Janet Cling volunteer recognition 2019 Darien Land Trust Community Fund of Darien

Thank You, Janet Kling, for Your Volunteer Efforts at the Darien Land Trust

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Thank you, Janet Kling for your volunteer work in the Darien Land Trust, with your social media expertise and fundraising success with the annual Farm to Table Dinner. —This article is part of a series of daily articles profiling the volunteers recognized in May at the Darien annual volunteer recognition luncheon organized by the Community Fund of Darien. What Janet Cling Has Been Doing in the Darien Land Trust

Janet came on to the DLT Board over two years ago and has hit the ground running. She has taken awareness of the Land Trust’s mission to a whole new level with her social media savvy and this year is co-chair of the Development Committee. Janet is an active fundraiser and has been integral to the success of the annual Farm to Table Dinner.

Kathy Larkins Tax Collector thumbnail square Salvation Army Community Fund of Darien volunteer recognition 2019

Thank You, Kathy Larkins, for Your Volunteer Work at Darien’s Salvation Army Unit

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Thank you, Kathy Larkins, for your years of volunteer work in the Darien/NewCanaan Salvation Army Unit. —This article is part of a series of daily articles profiling the volunteers recognized in May at the Darien annual volunteer recognition luncheon organized by the Community Fund of Darien. Kathy Larkin’s Efforts with the Local Salvation Army
Since 2013, Kathy Larkins, tax collector for Town of Darien, has been volunteering countless hours of her time as the treasurer of Darien’s (and New Canaan’s) Salvation Army Unit. She is responsible for all of the accounting and bookkeeping for the unit, which financially supports Darien residents in need through the Human Services department. Her dedication and time given to the community is greatly appreciated.

Peter Eder AARP Tax Assistance volunteer Darien Library volunteer recognition 2019 Community Fund of Darien wide for Facebook thumbnail

Thank You, Peter Eder, for Your Volunteer Work in the Tax Assistance Program at Darien Library

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Thank you, Peter Eder, for your volunteer work at Darien Library, helping other volunteers help people prepare their taxes — at what’s become the busiest AARP tax assistance site in the state of Connecticut. —This article is part of a series of daily articles profiling the volunteers recognized in May at the Darien annual volunteer recognition luncheon organized by the Community Fund of Darien. Peter Eder’s Efforts with Darien Library
For the past two years Peter has played a leadership role in our very successful Tax Assistance program, where he oversees the AARP tax volunteers and welcomes our clients with exceptional warmth and care. Understanding that anything involving taxes can make people anxious and often not appear at their personal best, his calm, assured manner goes a long way to making what is often a difficult process a bit more manageable. The library is the busiest AARP tax site in the State of Connecticut, due in large part to the extreme customer service led by Peter.

Anne Lise Brown CFD volunteer recognition DHSPA 2019

Thank You, Anne-Lise Brown, for Your Volunteer Work With the DHS Parents Association

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Thank you, Anne-Lise Brown, for your volunteer efforts in the Darien High School Parents Association, raising money with students for human services, planning DHS events and more at the school. —This article is part of a series of daily articles profiling the volunteers recognized in May at the Darien annual volunteer recognition luncheon organized by the Community Fund of Darien. Anne-Lise Brown Did This in the DHSPA

Anne-Lise has served on our Executive Board for many years in several capacities. Her current role on the DHSPA is the student life chair. She works with students and coordinates with our DHS Community Council to plan events, raise money for human services, and many other valuable DHS student activities.

Patricia Parlette Pat Parlette

Gratitude for the Late Pat Parlette, for Volunteering at the DCA Thrift Shop

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Thanks to the late Pat Parlette, for more than a quarter century of service at the Darien Community Association’s Thrift Shop, including her “legendary” work as treasurer. —This article is part of a series of daily articles profiling the volunteers recognized in May at the Darien annual volunteer recognition luncheon organized by the Community Fund of Darien. Pat Parlette’s Efforts with the DCA

A 1943 graduate of Darien High School and DCA scholarship awardee, Pat has maintained a lifelong connection to the DCA, where she has volunteered at the DCA Thrift Shop for over 25 of her 93 years. For most of those years, Pat has served as the Thrift Shop treasurer, with bookkeeping that is legendary in its exactness and detail. And only matched by her love of he shop and the DCA, personal integrity of the highest standard, and her optimism and zest for life.

Golden Turkey Award 2019 Most Generous Town competition

Well, NOW We Beat ’em: Darien Tops New Canaan in Third ‘Most Generous Town’ Competition

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This year, Thanksgiving marked the date of not one, but two competitions between perennial rivals Darien and New Canaan — the hotly contested Turkey Bowl, and the final day of the third annual “Most Generous Town” fundraising competition between the Community Fund of Darien and the New Canaan Community Foundation. — an announcement from the Community Fund of Darien
Although New Canaan won the football competition, Darien is this year’s fundraising champion!  Collectively, the two nonprofit organizations raised an impressive $300,280 — double last year’s amount — which is then allocated through grants to local charities. Last year, New Canaan won by a slim margin, with over $150,000 raised between both nonprofits — more than doubling the amount collected in the inaugural year.  In another very close contest, Darien edged out the first victory in 2017. To commemorate the event, The Community Fund of Darien will proudly house a large “Turkey Trophy” at its office for the next year. What began as a fun way to encourage local donors to give to the two nonprofits on “Giving Tuesday” — a nationally-recognized day focused on charitable donations on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving — evolved into a full-fledged week of giving.

