Volunteers Recognized at Stamford Volunteer Day
 A number of Family Centers volunteers were honored for their dedication to improving the lives of area families during United Way of Western Connecticut’s 19th Annual Stamford Volunteer Day Awards Ceremony.
The event, held Friday, Jan. 8 at the Harry Bennett Branch of the Ferguson Library in Stamford, honored the selfless work of 24 Stamford-area youth, adult and group volunteers.
The Harvard Business School - Community Partners (HBS-CP) were recognized as the Outstanding Established Senior Volunteer Group. For more than six years, HBS-CP has invested countless hours on projects related to program development and strategic planning to position Family Centers for future success. Most recently, the group has worked with Family Centers’ directors and managers to determine the Return on Investment and economic value for each of the agency’s programs.
In addition to its work with Family Centers, the HBS-CP has also provided pro-bono consulting services to such organizations as Person-to-Person, Neighbor to Neighbor, Charter Oak Communities and the Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies.
Family Centers’ Board Member Robert Vendig was also presented an Honorable Mention award for his work with the agency. Vendig, of Stamford, served on Literacy Volunteers’ Board of Directors when it merged with Family Centers in 2013. He continued to volunteer by participating in advisory committees, and officially joined Family Centers’ Board in 2015. Vendig also chaired Literacy Volunteers’ 2015 Scrabble Challenge, which helped raise more than $90,000 for the program.
Family Centers is a private, nonprofit organization offering education and human services to children, adults and families in Fairfield County. More than 200 professionals and 2,800 and trained volunteers work together to provide a wide range of responsive, innovative programs. A United Way, Community Fund of Darien and New Canaan Community Foundation partner agency, Family Centers is a member of the Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies and the Alliance for Children and Families and is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The agency is licensed by the State of Connecticut Departments of Public Health and Children and Families. Visit www.familycenters.org for additional information.
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