Community Fund of Darien 2021
The Pressured Child part poster wide Facebook

‘The Pressured Child: Helping Your Child Find Success in School and Life’ Presentation, Thursday Night

By |
Download PDF

New York Times bestselling author Dr. Michael G. Thompson will speak Thursday, Nov. 18 at the Middlesex Middle School auditorium at to speak about “The Pressured Child: Helping Your Child Find Success in School and Life.” Dr. Thompson’s presentation, one of a series of events to address student mental health and substance use from the Thriving Youth Task Force (TYTF) in response to its recent student survey findings about Darien 7th-12th grade students’ mental health and substance use. “The Pressured Child” presentation is recommended for “pressured parents” who have forgotten what school is actually like for children and who may mistakenly believe that there is a one-to-one correlation between school performance and success in life. Dr. Thompson will remind adults that children are almost never judging themselves by grades: they are always monitoring their own development and constantly searching for three things: connection, recognition and a sense of power.  Each journey has its own different pressures, and every child is constantly developing strategies for coping with the pressures that they feel.

Community Organizations

The Volunteer Hub Is Launched to Help Darien Volunteers Find a Good Matches With Local Organizations

By |
Download PDF

The Community Fund of Darien is launching The Volunteer Hub, a complimentary service to Darien residents interested in finding just the right local volunteer opportunity. — an announcement from The Community Fund of Darien

“We’ve heard from Darien residents that they wanted to be more involved in our community and didn’t know how to get started,” explained Janet King, Executive Director of The Community Fund of Darien. Thanks to its community investments in many local nonprofit organizations, The Community Fund has strong ties to those who need volunteer help — a list that’s growing. “Since TCF has such extensive knowledge of local nonprofits, we want to use this expertise to create a personalized matchmaking service for Darien residents to find their dream volunteer position and support these organizations with their skills,” King said. How It Works
Individuals contact TCF’s Volunteer Hub Hosts, and those “volunteers for volunteering” will personally guide participants to the organizations which best match their skill set and areas of interest.

Charity Events and Opportunities
Axe throwing Community Fund of Darien

Men: Throw an Axe, It’s the Charitable Thing To Do

By |
Download PDF

Gentlemen, channel your inner lumberjack and join The Community Fund of Darien on Thursday, Nov. 4 for a men’s charity night of axe throwing. Did we mention there’ll be beer and bourbon? First-timers are welcome, an axe master will tell you how it’s done, and organizers say “the lanes are safely gated off.” Just throw in the right direction and everything should work out fine.

Community Fund of Darien 2021
Thriving Youth Task Force TYTF square logo

Five-Year, $625K Fed Grant Includes Funds to Expand Pot, Alcohol Education for Darien Kids, Parents

By |
Download PDF

More education efforts about teen marijuana and alcohol use will be coming in the next five years now that the Thriving Youth Task Force of Darien has been awarded $125,000 per year for the next five years by a grant from the federal government. The federal Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Grant, managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will support TYTF activities. The task force is organized by The Community Fund of Darien, which runs the TYTF program. Janet King, executive director of The Community Fund of Darien, said the funding will not only allow her organization to continue the Thriving Youth Task Force’s programs in teen substance use prevention and education, but to expand them. “The DFC Grant gives us a fantastic opportunity to further engage our community to work together towards this goal,” she said.

Charity Events and Opportunities
Darien Road Race 2016 8-14-16

Save the Date: Annual Darien Road Race Swiftly Approaching on Sept 19

By |
Download PDF

The Community Fund of Darien’s 41st annual Darien Road Race is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, at Pear Tree Point Beach. This year’s race will begin at 9 a.m. for the 1.5-mile Fun Run and 9:45 am for the 5-mile race. — an announcement from the Community Fund of Darien
About the Darien Road Race
The race will feature “The Finish Line” tent with music, games, sponsor booths, raffle items and an awards ceremony. The Community Fund of Darien’s signature event, The Darien Road Race, welcomes Mirador as the “presenting sponsor” for the event.

Community Organizations
Allegra Erickson and Christina Passaretti Thriving Youth Task Force TYTF

Two New Members Named to Community Fund of Darien’s Thriving Youth Task Force

By |
Download PDF

The Thriving Youth Task Force announced Monday that Allegra Erickson and Christina Passaretti will join its executive board for the 2021/22 school year. — an announcement from The Community Fund of Darien
Erickson will assume the role of Executive Board co-chair.  She will succeed Shelly Skoglund, who will complete her term as co-chair this year. Christina Passaretti will serve as vice chair, succeeding Susan Marks, who will also complete her term this year. Erickson brings a wealth of experience to the Thriving Youth Task Force. She has served our community on the PTO executive boards of Hindley Elementary, Middlesex Middle School and Darien High School and was a board member, Youth Asset Team adult advisor, and Community Investment executive board member for The Community Fund of Darien.

Community Fund of Darien 2021
Moira Rizzo

‘Pandemic Parenting’ — Register Now for April 8 Online Talk by Family Therapist

By |
Download PDF

Family therapist Moira Rizzo will lead an interactive discussion on Thursday, April 8 at 10 a.m. on “Pandemic Parenting: Strategies to Keep You and Your Kids Sane Through Challenging Times.”
Her presentation includes how to effectively talk with teens about:
—mental health
—social connectedness and
—substance use. The discussion is the fourth in a series of The Community Fund of Darien’s “Our Darien” events this year designed to educate parents about the dangers of substance use, youth mental health and how they can best support their teens. If You’re Attending … Registration for this Zoom webinar, sponsored by The Depot Youth Center and YWCA Parent Awareness, is free and required at www.communityfunddarien.org