It is the mission of Project Return to provide that environment for young girls from throughout Connecticut who are victims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, as well as those who suffer from eating disorders, depression, homelessness and other traumas and make Project Return their temporary home. Seven girls at a time live in this family-like atmosphere. In the process of mending broken spirits, the teens regain a sense of their own power to change their lives for the better.
Tomorrow from 7 to 10 p.m. at The Inn at Longshore, Project Return will hold its 14th annual birdhouse auction, its major fundraiser in which some 150 birdhouses donated by local and other creative artists will be auctioned to help this worthy cause. Some of the birdhouses have been on display in store windows in downtown Westport over the past few weeks, and a "birdhouse stroll" two weeks ago served as a preview for tomorrow night's auction.
The auction will have birdhouses in every price range, according to Project Return Executive Director Susie Basler. On average they sell for $200 in the silent auction; the record is $11,000 in the live auction for Dick Riley's six-foot replica of the Sheffield, Conn., lighthouse.
Project Return, Inc. is a 501(c) non-profit organization. All charitable contributions are tax deductible in compliance with state and federal laws. Although it is a private organization, it is licensed by, complies with and receives partial funding from the State of Connecticut's Department of Children and Families (DCF).
Contributions can be made payable to Project Return, Inc., 124 North Compo Road, Westport, CT 06880.
There is a comprehensive web site, www.projectreturn.org, that fully describes the origins of the program, its history, benefactors, the rationale for the birdhouse auction, how people can contribute, and so on - all the details one would expect from a dedicated charitable organization.
In the "resource" category, though, there is something special - a statement from Mother Theresa that happens to exactly express the message Project Return wants to leave with the young girls it helps:
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Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.
Here's hoping tomorrow's birdhouse auction is a soaring success.
