Norwalk, Conn. – Family & Children’s Agency (FCA) presented awards to two dedicated partners during the organization’s annual meeting on Wednesday, October 26, 2022. David Rich and the Housing Collective received the William O. Murphy Family Strengthening Award and Kristine Reddington Herlyn was presented with the Anne C. Cary Volunteerism 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. David Rich is the President & CEO of The Housing Collective, which is based in Bridgeport, where he has played a leadership role in developing and implementing local, regional, and state campaigns to end homelessness and create and preserve affordable housing in Connecticut since 2006. The Housing Collective is the backbone agency for five regional affordable housing and homeless initiatives including Opening Doors Fairfield County, of which FCA is a member.
Working with more than 300 partners including social services; community organizations; local, state, and federal governments; housing authorities; and public and private developers, David and The Housing Collective have created more than 2,000 units of affordable and permanent housing in Western Connecticut. The Housing Collective also provides staff to identify, develop, and facilitate the alignment of available regional resources, uses data to ensure the highest and best use of those resources, and looks for opportunities to fill system gaps.
“David Rich and The Housing Collective are leaders and key partners of Family & Children’s Agency as we focus on ending chronic homelessness for individuals, families and youth in the areas we serve,” said Robert F. Cashel, President & CEO of Family & Children’s Agency.
“My heartfelt thank you for this recognition – coming from such a remarkable organization it is truly meaningful,” said David Rich. “Over the past decade we together have made tremendous strides in housing the homeless and putting FC on a path to end all forms of homelessness.”
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. Kristine Reddington Herlyn (Kris) of Wilton has been a long-time supporter of FCA dating back to 2003 and a dedicated member of our Board of Directors since 2013. She retired from the full-time practice of law after almost 20 years, and her experience and expertise in that area has been invaluable for FCA. Kris’ roles at FCA have included various Board committees including the former Children, Youth & Families Program Committee and the current Fund Development, Risk Management, and Board Governance committees. In her role on Board Governance, Kris was instrumental in updating and reworking the Board by-laws in 2015 and in 2021 when she helped to define and establish a new diversity, equity, and inclusion by-law for the Agency. Kris is now Co-Chair of the Board Governance Committee, one of the most critical subcommittees of the Board.
In addition to her work on the Board of Directors, Kris has also been a member of FCA’s signature fundraiser committee, IMAGINE, since 2011 and served as a benefit Co-Chair in 2012 and 2014. Kris also participated in Dinner With Friends through our Community Connections program in 2016, 2017, and 2018. A role model to her children, Kris organized her son’s Wilton Lacrosse team to help clean up FCA’s Ben Franklin site and assist with set up of the Minks to Sinks sale. In addition, Kris’ daughter was a summer intern in FCA’s ASPIRE after-school program.
“Throughout her involvement with FCA, Kris has been passionate about the work of the organization and its mission. She has spent tireless hours with diligence supporting the work of the committees she serves on and is highly regarded by her Board peers as well as FCA staff,” said Rob Cashel.
“The bottom line is that helping others in whatever way you can, with kindness, respect, and humility, is just the way I believe we should all try to live our lives,” said Kris Herlyn.
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Family & Children’s Agency is a leading nonprofit human services organization providing services for community members of all ages, including behavioral and mental health, addiction recovery services, after-school programs, parenting counseling, homeless services, family counseling, foster care, home care for older adults, and more. www.FamilyandChildrensAgency.org
