 The Community Fund of Darien (TCF) is celebrating the new year with a “Community Dinner for a Cause” on Sunday, January 24th. Proceeds from the dinner, prepared by Nino’s of Darien, will benefit our local nonprofit partners and support programs focusing on youth success in our community. Orders must be placed by 5pm on Wednesday, January 20th at www.communityfunddarien.org.
Order a Nino’s family meal, which includes a bottle of wine provided by SipStirs, and The Community Fund of Darien will direct half your purchase to its local nonprofit partners who support youth success. TCF will provide free contact-less, doorstep delivery of your meal on Sunday, January 24th between 4:15-5:15pm. The $150/per family (feeds 4-6) meal, includes:
Enjoy a delicious Sunday family dinner while helping our vulnerable neighbors with your purchase. Together, we can change lives and strengthen our community.
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 The "Our Darien" campaign, created by The Community Fund of Darien in partnership with the Thriving Youth Task Force, is encouraging parents to join the conversation about teen substance abuse with its first-ever virtual book group in January and a culminating live discussion via Zoom on February 3rd. The featured book is the #1 New York Times bestseller Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction by David Sheff. The book group is the first in a series of events designed to educate parents about youth mental health, the dangers of substance abuse and how they can best support their teens.
Each week of the month-long “Our Darien Book Group” will explore several chapters of the memoir, with thought-provoking questions provided by the Darien Library. The virtual group will launch on Monday, January 11th on the Our Darien Facebook page (www.facebook.com/OurDarien, click “Groups.”) Participants in the private, moderated forum are encouraged to share their thoughts and formulate questions as they read. The final live discussion Zoom event on Wednesday, February 3rd at 7:00pm will feature Frank Bartolomeo, Ph.D., LCSW from Silver Hill Hospital, who will offer his perspective on addiction, warning signs and prevention tips. The memoir is available at the Darien Library in print and digitally and can also be purchased at Barrett Bookstore (mention the Our Darien Book Group for a 10% discount) and other booksellers. It is described by famed author Anne Lamott as “a brilliant, harrowing, heartbreaking, fascinating story, full of beautiful moments and hard-won wisdom. This book will save a lot of lives and heal a lot of hearts.” Publisher’s description: What had happened to my beautiful boy? To our family? What did I do wrong? Those are the wrenching questions that haunted David Sheff’s journey through his son Nic’s addiction to drugs and tentative steps toward recovery. Before Nic became addicted to crystal meth, he was a charming boy, joyous and funny, a varsity athlete and honor student adored by his two younger siblings. After meth, he was a trembling wraith who lied, stole, and lived on the streets. David Sheff traces the first warning signs: the denial, the three a.m. phone calls—is it Nic? the police? the hospital? His preoccupation with Nic became an addiction in itself. But as a journalist, he instinctively researched every treatment that might save his son. And he refused to give up on Nic. Save the date for the next event in the series: a must-see live Zoom presentation on February 10th featuring former NBA professional basketball player and addiction recovery advocate Chris Herren, who will share his experiences and his road to sobriety. These programs are made possible with the support of The Community Fund of Darien, Barrett Bookstore, the Darien Depot, the Darien Library, Silver Hill Hospital, Trinity Church and The YWCA of Darien/Norwalk. For the past four years, The Community Fund of Darien in collaboration with the Thriving Youth Task Force (TYTF) has educated Darien teens and adults about the dangers of teen binge drinking through the “Our Darien” social marketing campaign. This public health initiative aims to shine a spotlight on the impact of alcohol on the teen brain and to offer proven tactics towards healthier attitudes and behaviors. A growing body of research shows an ongoing parent-child dialogue about risky behaviors, combined with clear rules and consequences, equips students to make healthy choices in the short and long term. The “Our Darien” campaign is funded by a grant from the state of Connecticut’s Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). 12/28/2020 0 Comments Darien Human Services and The Community Fund of Darien Provide Mental Health Resources to Residents As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt our daily lives, stress, worry and fear can seriously impact our mental health. The “new normal” of unemployment or working from home, virtual learning, isolation from family and friends, and other uncertainties make prioritizing mental health even more challenging. The added financial and emotional stress of the holiday season can also exacerbate an already difficult time for many, especially those living with depression or anxiety.
