Fairfield County Bank Matches $7,500 For Ridgefield Playhouse Program

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Fairfield County Bank has pledged to match up to $7,500 in donations for the Ridgefield Playhouse’s “From Page to Stage” initiative, a program that provides books to students attending free performances as part of the theater’s Arts in Education program.

The initiative, launched last year, aims to connect literature with live theater experiences, reinforcing classroom learning through performances aligned with school curricula. In 2024, the Playhouse distributed more than 3,600 books to students and provided lunch to Title I schools, ensuring broader access to the performances. During the 2023-2024 school year, more than 840 lunches were provided across 34 free performances.

“It’s been incredibly rewarding not only for myself but for countless colleagues across the bank to participate in the Arts in Education program,” said Laura Silver, marketing vice president and Playhouse volunteer coordinator at Fairfield County Bank. “For some of these students, this is their first or only live theater experience. Giving them something to take home from that—like a book—is invaluable.”

Jodi Simon Stewart, director of Arts in Education at the Playhouse, emphasized the importance of the bank’s partnership. “Their commitment to our mission of sharing live, curriculum-related theater with students from all communities is unwavering,” Stewart said. “We look forward to their employees volunteering to greet buses, distribute books, and help create a welcoming experience for our youngest audience members.”

Fairfield County Bank employees have volunteered at Playhouse events for four years, assisting with ushering and lunch distribution. The bank’s matching funds will support books for four spring semester productions: "The Magic School Bus," "Frog and Toad," "Ada Twist," and "Pete the Cat." A $25 donation covers the cost of four books or five student lunches.

Each Fairfield County Bank branch will display copies of the featured books and provide a QR code linking to the donation page. Residents may make a donation online here.