Beth Ann Fetzer To Be Honored

At Shelter From The Storm Benefit

Beth Ann Fetzer, a Newtown resident and the assistant vice president and training and development officer at Savings Bank of Danbury, is among “Five Classic Women” who will be honored May 18 at Shelter From the Storm, the fifth annual benefit for the Women’s Center of Greater Danbury.

Virginia B. Young of Bridgewater, Joyce Ligi of Ridgefield, Joanne Patrick of Ridgefield, and Andrea O’Connor of Sherman round out the group. The five will be honored for their tireless efforts on behalf of a wide range of programs and organizations.

“The list of accomplishments of these five classic women is inspiring to all of us who value the spirit of volunteerism and generous giving,” said Rona Rothhouse, president of the board of directors of the Women’s Center. “Their efforts on behalf of the Women’s Center and many other community organizations have truly made a difference for many, many people.”

A longtime supporter of the Women’s Center, Ms Fetzer was co-chair of the center’s Quarter-Century Campaign and is a member of the center’s Advisory Council.

Among her many contributions to the community, she is the former executive director of Western Connecticut American Cancer Society, the vice president of United Way of Northern Fairfield County, and was the first woman president of the Danbury Lions Club.

She was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellow from Lions International. In addition, she serves on the board of directors for the Hanahoe Clinic, is a member of the CityCenter Board of Commissioners, is on the board of directors of Danbury Music Centre, and serves as a volunteer on the United Way’s Community Impact Team.

“Beth Ann has long been a crucial supporter of the Women’s Center,” Ms Rothhouse said. “Her work on the Advisory Council and as co-chair of our Quarter Century Campaign has made a real difference for us. Her work illustrates what an individual who truly wants to make a difference for others can accomplish.”

Shelter From the Storm, to be held from 6 to 9 pm on Friday, May 18, at the historic Lounsbury House in Ridgefield, will offer dinner by the bite, an assortment of wines and desserts, and a wide selection of silent and live auction items. The raffle prize is an all-inclusive eight-day vacation to Cancun.

“Each year at the event, the center honors an individual who is making a difference in the 13-town community we serve,” said Kathleen Pape, chair of the Fundraising Committee. “This year, we decided to honor a group of women, each of whom has worked tirelessly to change the world, one day and one person at a time.”

Shelter From the Storm is open to anyone who would like to join the celebration of the women being honored while also helping the Women’s Center financially. Tickets are $75 and can be reserved by calling 731-5200, extension 215.

Proceeds from the annual event will help the center to maintain an emergency shelter where individuals and families fleeing domestic violence can find safe haven, counseling, and other supportive services; operate 24-hour hotlines for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault; offer individual counseling and support groups to people in crisis; provide counseling and therapeutic play groups to the “secondary” victims of assault, the children who witness violence in their homes, or the spouses of sexual assault survivors; conduct hundreds of community education programs for children and teens in area schools for early intervention and prevention of abuse; provide training to police, hospital personnel, and other professionals who work with victims of violence in their workplace.

The Women’s Center of Greater Danbury provides free and confidential services to prevent or lessen the trauma associated with domestic violence, sexual assault, and other major life transitions to thousands of women, children, and men annually. The programs of the Women’s Center are supported by state and local government, area United Way agencies and the people and businesses in the communities we serve including Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, Kent, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Sherman, Warren and Washington.