The Town of Darien Department of Human Services, in partnership with The Community Fund of Darien, is confronting these issues by providing resources and information for residents who are experiencing a mental health challenge or know someone who is. In addition to information and links to mental health and crisis resources featured on its Department of Human Services website (www.darienct.gov/humanservices), an informational postcard will be mailed directly to Darien residences this week. The Department of Human Services also provides a wide variety of other services, including confidential crisis intervention, assistance with mental health, substance abuse and domestic violence issues. Assessment for benefits and program eligibility, as well as emergency financial assistance, is available for any Darien resident. Please call 203-656-7328 to schedule an appointment or email aramsteck@darienct.gov. “The COVID-19 virus has had significant and lasting impacts on all of us,” added Darien First Selectman Jayme Stevenson. “We are afraid for our health and that of our loved ones. We’ve been isolated from family, friends and our faith communities and many have lost jobs. I’m deeply grateful for the work of the Darien Human Services Department in partnership with The Community Fund of Darien to support the mental well-being of our residents by connecting our community to life-saving mental health resources. Don’t wait...get help if you are struggling and share this information with others. We are here for you!” 12/17/2020 0 Comments Two New Investments Established by The Community Fund of Darien:The Norwalk Fund and The Stamford FundLocal residents may not be aware that despite its name, only a small percentage of donations raised by The Community Fund of Darien (TCF) actually remain in Darien. Approximately 95% of the nonprofit organization’s funding in 2019-2020 served agencies in Norwalk and Stamford focused on basic needs, youth success, workforce development and community health.
To better serve its donors, The Community Fund of Darien is launching The Norwalk Fund and The Stamford Fund, which restrict contributions to investments in nonprofits serving their respective towns. Donations to each fund benefit from TCF’s 70-years of experience, knowledge, relationships, due diligence and the collective impact of donor gifts to nonprofit agencies in Norwalk or Stamford. Each organization funded by The Community Fund of Darien is thoroughly vetted by its small staff and more than 60 trained community volunteers to ensure that donor contributions are allocated effectively with targeted impact, and recipient organizations are reviewed throughout the year for progress. By investing in effective programs and organizations that promote equity and provide long-term support for all local residents, TCF strengthens the entire community. The Community Fund of Darien’s numerous, impactful program investments last year in Norwalk and Stamford agencies include:
“For 70 years, The Community Fund of Darien has partnered with our donors to improve the lives of residents in Norwalk, Stamford and Darien,” noted Janet King, executive director of TCF. “Establishing The Norwalk Fund and The Stamford Fund gives donors the added benefit of designating their gifts to a specific town, making a difference in their very own neighborhood.” Just one gift to The Community Fund of Darien’s Norwalk Fund or Stamford Fund benefits multiple nonprofit organizations, including STAR, Lighting the Way, the Carver Foundation, Liberation Programs, Norwalk Grassroots Tennis and Education, Family & Children’s Agency and Kids in Crisis in Norwalk and Abilis, Building One Community, Americares, Inspirica, Laurel House and Future Five in Stamford.  Written by YCF student Margaret Williams Stay active during the holiday season and support a great cause at the same time with the Darien Youth Community Fund’s first-ever Jingle Jog fundraiser! Run or walk as much as you can between Sunday, December 13 and Thursday, December 24 and track your mileage for sponsor pledges. The funds raised will be directed towards the Youth Community Fund (YCF) grant pool, which will ultimately be allocated towards nonprofits working to combat homelessness and hunger in lower Fairfield County.
