Thursday, October 18th, at their annual meeting, Family & Children’s Agency (FCA) honored Homes with Hope and its President & CEO Jeff Wieser and FCA Board member Rachel Lieberman with their William O. Murphy Family Strengthening and Anne C. Cary Volunteerism awards.
Lieberman, who works as Synchrony Financial’s Chief Counsel of Labor, Employment & Benefits was awarded with the Agency’s Anne C. Cary Volunteerism Award. This award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated the highest level of volunteerism on behalf of the Agency. “It would literally be impossible to estimate the number of invaluable hours Rachel has given FCA all on a pro bono basis,” said Rob Cashel, the Agency’s President & CEO. “Rachel has been crucial in helping our Agency with legal advice, among many other things.”
Rachel, who has volunteered with the Agency for more than 15 years, connected with FCA through the Pro Bono Partnership in 2002. Rachel later joined the Agency’s Board of Directors and served as a key expert in helping the Agency to navigate through changing labor laws and issues.
Wieser of Homes with Hope, was awarded with the Agency’s, William O. Murphy Family Strengthening Award. This award recognizes individuals and/or organizations whose contributions have supported FCA’s work and mission in the community. “All who know and work with Jeff attest to his skill and humility in working with the often forgotten in our community,” Cashel said.
Jeff has worked very closely with the Agency’s Director of Community Connections and local collective impact groups, including Opening Doors Fairfield, to reduce the number of homeless in Fairfield County and to end veteran homelessness in the state.
About the Anne C. Carry Volunteerism Award: The Anne C. Cary Volunteerism Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated the highest level of volunteerism on behalf of Family & Children’s Agency. The award is named in honor of Anne C. Cary, who was involved in nearly every aspect of volunteerism at the Agency for over 25 years. Anne volunteered in FCA’s Maternal Child programs and provided clients with literacy education and support. Anne was also a Board member during the 1990’s and worked on a variety of fundraising initiatives, including hosting a fashion show and a Mother’s Day Tea in Darien.
About the William O. Murphy Family Strengthening Award:
The William O. Murphy Family Strengthening Award recognizes individuals and/or organizations in the community whose contributions have dramatically impacted FCA’s ability to strengthen and stabilize families. The award is named in honor of William O. Murphy, who was affiliated with the Agency for nearly 30 years. He was a sponsor of the Agency’s annual Golf Classic for 22 years and served the Agency’s Board for 10 years, four of which as Board Chair. His passion for at-risk youth led him to be one of the strongest advocates of the Agency’s ASPIRE after-school program and, in 2012 was recognized as the Anne C. Cary Volunteerism Award recipient.
