After 35 Years—

The Women’s Center Of Greater Danbury Changes Its Name

DANBURY — The Women’s Center of Greater Danbury celebrates its 35th anniversary this year and will undergo a name and logo change.  The new name will be “Women’s Center” with the tagline, “Serving families and the community since 1975” to reflect its long history and broad range of services.

“This year we are celebrating 35 years of providing services to women, men, and children in southwestern Connecticut.  We wanted a logo, name, and tagline that encompassed all that we do,” said Pat Zachman, executive director. “Many people only think of the Women’s Center as being a shelter just for women and only serving Danbury.  While that is certainly an important part of whom we serve and what we do, this organization does so much more.”

Services are also provided to men and children throughout the center’s 13-town service area, including Newtown. 

“Not only do we provide emergency shelter for adult and child victims fleeing violence, we also provide 24/7 crisis intervention, counseling, advocacy, as well as our education and prevention programs,” she added.

The organization’s new purple and teal logo depicts a home with a heart accented with a circle in the center of it. 

“The logo is really not meant to be a shelter, but a safe destination — maybe more mental than physical,” says Barb Cottingham, Women’s Center board member and the designer of the logo.  “The color choice is also symbolic as purple and teal represent national colors associated with domestic violence and sexual assault organizations.”

Founded in 1975 as a membership organization for women, the Women’s Center soon broadened that mission as its volunteers responded to requests for help. Working with other community groups to develop critically needed services, the Women’s Center evolved into a multifaceted social service agency. 

Today the Women’s Center offers free and confidential services to prevent or lessen the trauma associated with domestic violence, sexual assault, and other major life transitions.  Services include counseling, advocacy, crisis intervention, and emergency shelter. 

The center also provides comprehensive primary prevention, education, and training programs to area schools, organizations, and businesses. Last year, the center helped 19,679 women, men, and children in 13 towns and reached 20,000 individuals through community education.

For more information about the Women’s Center, visit www.wcogd.org or contact Pat Zachman at 203-731-5200 at the Women’s Center.