Participants will sign up through The Community Fund of Darien’s website at www.communityfunddarien.org as either a student ($5 for youth - 18 years) or an adult ($10 for 19 years and older.) Participants will also have the option of creating a team to compete with, and will be able raise money for the YCF grant pool through sponsorships (either individual or team-wide.). Support a Jingle Jog participant over the “12 Days of Cheer” with a one time donation, or a donation per mile -- it’s up to you! Through the course of the event, there will be a daily prize drawing (for which all registrants are eligible) including gift certificates to stores and eateries around town. At the end of the twelve days, additional prizes will be awarded to the team and the individual who has raised the most money. The Youth Community Fund (YCF), one of The Community Fund of Darien’s four youth groups, is composed of approximately 50 high school students from Darien High School and local private schools who learn about philanthropy, local human service needs, and the role of nonprofits in our community. Members participate in a variety of volunteer projects at different local nonprofit organizations. YCF students also help to fundraise to add money to their grant pool. Students select a group of local nonprofit organizations to apply for funding and decide how to allocate approximately $12,000 in grants to the local nonprofits. 11/16/2020 0 Comments Darien Nonprofits Collaborate to Create “Mission: Positive!” - A Community Resource for Inspirational Ideas and ActivitiesDuring this time when residents are practicing social distancing and looking for fun, safe activities to keep busy and engaged, members of Darien’s Human Services Planning Council (HSPC) and the Thriving Youth Task Force (TYTF) recently brainstormed the idea of creating a shared community resource to gather residents’ favorite ideas for fun, relaxation and family time.
Introducing “Mission: Positive!” -- a curated list of pandemic-safe and entertaining family activities, holiday celebration and craft inspiration, book and playlist recommendations and much more! The Community Fund of Darien, which convenes HSPC and TYTF, will host the resource on its website (www.communityfunddarien.org under the “Community” tab.) Residents are invited to submit via the website their ideas and recommendations, which will be reviewed by a panel of volunteers to ensure that they are COVID-19 safe, socially distant, appropriate for all ages and contribute to positive youth development. Categories include: Activities, Adventures, Family Fun, Game Night, Good Reads, Holiday Traditions, Must-See TV, New to Town, Party Ideas, Playlists and Positive Vibes. With the holidays around the corner and many plans being reimagined due to the pandemic, families have a unique opportunity to come together and make the best of an uncertain and ever-changing situation. Mission: Positive! hopes to help inspire our community to create new traditions and memories that will last a lifetime.  The Community Fund of Darien (TCF) announces its new Youth Program Manager, Heather Gordon. In this newly created role, Heather will oversee and coordinate TCF’s four student youth groups. Heather is an extremely involved volunteer, having previously partnered with organizations such as Young Life, Trinity Church, Save the Children, and the YMCA. A Pepperdine University graduate and Norwalk native, Heather is also working with Noroton Presbyterian Church as their Youth Ministry Associate and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Heather is excited to start this new chapter this fall with The Community Fund of Darien. When asked about her motivation to become involved with TCF, Heather responded, “In high school, my youth group was the first place I truly felt loved and accepted, which was in many ways due to my wonderful mentors. From then on, I knew my dream was to help change the world through meaningful relationships and be this role model for others.” Janet King, The Community Fund’s Executive Director added, “Heather’s experience and genuine enthusiasm are a compliment to The Community Fund of Darien’s mission to inspire people and mobilize resources to strengthen our community. Heather will lead our youth groups to better understand local philanthropy and human service needs. We are delighted that Heather has joined our team!” About The Community Fund of Darien Student Groups Youth Community Fund The Youth Community Fund (YCF), open to 10th-12th graders, introduces students to philanthropy and the role of nonprofits in our community. The group volunteers and evaluates local organizations and allocates money it raises to those that it deems most in need. According to Youth Community Fund member Ally Noonan, “It’s wonderful to learn how we can help our neighbors both through volunteerism and through a formal grant allocation process. The group has awarded grants over $13,500 this year. Youth Asset Team The Youth Asset Team (YAT) is another educational and impactful program The Community Fund of Darien offers to 10-12th graders. Students meet biweekly to discuss healthy choices, mental health, and continue to educate other teenagers and adults about substance and alcohol abuse in the community. Katie Chandler, one of the upcoming Presidents of YAT said that, “Youth Asset Team has impacted me tremendously because of the opportunities it has given me to grow as a person. The meetings are a place where students can have real conversations about issues in our community and make a difference. YAT allows students to gain confidence and leadership skills which is why it’s such an important group.” Not only does the Youth Asset Team strive to help and educate the community, it also develops students’ leadership skills throughout their time in this program. Freshman Community Group The Freshman Community Group is a group just for 9th grade students to help support them as they navigate the transition to high school, and serves as an introduction to the Youth Community Fund and the Youth Asset Team. The group is centered around engaging meetings with Andrew Tepper, the YAT advisor and a LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) as well as community service projects. Youth Give Back The Community Fund of Darien has also established the Youth Give Back program for 7th and 8th grade students. Through this program, students are able to learn about problems within the community and create solutions or ways to help. The program is also designed so that students receive hands-on experiences through visits to local shelters and organizations. Sandi Sufrin, a mother of a Youth Give Back student and a current adult advisor of the program, said that “Ideally, it’s a more personal way of giving back to our neighbors. A side effect would be to create a love of volunteering and giving back to their community.” With the many student and adult volunteers, the middle schoolers are able to learn firsthand their impact within the community as well as build relationships with students who are passionate about helping and learning to serve others.  Looking for a way to connect with friends and family while supporting our community at the same time? Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to join The Community Fund of Darien’s first-ever “Community Chase” -- a virtual competition for teams of friends and families of all ages! Mission: Possible! is a fun-filled, socially distanced event that will take place the week of September 19th - 26th, 2020 and will benefit TCF’s nonprofit partners’ programs that strengthen youth, adults and families in Darien, Norwalk and Stamford.