Andrew Tepper Youth Asset Team Community Fund of Darien

Social Worker Joins Community Fund’s Youth Asset Team

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Licensed Clinical Social Worker Andrew Tepper has joined The Community Fund of Darien as an advisor to the organization’s Youth Asset Team. Tepper will help plan prevention-related events and speakers, as well as alcohol-alternative events for their peers. He’ll provide the teen perspective at Thriving Youth Task Force meetings, and mentor middle school Youth Give Back students. “We are so excited to welcome Andrew to the Youth Asset Team this year,” said Janet King, executive director of TCF. “He really connects with students thanks to his humor, compassion and contagious enthusiasm.”

Family Day Dinner poster facebook dimensions

Last Day to Register for Darien Family Day Dinner (on Friday)

Wednesday, Sept. 18 is the last day you can register: The Thriving Youth Task Force, the Darien YMCA, The Community Fund of Darien and the Darien Youth Commission invite you to celebrate “Family Day Dinner,” from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Friday, Sept 20. The dinner is free. — an announcement from the organizers

Family Day Dinner is a national initiative spearheaded by CASA,the National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. Family Dinner Day here in Darien will take place at the Darien YMCA and is totally free!

Darien Road Race publicity photo 2019

Darien Road Race 2019 Coming on Sept 15 — You Can Register Now

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You can register now to do something for yourself and your community by joining the Darien Road Race, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 at Pear Tree Point Beach. It includes a 1.5-mile Fun Run and 5-mile race. — an announcement from the Community Fund of Darien

This year’s race will begin at 9 a.m. for the 1.5-mile Fun Run and 9:30 am for the 5-mile. The race will feature “The Finish Line” tent with music, family friendly activities, sponsor booths, silent auction and an awards ceremony.

Community Fund of Darien Awards $537,000 to Various Darien and Area Nonprofits

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Thanks to the generous support of local donors, this year the Community Fund of Darien (TCF) is awarding $537,000 in large grants to 22 local nonprofit organizations. More than $30,000 in other grants was previously allocated this year in small grants and grants awarded by the Youth Community Fund high school service group. — an announcement from the Community Fund of Darien

The Community Fund hosted its annual Grants Award breakfast on July 11 for local nonprofit leaders and Community Fund grant review volunteers at the Darien Community Association. Large grants were awarded to the following agencies: Abilis, AmeriCares Free Clinics, Building One Community, Carver Center, Child Guidance Center of Mid-Fairfield County, Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut, Children’s Learning Centers, Domestic Violence Crisis Center, Domus, ElderHouse, Family & Children’s Agency, Family Centers, Inspirica, Kids in Crisis, Laurel House, Liberation Programs, New Covenant Center, Open Doors, Pacific House, Person-to-Person, Rowan Center, STAR Lighting the Way. In addition to large grants, $21,500 in small grants were given to seven local organizations (CT Food Bank, Filling in the Blanks, Future Five, Human Service Council, Stamford Public Education Fund, At Home Darien and Stamford Cradle to Career.) $10,000 in Touch-a-Life funds is also reserved for Darien residents who have emergency needs.

35 Volunteers Honored at Community Fund of Darien’s Recognition Day Luncheon

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This past Tuesday, May 21, the Community Fund of Darien hosted its 40th annual Recognition Day Luncheon at the Darien Community Association to honor Darien residents who volunteer at local organizations for their dedication and hard work. — Libby Markham, a senior intern at the Community Fund of Darien, wrote this  announcement from the organization

Thirty five Darien residents  (see the list, below) received well deserved applause for their volunteer work at a variety of local organizations: Darien Community Association Thrift Shop, Person-to-Person, Darien Arts Center, Darien Human Services, League of Women Voters of Darien, Domestic Violence Crisis Center, and Family Centers among others. Linda and Bruce Koe were the guest speakers of the event, each with extensive backgrounds in community service at organizations like Building One Community, Food Rescue US, New Covenant Center, Stamford Food Collaborative, and the Connecticut Food Bank. They spoke of their involvement with nonprofits and their dedication to serving the local community. “It is really humbling to have the opportunity to speak to a group of volunteers that are as committed and as accomplished as you all are,” Linda Koe said during her speech.

Letter: Darien United Supports ‘Our Darien’ Campaign to Rein In Risky Drinking

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To the editor:

This letter expresses Darien United’s support of the “Our Darien” campaign launched by the Thriving Youth Task Force of The Community Fund of Darien. This Campaign is vital to our community as it addresses the important issue of underage binge drinking as well as how surrounding community-wide norms can contribute to adolescent alcohol abuse. Darien United is a coalition of youth workers representing churches in the community as well as the ministries we lead. We provide a platform of mutual collegial support and event planning in order to create safe spaces for students where they can be themselves, enjoy substance-free fun, and explore the intersection of life and faith. We are proud to be clergy members of the Thriving Youth Task Force as our missions inherently converge.

CFD Year 3 Thriving Our Darien

Where the Community Fund of Darien’s ‘Our Darien’ Campaign Is Going in Year 3

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In the third year of the Community Fund of Darien’s “Our Darien” campaign against underage drinking and binge drinking in town, the organization has released this op-ed article, particularly for parents, describing the problem in town. The CFD is presenting more research from experts on alcohol use and focusing on Darien’s own problems with alcohol identified in its latest surveys of teens and parents, including lax parental views of teen partying with alcohol and how the behavior of parents strongly affects the behavior of teenagers. The organization notes (as it has before) that Darien has significantly higher rates of teen drinking than the nation as a whole. It also notes the dangers of that for the long-term: Those who start drinking earlier are far more likely to have alcohol abuse problems later in life. This passage summarizes the whole:

Entering its third year, the “Our Darien” campaign is aimed at providing teens and parents with the facts about underage drinking.