Fetzer To Co-Chair Women’s Center Campaign

DANBURY — The Women’s Center of Greater Danbury, Inc. has announced that Beth Ann Fetzer, assistant vice president of the Savings Bank of Danbury, and Attorney Neil R. Marcus of Cohen and Wolf will serve as co-chairs for the Women’s Center Quarter Century Campaign, a capital campaign to fund renovations to the Center’s West Street building

Ms Fetzer, a Newtown resident, and Mr Marcus will lead the Women’s Center’s first major outreach to the communities it has served for nearly 25 years. Scheduled for a public kick-off in April 2000, the Quarter Century Campaign will have a goal of $1 million, to be used to enlarge and improve the center’s West Street headquarters.

Ms Fetzer and Mr Marcus will head an all-volunteer effort to appeal to individuals, businesses, and community organizations for help in readying the Women’s Center’s headquarters for its next quarter century of service. Founded in 1975, the Women’s Center provides shelter, counseling, support groups, and other services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault; in addition, the Center conducts preventive community education in area schools and training for police, medical personnel, and other professionals who encounter violence in their workplace.

“We are delighted to have Beth Ann and Neil as co-chairs,” says Elizabeth Casey, president of the Women’s Center board of directors. “Each brings to the campaign an outstanding reputation and extensive experience with charitable fund-raising.”

Since April 1998 Beth Ann Fetzer has been business and community development officer/assistant vice president at the Savings Bank of Danbury. Before joining the Savings Bank of Danbury, she was executive director of the Western Connecticut Unit of the American Cancer Society; she also worked for more than seven years for the United Way of Northern Fairfield County, Inc., as vice president.

Ms Fetzer is a graduate of Danbury High School and Eastern Connecticut State University. She is a member of the Lions Club of Danbury and was elected as the club’s first female president (1997-98). She is a member of the CityCenter board of commissioners and a member of the Danbury Music Centre’s board of directors. In 1998 and 1999 Beth Ann was co-chairman of publicity for the Family Counseling Center Holiday House Tour in Newtown. She resides in Newtown with her husband, Gary.

Neil Marcus has been a member of the Cohen and Wolf law firm for 26 years, and he is now senior attorney in the Danbury office. He is currently chairman of Danbury Health Systems and a member of the boards of Danbury Hospital and the Danbury Hospital Development Fund. He has served as president of Interlude’s board of directors and has been a member of the United Way of Northern Fairfield County’s Leadership Giving Association.

A native of Danbury, Mr Marcus was graduated from the Wooster School, and he has served on Wooster’s board of trustees for twenty years. He is an alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania and New York University School of Law. The father of four children, Mr Marcus lives in Redding with his wife, Lisi, and their children.