Volunteers
Scott Overbeck YMCA basketball coach square thumbnail

Thank You, Scott Overbeck, for 10 Years of Coaching in Darien YMCA Basketball League

By |
Download PDF

Thank you, Scott Overbeck, for your volunteer coaching in the Darien YMCA’s winter house basketball league. —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. Scott Overbeck’s Efforts with Darien Y’s Winter Basketball League

Scott has been a volunteer basketball coach for the Darien YMCA’s winter house basketball league for over 10 years. With five children who have played in our basketball league, Scott routinely coaches two teams a season which is no easy task. Coaching multiple teams has required him to have late Friday night practices to coordinate with his work schedule, sometimes having to leave work early.

Volunteers
Mike Wheeler Darien TV79 2019 volunteer recognition thumbnail wide Facebook Community Fund of Darien

Thank You, Mike Wheeler, for Your Volunteer Work Strengthening Darien TV79

By |
Download PDF

Thank you, Mike Wheeler, for your volunteer work for over a decade with DarienTV79, helping the organization greatly expand its coverage. —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. Mike Wheeler’s Efforts with Darien TV79
Mike Wheeler has served on the Darien TV79 Advisory Board for over a decade, the last four years as its chairman. He has been a tireless advocate for ever-expanded programming, bringing the station’s coverage of town meetings to Facebook and YouTube. His extensive technical knowledge and calm demeanor have helped TV79 achieve its most extensive coverage since its founding in 2007.

Volunteers
Caroline McGrath square thumbnail Darien Historical Society Community Fund of Darien 2019 volunteer recognition

Thank You, Carolyn McGrath, for Your Volunteer Work at the Darien Historical Society

By |
Download PDF

Thank you, Carolyn McGrath for your volunteer work on many critical projects for the Darien Historical Society. —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. Carolyn McGrath’s Efforts with the Darien Historical Society
A member of the Darien Historical Society’s Board of Directors for a number of years and current co-chair of the House and Grounds Committee, Carolyn has lent her expertise and talents to countless critical projects, even going so far as serving as the society’s interim executive director in 2017. From leading development initiatives to organizing the society’s social calendar, Carolyn’s commitment to the mission of the society is evident. As current co-chair of the House and Grounds Committee, her organizational skills are evident in every room of the facility, and even from the outside.

Volunteers
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

By |
Download PDF

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.

Volunteers
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

By |
Download PDF

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.

Volunteers
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

By |
Download PDF

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.

Volunteers
Anne Lise Brown CFD volunteer recognition DHSPA 2019

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

By |
Download PDF

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.

Volunteers
Patricia Parlette Pat Parlette

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

By |
Download PDF

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.

Volunteers
DHS logo Darien High School 5-24-16

Thank You, Tiffany O’Connor, for Your Volunteer Work at Darien High School

By |
Download PDF

Thank you, Tiffany O’Connor, for your volunteer work in the Darien High School Parents Association. —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. Tiffany O’Connor’s Efforts at Darien High School
Tiffany O’Connor has been a tireless and dedicated volunteer within the Darien High School Parents Association and has served in the role of co-chair during the 2018-19 school year. Tiffany has a sunny disposition which shines through in every endeavor she undertakes. She has a wonderful sense of humor which allows her to lead with grace.

Volunteers
Cheryl Williams of Halstead and Darien Chamber thumbnail square 2019 recognition

Thank You, Cheryl Williams, for Volunteering at the Darien Chamber of Commerce

By |
Download PDF

Thank you, Cheryl Williams, for helping the Darien Chamber of Commerce promote the business community, including help with organizing the Darien Wine & Food Tasting event. —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. Cheryl Williams’ Efforts for the Darien Chamber of Commerce

Since Cheryl joined the Chamber in 2016, she has become an instrumental member of our organization and the Board of Directors. Cheryl has been the marketing chairman, the vice president of the Executive Board in 2018 and 2019, and the co-chair of the DCC Wine & Food Tasting event in 2017. 
Her involvement has had a positive impact on the Chamber’s leadership role in promoting our business community and the overall quality of life in Darien. – Susan Cator, president and executive director, Darien Chamber of Commerce

About This Series

The profiles in this series were presented at the 2019 volunteer recognition luncheon held at the Darien Community Association and recorded (in this video) by Darien TV79.

Volunteers
Pam Miller Darien Book Aid Plan Volunteer recognition 2019 square thumbnail

Thank You, Pam Miller, for Volunteering at Darien Book Aid Plan

By |
Download PDF

Thank you, Pam Miller, for helping Darien Book Aid Plan get books to libraries, schools and communities

—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. Pam Miller’s Efforts

Pam contributed to the work of Darien Book Aid (promoting literacy through the free distribution of books around the world) in many ways from 2018 to 2019. These included being our domestic secretary, handling requests from libraries, community organization, etc. in the United States and coordinating collection of needed books from particular donors and from local libraries such as New Canaan, Wilton, etc. More exceptionally, Pam (with fellow veteran volunteer Anne Baltren) played a leading role in coordinating our selecting and sending 25 large boxes of books to 12 different schools in the Yap Islands (Micronesia) whose libraries had been devastated in 2015 by severe flooding from Typhoon Maysak.