Young Women’s League grants $66K, names new president

Saturday, 30 May 2009 00:00

The Young Women’s League of New Canaan awarded more than $66,000 to 26 charitable organizations for the 2008-2009 year.

The organization made the announcement at its closing dinner Wednesday, May 13, at Waveny House.

This year’s charitable giving theme “Women GIVE; Guide, Improve, Visualize, Educate” is highlighted by three charitable organizations — ElderHouse, the Domestic Violence Crisis Center and the Stamford Hospital’s Mobile Mammography Program.

Kelly Daniel of New Canaan was also appointed YWL president for the upcoming 2009-10 year. The YWL provide volunteers for organizations in lower Fairfield County and major community events and fund-raisers, including the Holiday Market, the Easter Egg Hunt and Touch-A-Truck.

“I believe we need to continue to provide service to our community and to be role models for the next generation especially during this economic downturn,” said Daniel in a press release. “We welcome new members and the skills and expertise that they bring to us. Our goal this year is to live up to our new Giving Theme: Community STARS. As women, we must not only maintain our own households and families, but give back to the community in ways that empower others to reach their highest potential.”

ElderHouse is an adult day care center committed to providing aging seniors with a safe, nurturing environment where they can share time with others while receiving the medical attention they need. The YWL grant will provide support services for the women caregivers.

The Domestic Violence Crisis Center has been providing crisis services to battered women and their children for more than 28 years. The YWL grant will support the first Medical Advocacy Project, which will provide on-site medical advocacy services, universal screening, educational programs for medical personnel, evaluation of interventions, and expand coordination with local law enforcement.

The Stamford Hospital’s Mobile Mammography Program was created 13 years ago to screen and educate the uninsured or underinsured age appropriate women of Fairfield County. The YWL grant will provide mammographies to 33 women without insurance and follow-up care to an additional 12 women.

The money raised this year also benefits local programs such as the New Canaan Scholarship Foundation, Waveny Care Network, New Canaan Cares, Meals on Wheels, Get About, New Canaan Society for the Arts, the Mikey Czech Memorial and the Outback Teen Center. Other supported programs include Horizons, American Red Cross, Nursing and Home Care, Cancer Care, Family Centers, Americares Free Clinics, Operation Hope, Women’s Mentoring Network, Sexual Assault Crisis Center, Soundwaters, and Necessities, Inc.

The YWL has already established its 2009-2010 fund-raising theme, “Community STARS; Strengthen, Teach, Achieve, Revive, and Serve.” New Community Concerns partnerships include Voices of 9/11, Nourish New Canaan and UNICEF.

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