Fairfield County Leadership Council
Please join the Fairfield County Leadership Council in supporting the Children's Emergency Fund.
For more information about the Fairfield County Leadership Council contact:
Mary Leffel
Officer, Individual Philanthropy Group
[email protected]
203-246-3481
Our Mission
The Fairfield County Leadership Council (FCLC) represents a group of philanthropic leaders who are taking the initiative in building greater awareness and support in Fairfield County Connecticut. We anticipate that council members will demonstrate their commitment to Save the Children's mission - our mission - to ensure every child in the United States and around the world grows up healthy, educated and protected from harm.
Our Vision
Our council members bring special talents and participate in ways that make them the most effective toward achieving our goals. We encourage our members to introduce Save the Children to potential supporters and future council members in Fairfield County who could expand and enhance Save the Children’s ability to fulfill its mission.
We invite our council members to identify Save the Children as one of their own philanthropic priorities. In particular, we ask members to consider the impact of annual giving for the boys and girls who need our help. This could be a family philanthropy initiative and leadership opportunity with teen participation in the Fairfield County Youth Council and or in school clubs.
We encourage council members to visit our field programs to see our work for children first-hand. We also encourage members to attend council meetings and consider hosting or co-hosting a Save the Children salon event or council meeting in their home. Finally, we look forward in sharing a rewarding experience of friendship, philanthropy and fun!
Our Focus
The FCLC anchors our focus within the Save the Children organization’s mission and priorities. In the last two years we have focused on education with support of Early Childhood Development and Return to Learning programs. We adapt to the changing needs of children and mobilize quickly when emergencies strike at home or in other countries. For example, in 2017, we held a pop-up event benefitting victims of Hurricane Maria.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Joann Bottoni Jepsen – Co-President
Joan Panagos – Co President
Joan Curran
Erin Dempster
Kathy Garrigan
Barbara Kleban, Advocacy Chair
Bernie Park
Susan Seath
Kathryn Spaeth
Chef Fariyal Abdullahi
Chef Eric Adjepong with Mark Shriver, Special Advisor to Save the Children CEO Janti Soeripto, and Cathryn Miller, Save the Children's State Director of West Virginia at the Fairfield County Leadership Council's Culinary Celebration event in 2023.
October 30, 2024 — The Fairfield County Leadership Council hosted its 2nd annual culinary celebration at The Patterson Club in Fairfield, featuring celebrity Chef Fariyal Abdullahi. The evening began with a meaningful discussion on the Children's Emergency Fund, moderated by Carolyn Miles, former CEO of Save the Children, alongside current CEO Janti Soeripto and Chef Fariyal. Guests were treated to a live cooking demonstration by Chef Fariyal, showcasing her Twice-Cured Berbere Salmon. The event was a tremendous success, raising over $50,000 to support Save the Children's Emergency Fund.
November 1, 2023 — The Fairfield County Leadership Council hosted a culinary celebration with celebrity Chef Eric Adjepong at the Patterson Club in Fairfield. The evening started with a discussion on U.S. food security, moderated by Mark Shriver, Special Advisor to Save the Children CEO Janti Soeripto, with Chef Eric and Cathryn Miller, Save the Children's State Director of West Virginia. Chef Eric followed the discussion with a cooking demonstration. The event raised over $50,000 for U.S. Food Security programs!
March 19, 2023 — Members of the council visited Bethune Bowman Elementary School in South Carolina and participated in the Healthy Choices program with students in the after-school program. Please read Erin Dempster’s review of the visit here.
March 29, 2022 — FCLC had an informative evening, at the Pequot Library in Southport, addressing the Ukraine crisis and its impact on children. Claudia Connors started the evening with an update from Save the Children, followed by State Senator Tony Hwang, and then two Ukrainians, Diana Navrotskova, and Anton Protsenko spoke about growing up in Ukraine and the struggles their families are encountering during this conflict.
January 19, 2022 — FCLC hosted Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train and The Exiles. Along with Janti Soeripto and Mark Shriver, we discussed struggles encountered by children.
December 3, 2020 — FCLC shopping event at Mitchells in Westport. Mitchells donated 10% of sales that day to help support children in rural America during COVID 19.
November 19, 2020 — FCLC is a Children’s Voice Sponsor at Save the Children’s virtual event – Kid Strong Together
May 29, 2020 — Webinar – Save the Children responses to COVID-19 in the U.S
January 2020 — Visit Save the Children's programs in Marion County, Mississippi
Volunteer
- Participate in our community outreach, education and fundraising events
- Tell your schools, organizations and community groups about Save the Children and encourage them to participate in our events
- Organize events within your company or organization to support Save the Children through the FCLC
- Spread awareness about Save the Children’s work to improve the lives of children in a sustainable way
- Volunteer to be a leadership council partner
Sponsor
- Become an Event Sponsor
Campaigns
Ways to Give