Starfish Connection Inc.

Starfish Connection, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in April 2008 by David and Judy Martin to address the educational achievement gap in Stamford. This gap reflects significantly higher success rates among white middle-class children compared to other demographics, as shown by the Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) and the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT) results.

Each year, Starfish Connection enrolls five or six children from high-risk socioeconomic backgrounds in third grade, providing mentorship, advocacy, educational support, and enrichment throughout their education. We believe that with strong mentorship and exposure to enriching experiences, these children can achieve similar success to their more affluent peers. Data shows that, without support, even high-potential children often disengage academically by middle school.

Each child is paired with a mentor who supports them from third grade through high school graduation, meeting biweekly and participating in various programs, community service, and college preparatory classes. Our goal is to prepare every Starfish Connection student for a successful transition to a four-year college.

Our approach is long-term, comprehensive, and individualized, aiming to transform lives one at a time. Unlike many temporary intervention programs, we proactively set high expectations and monitor progress to ensure that each child can succeed as a young adult.