October marks the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to honor survivors, remember those lost, and recommit to building safer communities. — an announcement from the YWCA of Darien/Norwalk
As we embark on this month of reflection and action, YWCA Darien/Norwalk is proud to stand with YWCAs across the nation and around the world in launching this year’s Week Without Violence, taking place Oct. 20 to 25. Through a week of empowering programs, this initiative calls on our community to raise awareness, center survivor voices, and work together toward a future free from gender-based violence. “Domestic violence touches families in every community, including our own,” said Jennifer Buchholz, CEO of YWCA Darien/Norwalk.
Person to Person’s spring benefit, Rising Together. will take place on Friday, April 4, at Serafresca in the Italian Center in Stamford, P2P announced. The black-tie event will feature a lineup of influential leaders, celebrated talent, and community advocates. — an announcement from Person to Person
Headlining the night is Grammy-nominated artist Chanté Moore, known for her captivating vocals and soul-stirring lyrics. More than 10 million of her albums have been sold.
The Community Fund of Darien welcomes Darien resident, Maggie Domont, as the new executive director, beginning Nov. 18. — an announcement from The Community Fund of Darien
Born and raised in Darien, Maggie has a deep connection to the community and a strong commitment to humanitarian work, both of which align with the mission of The Community Fund of Darien. Maggie attended Deerfield Academy in Western Massachusetts before earning her Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University. She brings experience to The Community Fund of Darien from her previous roles at St.
Family Centers’ Parents as Teachers (PAT) program has officially earned the Blue Ribbon Affiliate designation from the Parents as Teachers National Center. This recognition places Family Centers among the top-performing programs in early childhood education and family support, reflecting its adherence to the highest standards of service delivery. — an announcement from Family Centers
The PAT program provides vital services to first- and second-time parents, helping them navigate the complexities of early childhood. Referrals are received through partnerships with Stamford and Greenwich hospitals and community providers, offering free services to families across Stamford, Greenwich, Darien, and New Canaan. Family Centers is headquartered in Greenwich and has locations in that town, in Stamford and, at the Center for Hope, 590 Post Road in Darien.
Special Education Legal Fund has announced that tickets are now on sale for S.E.L.F. Homecoming, a fundraiser, from 6 to 11 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9, at Arch Street Teen Center in Greenwich. — an announcement from Special Education Legal Fund
Remember the excitement of your college days? The late-night study sessions, football games, and, of course, the unforgettable homecoming celebrations. Get your tickets today and pull out your college sweatshirts to relive those nostalgic moments while supporting — the Special Education Legal Fund.
The YWCA Darien/Norwalk Board of Directors announced on Wednesday the appointment of Jennifer Buchholz as the organization’s chief executive officer. The organization also announced the launch of its new season of programming. — an announcement from the YWCA Darien/Norwalk
Buchholz had been serving as interim CEO since the beginning of 2024, and assumed the role permanently this summer. Before stepping into the CEO role, she served on the board of directors for four years. She has lived in Darien for eight years while raising her son, now 15.
The Depot Youth Center is starting several new programs specifically for middle school students — one for girls, another for boys, one to promote offline activities and another to promote a sense of community and teamwork. — an announcement (lightly edited) from the The Depot Youth Center
Since receiving a grant from the Darien Foundation in 2019, The Depot’s middle school programs have continued to see increases in participation, and program offerings continue to evolve based on feedback from Darien’s tweens and teens. All Depot initiatives are set to foster personal growth, enhance social skills, and encourage community involvement among young people. Each program is thoughtfully crafted to meet the diverse needs and interests of today’s youth. The New Programs Launching This Fall
The Depot Youth Center is expanding its middle school offerings with the following engaging programs:
• Girls & — In this inspiring series of workshops, girls and women’s leadership advocate and best-selling author Joan Kuhl, a Darien resident, will guide tween girls through a transformative journey focused on three crucial building blocks: confidence, ambition, and compassion.
The Foodshed Forum, in collaboration with Connecticut Food System Alliance and Greenwich Audubon Center, announce New England Feeding New England: Connecting regional approaches to resilience, conservation ranching and the protection of bird and ecosystem habitat on Tuesday evening, July 9, at the Greenwich Audubon Center. — an announcement from the Greenwich Audubon Center
Please join them for an exploration of the food system with Meg Hourigan, Coordinator of Connecticut Food System Alliance. Hourigan will present research from the New England Food System Planners’ Partnership, “New England Feeding New England: A Regional Approach to Food System Resilience.”
The presentation will outline:
● New England’s potential to be more resilient against climate change through food, and our role in Connecticut
● Why and how we can work together to transform the food system
● Dynamics and patterns in the New England food system that impact regional self-reliance
● The opportunities and challenges in our regional food supply chains and employment, such as:
○ Transition to climate-smart and adaptive food production processes that increase food security;
○ Maintain more local, sustainable, and equitable stewardship of land and water
Most critically, the presentation will discuss how communities can come together to advance solutions toward New England producing 30% of the food they consume by 2030. Following the presentation, Rochelle Thomas, the director of Greenwich Audubon, will integrate the report findings with the steps The National Audubon Society has taken to protect bird and pollinator habitat through three initiatives: Conservation Ranching, Bird Friendly Maple and Birds and Bee Friendly Farming. Ali Ghiorse, co-founder of The Foodshed Forum, will provide opening remarks and facilitation.
