Danbury Jaycees Honor Kathleen Green

Newtown resident Kathleen Green is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award of the Danbury Jaycees for her volunteer work.

For the past 45 years the Jaycees have sponsored the award to recognize and honor an individual in the Danbury area who has made a difference in the community through volunteer work and who exemplifies the Jaycee Creed. This year there were 11 nominees.

For the past four years Kathleen Green has served as the coordinator of the “Dress for Success” program, the back-to-school supplies drive for low-income children, sponsored by the Western Connecticut Corporate Volunteer Council.

“The enthusiasm and energy Kathleen brings to the presentations she makes to local businesses and civic organizations has increased participation in this worthy program which ends in August with a distribution party when children receive their gifts,” the DSA recipient profile said.

Ms Green also has directed a workshop for mentally disabled adults in Ridgefield and has written a curriculum for a summer program for the youth group at her church. The “Summer Around the World” program became so popular it has been expanded to include adult members.

“My one hope is that my greatest effect and impact on the greater Danbury community is as an example to people of all ages of what volunteering can do for a person,” Ms Green said. “People see how fulfilled, elated, and inspired I am about my volunteer work and they say, ‘I want some of that.’”

Other nominees included Victoria Zandonella of Sandy Hook, Joseph Muratori of Sandy Hook, Mark Williams, Sr, of Brookfield, Peter Benzinger of New Fairfield, Mark Broughton of Danbury, Sharon Rutherford of Danbury, Shona Curtis of New Milford, Rob Volpintesta of New Fairfield, Jay Reagan of Southbury, and Judge Diane E. Yamin of Danbury.