Save the Date! Wednesday, April 4
Fund for Women and Girls Luncheon
Join friends and fellow supporters for the 13th annual Fund for Women and Girls Luncheon, Wednesday, April 4 at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich.
You'll meet and mingle with hundreds of Fund for Women and Girls supporters and learn how your support continues to make a difference for girls and women across Fairfield County.
You'll be enthralled and inspired by this year's keynote speaker, Anika Rahman, President & CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women.
Your luncheon invitation has been mailed, but if you just can't wait and want to secure your table today, simply download this form and mail it in with your check.
You can also purchase your tickets or table online with our fast, easy and secure registration process.
More exciting details to follow in the days and weeks ahead.
Recap of Last Year's Luncheon
What a spectacular event!
More than 700 friends came together to celebrate making a difference for women and girls in our own backyard at the 12th annual luncheon for the Fund for Women and Girls on April 7, 2011 at the Greenwich Hyatt.
Thanks to your support, more than $500,000 was raised.
The luncheon theme was "Seeds of Opportunity."
"Some seeds fall into fertile soil and receive ample sunlight and water, and easily thrive in their environment," said luncheon co-chair Janet Lebovitz. "Others, however, need extra care so they can put down vigorous roots, grow strong and resilient, and reach their full potential. You and the Fund for Women and Girls continue to help women and girls throughout Fairfield County stand tall, grow strong and flourish."
Since 1998 Fund for Women and Girls' supporters like you have made it possible for struggling Fairfield County women to move into safe and affordable housing, for girls to find their voices, make healthy choices and develop the skills and confidence to become leaders and for low- and mid-wage women supporting dependents to achieve economic security.
Learn more about the Fund for Women and Girls
Soledad O'Brien motivated us
 CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O'Brien shared many stories, including one from her post-earthquake visit to Haiti. She said it was one of the most difficult assignments she's covered.
Amidst overwhelming death and hundreds of orphans, she was mystified why she saw optimism among relief workers. When she asked one how they could stay so positive, the worker answered, "It's like the starfish story."
Puzzled, Soledad said she didn't understand. The relief worker explained it's like the little boy on a beach at low tide, tossing stranded and dying starfish back into the water. A man told the boy there are tens of thousands of stranded starfish, and his efforts won't matter. The boy answered, as he chucked another starfish into the sea, "It matters to this one."
Soledad told us that while some issues appear overwhelming, it is important to chuck at least one starfish into the water. "There are opportunities every single day to make a difference," she said.
She earned the second standing ovation of the event, and stayed to sign her newest book, "The Next Big Story: My Journey Through the Land of Possibilities."
Karine Henriquez inspired us
 Special guest Karine Henriquez inspired a standing ovation.
The single mother and member of FESP told us, "I'd rather not go into the details of my story. But I do want to tell you this. You have changed my life."
Karine told us that five years ago, she realized that for her and her three boys to have a future, they had to leave Puerto Rico and all of her family. They began a new life in Stamford. She found a job as a supermarket cashier, then, one year later, enrolled at Norwalk Community College.
The Dean of Students encouraged her to apply to the Family Economic Security Program, and she was accepted into the first class. She is one of 17 FESP students who have graduated from NCC. She is now attending Fordham University.
Karine told us that the emotional support the students receive from the FESP staff members is tremendously important.
"As single parents with the weight of the world on our shoulders, we need to be strong in front of our children," she said. "But with these women, we can break down and admit our fears, worries and doubts. They listen to us, guide us, and once again we feel, 'Yes, my dream is possible. I can do this!'"
Karine told us that since so much is being done for her, it's important for her to give back to others who need a chance. She recently signed up to volunteer with a nonprofit mentoring group that helps Latina girls acquire skills for creating the lives they want -- just like those in the ballroom are doing for her, she said.
"Of course, it's not just me you're helping," she told us. "There are sixty of us in the Family Economic Security Program. All of us thank you from the bottom of our hearts."
Centerpieces helped our neighbors  Following the luncheon, Suzanne Brown Peters, Director of the Fund for Women and Girls delivered 700 Granny Smith apples from our centerpieces to Neighbor to Neighbor food pantry in Greenwich.
Student volunteers helped haul the heavy boxes from my car to the pantry, where they were prepared for families in need. The food pantry provides more than 170,000 meals to Greenwich and area residents each year.
Special thanks to Fairway Market in Stamford and the Village Market in Wilton for donating these much-welcomed apples!
Photos from the Event
Ann Mandel and Jane Kiefer
Betsy Fink, Linda Whitton and Barbara Foster
Amanda Briggs, Victoria Brown and David Frechette
Courtnay Arpano and Brigid Ohlemeyer
Kerri Holloway, Sharlene Cameron, Anne Noel Dawson and Colleen Barnswell
Susan Ross, FCCF President and CEO, Lucy Ball and Lindsay Reimers
The Gentlemen's Table: Steve Mandel, Cort Delany, David Frechette, Tony Peters, Peter Lebovitz, Curt Welling, John Chiota, David Craver, Bill King, David Sullivan, Mike Harris and Art Reimers
Mallory Weymann, Jayme Stevenson and Charlotte Suhler
Katie and Kathy Welling
Sheila Perrin and Amy Downer
Annette Wilson and Sally Lawrence
Jennifer Cephus, Marion Schmeelk and Sue Skalandunas of Bank of America with Suzanne Brown Peters and Soledad O'Brien. A $50,000 grant from Bank of America supports the Family Economic Security Program.
Couldn't attend? Make a difference You can still make a difference for women and girls by making an easy, secure online donation to the Fund for Women and Girls.
Prefer to donate by check? Mail a check payable to "Fairfield County Community Foundation" to Fairfield County Community Foundation, Attn: FWG, 383 Main Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851-1543.
In advance, on behalf of women and girls throughout Fairfield County, thank you.
For more information on the Fund for Women and Girls, email Suzanne Brown Peters or call her at 203.750.3208.
What We've Learned
The following reports highlight important findings of the Fund for Women and Girls which lead our strategies and decisions in awarding grants and leading initiatives to improve the lives of women and girls
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