Human Services Planning Council

As a result of strategic planning, the Board of The Community Fund voted to dissolve the Community Council and create a new Human Services Planning Council to focus its attention on being more proactive in the community as a change agent in identifying and meeting health and human service needs.  As leader, facilitator, communicator, collaborator and funder, the Community Fund of Darien is becoming an impact organization that works with both staff and volunteers of non-profits and town governments.

The Community Fund of Darien continues to host Darien's Volunteer Recognition Day, a favorite annual event in town each spring with the Volunteer . 

Since the 1920's, the Darien Community Council had been bringing people together to look at Darien's needs. It came under the umbrella of the Darien United Way in the 1950's. Through monthly meetings, information sharing, and the bi-annual community Needs Assessment, this group of over 100 agencies and citizens proactively identified Darien's human service needs and worked to address them through collaboration and United Way funding.

The Community Council has served as a catalyst for many Darien programs including Gallivant, The Depot, the former YWCA Holmes School Child Care Center, Committee on Drugs and Alcohol (Parent Awareness), and the Department of Social Services Friendly Visitor Program. United Way funding was made available in each case for start-up costs.