CT LOTTERY AND FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS PRESENT $4,000 TO TEACHERS TO BUY SCHOOL SUPPLIESBRIDGEPORT, Conn. — June 16, 2025 — School’s almost out, and so were the supplies at Thomas Hooker School in Bridgeport this year. However, students will return to classrooms that are better stocked thanks to a $4,000 check from the CT Lottery in partnership with Fairfield University Athletics.
“Teachers spend a lot of time and money prepping their classrooms for a new school year,” said Giovanna Ramos, principal of Thomas Hooker School. “They spend a lot of their own money out of pocket, so it’s nice to say, ‘Hey, we got this gift and it’s going directly to your classroom.”
Staff and teachers were honored in a check presentation ceremony Monday. Hooker School serves students in grades pre-K through 8 and has a student population of around 250.
The $4,000 gift was the result of a partnership between the CT Lottery and Fairfield University Athletics during the 2024-25 basketball season to celebrate teachers and promote community engagement.
“At the Connecticut Lottery, giving back to our state and our communities is at the core of what we do. Support for education is a big part of that mission, and we’re proud to provide resources directly to our teachers,” said Frank Suarez, President and CEO of the CT Lottery. “It’s another way we continue to invest in Connecticut’s future.”
The CT Lottery pledged to donate $10 for every assist made by the Fairfield University women’s basketball team this season, up to $4,000. Thomas Hooker School in Bridgeport was chosen from among the schools that participated in Fairfield University’s annual Kids Day Out — a signature event that brings thousands of local students to campus to experience a Division I basketball game and college spirit.
“This partnership is a reflection of Fairfield’s Jesuit mission — to be men and women for others,” said Assistant Vice President and Deputy Athletics Director Zach Dayton. “Honoring teachers, supporting students and creating joyful, meaningful community experiences is at the heart of what we do. We are grateful to the Connecticut Lottery for helping bring this vision to life.”
“This gift is incredible and it goes a long way to help our teachers and staff at Thomas Hooker,” said Dr. Albert Sackey, Assistant Superintendent of Bridgeport Public Schools. “Thank you to the CT Lottery and Fairfield University Athletics.”
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About the Connecticut Lottery Corporation:The Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CLC) is a quasi-public state agency committed to generating revenue for Connecticut in accordance with the highest standards of public policy and social responsibility.
In fiscal year 2024 alone, players won more than $1 billion in prizes. At the same time, the Connecticut Lottery Corporation returned approximately $387 million to our state’s General Fund — providing critical dollars for essential services like education, public health, public safety, and libraries that strengthen communities across Connecticut.
Since 1972, the Lottery has contributed more than $11 billion to support our state’s programs and awarded more than $23 billion to lucky winners. That’s a track record of meaningful impact — both for the people who play and the people who benefit from the revenue it generates.
Players must be 18 or older to purchase lottery tickets, and at least 21 to place sports wagers. For help with a gambling problem, call 888-789-7777 or visit
ccpg.org.
To learn more, visit any CT Lottery retailer, go to ctlottery.org, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X (@ctlottery), or call (860) 713-2700. You can also download our apps
here.
About Fairfield University:Fairfield University is a modern, Jesuit Catholic University, rooted in one of the world’s oldest intellectual and spiritual traditions. More than 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 44 states, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and 46 countries, are enrolled in the University’s five schools. In the spirit of rigorous and sympathetic inquiry into all dimensions of human experience, Fairfield welcomes students from diverse backgrounds to share ideas and engage in open conversations. The University is located in the heart of a region where the future takes shape, on a stunning campus on the Connecticut coast just an hour from New York City.
