LifeWorks for 22 years.
The Fairfield County Community Foundation’s award is assisting with costs incurred to identify and hire, first an interim executive director, and ultimately Mr. Shaplen as permanent CEO. Additionally, a portion of the Foundation’s grant will help fund a Board of Directors’ retreat designed to provide comprehensive training focused on board governance. This training will provide the Board with the needed training to be more knowledgeable and informed as it leads St. Luke’s LifeWorks and the more than 400 people it serves each year. “We are grateful for the support from the Fairfield County Community Foundation. They are a valued community partner to the agency” states Jason Shaplen.
The Fairfield County Community Foundation has been a supporter of St. Luke’s LifeWorks since 1998.