Following a recent leave of absence due to ill health, Lucy Langley, co-executive director of The Undies Project, has decided this is the right time for her to retire. — an announcement from The Undies Project
Langley co-founded The Undies Project in 2015 with Laura Delaflor. The mission of the group is to provide new underwear to men, women and children in need to improve their lives. Initially started as a program at Neighbor to Neighbor, The Undies Project became a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2016 and rapidly grew from its grass roots origins. The Undies Project now donates to over 50 organizations in the Tristate Area that serve those who are homeless, living in shelters or who are on a low income.
The Community Fund of Darien invites the community to celebrate our 2024 grants which will be awarded on July 16 to more than 30 local nonprofit organizations. — an announcement from the Community Fund of Darien
Join us to honor the positive impact of our nonprofit grant recipients, the dedication and hard work of our grant review volunteers, and the generosity of our donors that make our grants possible. The Community Fund will be awarding more than $710,000 to Darien, Norwalk, and Stamford nonprofits. Since 1951, The Community Fund of Darien has granted more than $27 million to local nonprofits which assist neighbors in Darien, Norwalk, and Stamford. Each July, following a careful evaluation process, The Community Fund awards grants to the area’s most impactful nonprofit organizations that best address The Community Fund’s key areas of impact: basic needs, youth success, workforce development and community health.
The Connecticut Realtors Foundation is awarding scholarships this year to 105 children of Connecticut Realtors, who will receive a total of $82,000 in scholarships. Among the recipients are three from Darien. — an announcement from the Darien Board of Realtors
These Darien students each received an award from the Raymond F. Gates Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund:
Lily Donzeiser majors in environmental sciences with a biological concentration and minors in public policy at the University of California, Berkeley. Donzeiser is currently seeking a career in environmental consulting to be at the ground-level of direct change. Lily is the daughter of Realtor Michelle Donzeiser with Compass Connecticut in Darien.
The Community Fund of Darien has received $22,000 in individual donations towards funding a TeenTalk mental health counselor at Middlesex Middle School. They need $8,000 more to meet their goal. “You can make a difference today! Every contribution counts, and with your support, you can make a big difference in the lives of our students,” the Community Fund said in an email. “Let’s come together and make this happen!”
Impact Fairfield County, the area’s premier women’s collective giving organization, has awarded two $100,000 grants to Fairfield County nonprofits: Boys & Girls Club of Stamford (“BGCS”) and Filling in the Blanks (“FITB”). The winners of the two grants were selected by a vote of Impact FFC’s 281-women membership at their Grant Awards Celebration in Darien on May 8. — an announcement from Impact Fairfield County
Each grantee will also receive an additional $10,500 in unrestricted funding. In addition, Impact FFC awarded three $20,000 unrestricted general operating grants to the other finalists: Jewish Family Services of Greenwich, Optimus Health Care, and Teaching Matters. This year’s finalists’ applications requested support for early literacy programming, transportation for a human services agency, after-school youth counseling, maternal health navigation, and mobile food pantry services.
After an extensive search, the Darien Land Trust announced the appointment of Elizabeth Mathus as its new executive director. A resident of Darien for nine years, Mathus brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to the land trust’s mission. — an announcement from the Darien Land Trust
Having served on the Board of Trustees since 2018 and as president since 2022, Mathus has consistently provided thoughtful guidance and dedication to the organization’s goals. “Elizabeth’s passion for conservation and proven leadership skills set her apart during our selection process,” said Amy Sarbinowski, newly appointed president of the organization and member of the Search Committee. Mathus holds a Bachelor of Science degree in design and environmental analysis from Cornell University.
The Community Fund of Darien has announced partnership with the Darien Public Schools and Darien’s Health Department to fund a TeenTalk mental health counselor at Middlesex Middle School. The Community Fund hopes to raise $30,000 for a grant to the school district in response to Darien’s Youth Survey results, which indicated the need for mental health support for the town’s youth, the organization said in a news release. — This article is based on an announcement from The Community Fund of Darien. The Community Fund seeks to raise the money from individual donations by May 31. The mental health counselor is expected to be in place at the start of the the 2024-2025 school year in September.
Two members of Shakespeare on the Sound will discuss Romeo and Juliet on Wednesday evening, May 29, at Darien Library, two weeks before performances start on June 12 in Rowayton’s Pinkney Park. — an announcement from Darien Library
“For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.” ― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
It’s almost time for Shakespeare on the Sound, and you can prepare to see this year’s production of Romeo and Juliet. Watch and listen as this play comes to life at Darien Library, just in time for Shakespeare on the Sound’s 28th annual summer production in Rowayton’s Pinkney Park, June 12 through the June 30. Learn the origins of the play, what Shakespeare intended and much more. Shakespeare On the Sound’s Nick Urda and John Love will walk us through this unforgettable play. Until then, fill up on fun facts about the iconic work which was written in the 1590’s:
• Romeo and Juliet first meet on a Sunday evening.
