Family Centers’ board member Rob Vendig and staff member Lisa Clifford were recognized as “Family Champions” by the Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies (CCFSA) for their outstanding commitment to improving the lives of families.
At a ceremony held at the Lawn Club in New Haven on May 22, the CCFSA honored Vendig, Clifford and 28 other human services professionals and volunteers whose unselfish actions have strengthened families in Connecticut. Both Vendig and Clifford live in Stamford.
Since joining Family Centers’ Board of Directors six years ago, Vendig immediately embraced a leadership role and has served as a champion for the agency’s programs and services. He was an active member of Literacy Volunteers of Stamford/Greenwich’s Board, and was instrumental in facilitating that organization’s successful merger with Family Centers in 2013. Upon completion of that merger, Vendig continued his service as a member of Family Centers’ Board.
In a relatively short time, Vendig has made a lasting impact on Family Centers’ service delivery mix – particularly within programs focused on elevating the overall self-sufficiency of Fairfield County residents. He currently is a co-chair of Family Centers’ Thriving Families and Communities Committee, which oversees programs relating to literacy, vocational support, community building and housing. Vendig has also co-chaired several Scrabble Challenge fundraisers to support the free literacy support offered by Literacy Volunteers.
On the programmatic front, Walker has served on numerous committees to help guide and improve the service delivery of Family Centers’ programs that help families coping with crisis situations. She has also co-chaired the organization’s Special Events Committee.
For 20 years, Clifford has embodied the spirit of caring professionalism and always goes above and beyond each day to help others. As part of Family Centers’ Administrative Support Staff team, she touches clients across many different programs at the agency. As the first point of contact for many clients entering Family Centers’ Stamford office, Clifford’s detailed orientated nature ensures that everyone she encounters is connected to the appropriate person and that they receive the services they need.
In her supervision of other Administration professionals, she passes her own values onto her staff and instilled a culture of excellent customer service. She is well known by both clients and staff for bringing levity to any given situation, helping with the morale of others, and establishing some special relationships with people over time.
Family Centers is a private, nonprofit organization offering education and human services to children, adults and families in Fairfield County. More than 200 professionals and 4,000 trained volunteers work together to provide a wide range of responsive, innovative programs. A United Way, Community Fund of Darien and New Canaan Community Foundation partner agency, Family Centers is a member of the Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies and is accredited by The Joint Commission and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The agency is licensed by the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health. Visit www.familycenters.org for additional information.
To report a health and safety concern, please click the Joint Commission seal and click "Report a Safety Concern"
|