Using a mobile device, teams of 4-6 players will be assigned points for each mission completed and players can track progress and rankings on a live leaderboard. Play casually, or be “in it to win it” for a chance to earn prizes and bragging rights! Missions will go live at 9am on September 19th; players will have until 6pm on September 26th to complete their challenges. Sample missions include:
Teams are encouraged to share their mission photos on TCF’s Facebook and Instagram pages using the hashtag #TCFMissionPossible. “Mission: Possible! is a great way to safely unite our community while respecting social distancing,” said Janet King, The Community Fund of Darien’s Executive Director. “We wanted to create a unique, fun and exciting activity that gives people the chance to explore and learn more about their hometown and our nonprofit partners, who provide so much support for our neighbors in Darien, Norwalk and Stamford.” To participate, register at www.communityfunddarien.org ($50 per team, create your own team of 4-6 players.) Registration fees will directly support TCF’s local nonprofit partners. An email confirmation will contain TCF’s “Mission: Possible!” game code; download the free “Goose Chase” app on your iPhone or Android and enter the game code within the app to begin. To complete a mission, select it from the list and follow the instructions to receive the allotted points. Missions may involve submitting a photo or video, checking-in at a specific location or solving a puzzle or riddle. The choice is yours! The Community Fund of Darien thanks the following sponsors for supporting Mission: Possible!: Noroton Presybterian Church, Hollow Tree Self Storage, Hutchinson Tree Care Specialists, Sasco River Center, Trinity Church, Darien Sport Shop, Andrew Stefanou Salon & Spa, Bankwell, Barrett Bookstore, Crescendo Music, Dance on the DL, Darien Running Company, Hands on Pottery, HAYVN, Helen Ainson, Sheree Frank with Houlihan Lawrence, Joyride, Kumon, Lanphier, Manhattan Marriage and Family Therapy, Performance Physical Therapy and Wellness, Precisely Pilates, Pure Barre and Rhone. 
Thanks to the generous support of its donors and proceeds from the successful “Community Dinners for a Cause” series last spring, The Community Fund of Darien (TCF) is awarding $620,000 in large grants to 24 nonprofits serving Darien, Norwalk and Stamford to fund a broad spectrum of needs including at-risk youth, homelessness prevention, food insecurity, mental illness and more. Earlier this year, TCF also awarded $14,500 in small grants and $13,500 in grants allocated by its Youth Community Fund, bringing this year’s total to $648,000 in funding for 30 local nonprofits. The $620,000 large grant funding includes $40,000 in incremental COVID-19 relief funding to some of the organizations that have been most affected by the pandemic, particularly those addressing hunger, homelessness and providing emergency assistance.
