My partner organization was The Community Fund of Darien (TCF), a Connecticut-based nonprofit that aims to strengthen communities by inspiring people and mobilizing resources. TCF focuses its resources and efforts on the towns of Stamford, Norwalk, and Darien. As someone who grew up here, I feel motivated to give back to this area. TCF’s vision is for all community members to have the opportunity to reach their full potential as healthy, educated, and self-sufficient individuals. Since 1951, they have initiated solutions, fostered collaborations, distributed over $20 million to local nonprofits and initiatives, and supported programs to strengthen youth, adults, and families. I have witnessed how well-connected this nonprofit is and how deep their ties to Darien are. Whether it be organizing large community events for families like the Darien Road Race or hosting youth community groups, their efforts and impact are widespread. Even more impressive is the range of projects and causes that they are invested in as well as their clear lines of communication between the towns, agencies, and donors. Major issues that they address include meeting basic needs (stable housing, food, etc.), youth success, workforce development, and community health.

 

One of their new initiatives, The Volunteer Hub @ TCF, echoes their overarching mission: to inspire people and mobilize resources. As like everything TCF does, this Hub has a personal touch: it is a concierge level service. Through this project, a very valuable resource, people, will be allocated to different agencies in need based on skills, interests, availability, etc.