Community Fund of Darien
Menu

COMMUNITY NEWS

Thriving Youth Task Force Names Georgette Harrison and Shelley Sheridan to Executive Board

5/31/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Georgette Harrison
The Thriving Youth Task Force (TYTF) is excited to announce that Georgette Harrison will assume the role of Executive Board Co-Chair for the 2020/21 school year.  She has participated in TYTF since 2016, most recently as Subject Matter Expert.  Harrison will succeed Sergeant James Palmieri, who will complete his term as Co-Chair this year after also serving as a member of the task force for many years and an officer on the executive board since 2019.  Sergeant Palmieri will remain on the executive board as a liaison to the Darien Police Department.  

Harrison brings vast research and clinical experience to the Thriving Youth Task Force.  She is currently the Director of Clinical and Community Partnerships at the Child Guidance Center of Southern CT, an affiliate of Community Health Centers, Inc.  She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of CT and a rostered trauma-informed Child-Parent Psychotherapy clinician.  Her clinical experience includes serving as the Director of Clinical Services for Integrated Wellness Group and as bilingual clinician at the Cornell Scott Hill Health Center Child and Family Guidance Clinic.  She earned her Master of Arts and Master of Education degrees in Counseling Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University.

New to the Executive Board for the 2020/21 school year is Shelley Sheridan.  Sheridan has lived in Darien for over 15 years and is deeply rooted in the community.  As an advocate for the town of Darien and the surrounding coastal towns, she has served on various executive boards including the Council for Darien School Parents as the Community Outreach Chair, as Chair of the Tokeneke Elementary PTO, Directory Chair for the Middlesex Middle School PTO and Vice President of the Board for the Darien Nature Center.  She is a local real estate agent with Houlihan Lawrence and lives in town with her husband and two children.  Sheridan is passionate about the mental and physical health of our children and is excited to join the Thriving Youth Task Force.

The remainder of this year’s executive board will continue to serve in 2020/21.  Shelly Skoglund will serve a second year as Co-Chair.  Skoglund is a member of The Community Fund of Darien’s Board of Directors and has a long history of involvement and leadership in Darien PTOs, including chairing the Royle PTO and the Council of Darien School Parents.  Susan Marks, a faithful community servant who was on the Board of Selectmen for 6 years and has volunteered in Darien for many years on school PTOs, the CDSP and many other committees, will continue to serve as the Vice-Chair. Marli Hayes, Membership and Community Outreach Manager of the YWCA Darien/Norwalk, and Janice Marzano, Director of the Youth Service Bureau for the Town of Darien and Program Director at Depot Youth Center, will serve as Co-Chairs of the Programming Committee. Finally, Emily Larkin, Thriving Youth Program Director at The Community Fund of Darien, will manage the “06820” campaign and the Connecticut Strategic Prevention Framework Coalition (CSC) Initiative grant to reduce binge drinking among teens.

The Thriving Youth Task Force is thrilled to welcome Georgette Harrison and Shelley Sheridan to their new roles and is deeply grateful to Sergeant James Palmieri for his leadership and insight as co-chair this year.  His depth of experience working with the youth of Darien and the Darien Public schools is invaluable, and TYTF is thankful that he will continue on the board as a liaison between the task force and the Darien Police Department.

The Thriving Youth Task Force, which is convened by The Community Fund of Darien, was created in 2008.  The TYTF brings together leadership from the town, the public schools, parent organizations and social service organizations that work with youth and parents to identify issues affecting the youth of Darien and to develop strategies and programs to promote and empower positive youth development.  Every three years, the TYTF surveys Darien 7-12th grade students about their developmental assets (the building blocks of healthy development) and their involvement with risky behavior, presenting results to parents and the town.  The TYTF members have provided insight and guidance for The Community Fund’s nationally recognized “06820” campaign to reduce binge drinking among adolescents in Darien.  

​
0 Comments

The Community Fund of Darien hosts 2nd“Community Dinner for a Cause” to Fight Homelessness

5/19/2020

0 Comments

 
The Community Fund of Darien (TCF) invites all residents to join in a second special evening of dining “together” at home to fund programs aimed at improving the quality of life for our community.  This dinner, held on Saturday, May 30th, will benefit the homeless population and homelessness prevention efforts.  The first event, held on May 9th, raised nearly $17,000 to fight food insecurity.  
Order a family meal provided by Palmer’s Catering, which includes a bottle of wine provided by SipStirs, and The Community Fund of Darien will direct half your purchase to their local nonprofit partners providing stop-gap services and immediate assistance to our most vulnerable neighbors.  TCF will provide free doorstep delivery of your meal on Saturday, May 30th from 3:45-5pm.
The $150/per family purchase includes:

  • Balsamic Glazed Chicken Breast, Arugula & Tomato Salad, Dill Potato Salad,  House-Made Herb Potato Chips and Assorted, Nut-Free Cookies for 4-6 provided by Palmer’s Catering  
  • Bottle of wine provided by SipStirs
  • Mini-football and flying disc for loads of family fun!

