Thirty-seven volunteers and a group of volunteers from a local church have been chosen for this year’s volunteer recognition awards by the Community Fund of Darien, the organization announced Thursday.
The volunteers, which include the First Congregational Church of Darien Open Doors Shelter Team were announced in several groupings: Adult volunteers (ages 18 to 64), a volunteer 18 years old or younger, senior volunteers (ages 65 or older), “Outstanding Volunteer Duo” and “Outstanding Volunteer Team.”
“[W]e are proud to celebrate these wonderful Darien residents who tirelessly give their time and talent to benefit our local community,” Janet King, executive director of the Community Fund, said in the announcement.
Darienite.com will publish profiles from the Community Fund of each of the volunteers that we have pictures for (not all pictures have been handed in to the Community Fund yet — the organization assures us that pictures are being taken with adequate social distancing).
Here’s the announcement:
Since the coronavirus health crisis thwarted plans to honor Darien’s extraordinary volunteers in person at the planned April 30 event, the Community Fund of Darien (TCF) is continuing its 40-plus year tradition virtually.
This year’s honorees, Darien residents who have made a positive impact in and around our community, and the nonprofits they serve are:
Outstanding Adult Volunteer (Ages 19 to 64 Years)
—Julie Best — Tokeneke PTO
—Cathy Butcher — Building One Community
—Sean Calvillo — The Darien Foundation
—Thomas Davidson — Kids in Crisis
—Gordon Devens – Person to Person
—Ashley Mayhew Dineen — The Tiny Miracles Foundation
—AJ Discala — STAR, Inc., Lighting the Way
—Andrea Jackson — Darien Arts Center
—Kate Larson — Darien Historical Society
—Sarah Lippman — Mather Homestead
—Carolina McGoey — Darien High School Parents Association
—Mara Neafsey — the Community Fund of Darien
—Melissa Ryan — At Home in Darien
—John Schrenker — Darien YMCA
—Michael Sgroe — Darien Land Trust
—Doug Wilson — Blue Wave Booster Club
Outstanding Emerging Volunteer
(18 years and younger):
—Campbell McEvoy — Norwalk Stamford Grassroots Tennis and Education
Outstanding Senior Volunteer (65 years Old and Older)
—Judi Linskey — Darien Community Association
—Jane Marrone — The Carver Foundation of Norwalk
—Michael Wheeler — Family Centers, Inc.
Outstanding Volunteer Duo
—Erica Jensen and Corrie Belardinelli — Darien Chamber of Commerce
—Evonne Klein and Susan Vogel — League of Women Voters of Darien
Outstanding Volunteer Team
(three or more individuals dedicated to a cause):
—Chris Harwick, Todd Herget, Brett Tucker and Patrick Spellman from the Darien Junior Football League — nominated by Doug Wilson
—The First Congregational Church of Darien Open Doors Shelter Team — nominated by Open Doors
—Andrew Popson, Kaitlyn Popson, Nick Hoyt, Colleen Hoyt and Jack Briggs from Helping Hands — nominated by Darien Human Services
—Allison Law, Christa Fitz, Lauren Stissor and Katherine Grambling of the Ox Ridge Elementary School Kids Care Club — nominated by Family and Children’s Agency
“While we are disappointed that we can’t share this recognition with our honorees and their families, friends and co-volunteers in person, we did not want to miss the opportunity to acknowledge their accomplishments,” said Janet King, executive director of the Community Fund of Darien.
“We can all use some good news right now, and we are proud to celebrate these wonderful Darien residents who tirelessly give their time and talent to benefit our local community.”
Nominations were requested from local nonprofits, and the public was also invited to offer submissions recognizing Darien residents who have made a difference in and around our community.
TCF thanks Brown Thayer Shedd and Halstead Properties for their generous support of this celebration.
For almost 70 years, the Community Fund of Darien has helped Darien and our neighboring towns of Stamford and Norwalk by funding programs and community initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for all.
Funding goals prioritize basic needs, self-sufficiency, youth success, and community initiatives. For more information, please visit CommunityFundDarien.org or call 203.655.8775.