Local nonprofits receiving TCF large grants are: Abilis, Americares Free Clinics, Building One Community, Carver Center, Child Guidance of Mid Fairfield, Child Guidance of Southern CT, Children’s Learning Centers, The Depot, Domestic Violence Crisis Center, Family & Children's Agency, Family Centers, Inc., Filling In the Blanks, Food Rescue US, Future Five, Inspirica, Kids In Crisis, Laurel House, Liberation Programs, New Covenant Center, Open Door Shelter, Pacific House, Person-to-Person, STAR, Lighting the Way and The Rowan Center. Small grants were given to ABC Darien, Darien YMCA, Food Rescue US, Horizons at NCCS, Norwalk ACTs, Norwalk Grassroots Tennis and Education, and Stamford Cradle to Career. Each nonprofit that receives a grant is thoroughly vetted by TCF staff and trained local volunteers, ensuring that donor contributions are allocated where they will have the greatest benefit. Grant panels of 6-7 volunteers, composed of over 60 residents from Darien and neighboring communities, review and visit 2-3 local nonprofits each year to ensure that TCF is investing in the most effective nonprofit organizations. This past spring, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the grant review panelists conducted their research and site visits to the nonprofits virtually. Despite the changed format, the grant review volunteers were able to learn about each organization and determine the most critical needs of our community. Kate Haviland, Director of Development at Child Guidance Center of Southern CT noted, “From my own experience with TCF, it is clear that (the) team takes a thoughtful approach to really try to understand program nuances and community needs.” To learn more about volunteering as a grant panelist in the spring, an estimated 10-20 total hour commitment, please contact Grants Director Lisa Haas at lisa.haas@communityfunddarien.org. The TCF grants address 12 areas of need including hunger, homelessness, substance abuse and domestic violence, mental health, early childhood education, and after-school programs. The largest amount of this year’s grant funding supports youth mental health and the greatest increase in funding since last year is directed towards programs preventing hunger (up 126%). “Our partnership with The Community Fund of Darien is so important to us,” said Shari Shapiro, Executive Director of Kids in Crisis. “There is no doubt that the TeenTalk Program will be more important than ever as our young people navigate the new normal.” TCF funds the in-school counseling support program at Norwalk and Brien McMahon High Schools. Recent grants have provided early childhood education to more than 1,100 children in Stamford, funded a work preparation and placement program which taught skills for 389 low-income immigrant clients to earn a living wage in the first six months of the program, and funded a free clinic in Norwalk that serviced approximately 650 patients a year for approximately 2900 medical visits. The Community Fund of Darien also encourages youth to be a part of the grant allocation process. Its Youth Community Fund (YCF), with over 60 high school students members, learns about philanthropy and the role of nonprofits in our community. Members participate in a variety of volunteer projects at different local nonprofit organizations throughout the year and raise money through different community fundraisers, such as a bake sale and a rally towel sale before the annual Turkey Bowl football game. They participate in their own grant review process to determine which nonprofits should receive funding. YCF granted this year’s allocation of $13,500 to A Better Chance Darien, Building One Community, Carver Center, Children’s Learning Centers, Domestic Violence Crisis Center, Filling in the Blanks, Kids in Crisis, Inspirica, New Covenant Center, Open Door Shelter and Person-to-Person. 6/4/2020 0 Comments The Community Fund of Darien hosts 3rd “Community Dinner for a Cause” to Support Mental Health ProgramsThe Community Fund of Darien (TCF) invites all residents to join in the final evening of our “Community Dinner for a Cause” series on Saturday, June 20th to help improve the quality of life for our community. Proceeds from this dinner will support mental health programs. The first two dinners raised nearly $27,000 to fight food insecurity and benefit the homeless population.
Order a family meal prepared by The Darien Butcher Shop, which includes a bottle of wine and a craft beer provided by SipStirs, and The Community Fund of Darien will direct half your purchase to their local nonprofit partners providing mental health programs. TCF will provide free contact-less, doorstep delivery of your meal on Saturday, June 20th between 4-5:00pm. The $150/per family (feeds 4-6) purchase, prepared by The Darien Butcher Shop, includes:
Orders must be placed by 5pm on Saturday, June 13th at www.communityfunddarien.org. Enjoy on Saturday evening, or save your meal for Father's Day on Sunday! Together, we can strengthen our community. |
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Contact us!The Community Fund of Darien
30 Old Kings Highway South (1.01 mi) Darien, Connecticut 06820 Find: Get Directions © Community Fund of Darien. All rights reserved.
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