​Orders must be placed by 5pm on Wednesday, May 27th at
www.communityfunddarien.org.  

Stay social and host a virtual dinner party with friends, family and neighbors for a worthy cause!  Together, we can make a difference.
0 Comments

Human Services Planning Council Creates “Darien Mask Brigade”

5/15/2020

2 Comments

 
Residents Invited to Help Local Businesses by Providing Cloth Masks for Employees
​Due to the coronavirus health crisis, our current reality calls for wearing masks in public places and when not able to appropriately distance ourselves from others. This places a burden on local organizations and businesses, as their employees are required to wear masks at all times in order to operate and serve the community.
Several members of Darien’s Human Services Planning Council, which is convened by      The Community Fund of Darien, stepped forward to create the Darien Mask Brigade, where individuals and groups may "adopt" a local business/organization and support their work by providing cloth masks for their employees.  Masks can be homemade or purchased.
How Does It Work?
  1. Review the list of participating businesses found at www.communityfunddarien.org and the number of masks each requests.
  2. Choose your organization by completing the Adopt a Business section below.  Your selection will be confirmed by email.
  3. Once confirmed, set up to make your masks at home! Please complete and deliver your masks to your adopted business within 2 weeks.
  4. Masks can be pleated or triangle-shaped. Links to patterns with and without a sewing machine found on the website, or use your own.
  5. Masks should be made of 2 layers of tightly woven fabric, preferably pre-washed 100% cotton, with elastic or fabric ties/ear loops.
  6. Size of 12 inches by 6 inches is standard for adults, roughly 6 x 7 inches for the fabric part, not counting ties.
  7. When you have completed your mask project, please email community@communityfunddarien.org to coordinate delivery.
Darien First Selectman Jayme Stevenson applauded the initiative, noting, “Masks will be our new normal for the foreseeable future. In order to help Darien nonprofit agencies and local businesses reopen safely, we wanted to make sure everyone had reusable masks for their staff. Connecting Darien’s wonderful mask-making volunteers to agencies in need is ideal and serves to bring our community together in new and meaningful ways when we need it the most. I’m grateful to the HSPC for taking the lead on this important initiative.”
Join the movement!
2 Comments

    Archives

    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019

    Categories

    All
    Book
    MGT
    TYTF
    Youth

    RSS Feed

Picture
Picture
THE COMMUNITY FUND OF DARIEN
30 Old Kings Highway South
​Darien, CT 06820
Phone: 203-655-8775
Email: info@communityfunddarien.org
Mailing Address:
​ 30 Old Kings Highway South, Darien, CT 06820
The Community Fund of Darien is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
​Your donations are tax deductible under EIN: 06-0737286

​© The Community Fund of Darien. All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • Board of Directors
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Our History
    • News
    • Publications
    • Contact Us
  • Our Team
  • Donate
    • Donor Services
  • Community
    • Human Services Planning Council
    • Youth Programs >
      • Youth Give Back
      • Freshmen Community Group
      • Youth Asset Team
      • Youth Community Fund
  • Community Investments
    • Nonprofit Partners
    • Community Investment Funding Goals
    • Community Investment Review
    • Touch-a-Life Fund
    • Collective Impact
  • Thriving Youth Task Force
    • TYTF Programs and Events
    • TYTF Substance Use Resources
    • Mental Health Resources
    • Student Survey Results
  • Volunteer Hub
  • Volunteer Nominations
  • Events
  • Home
  • Board of Directors
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Our History
    • News
    • Publications
    • Contact Us
  • Our Team
  • Donate
    • Donor Services
  • Community
    • Human Services Planning Council
    • Youth Programs >
      • Youth Give Back
      • Freshmen Community Group
      • Youth Asset Team
      • Youth Community Fund
  • Community Investments
    • Nonprofit Partners
    • Community Investment Funding Goals
    • Community Investment Review
    • Touch-a-Life Fund
    • Collective Impact
  • Thriving Youth Task Force
    • TYTF Programs and Events
    • TYTF Substance Use Resources
    • Mental Health Resources
    • Student Survey Results
  • Volunteer Hub
  • Volunteer Nominations
  • Events