The Community Fund of Darien honored 52 volunteers for their continued service dedication the town on Friday, May 17, at the 34th annual Darien Volunteer Recognition Day. Bernier is six weeks into her new role as the executive director of the Community Fund of Darien. Volunteers from groups such as the Darien Arts Center, the Garden Club of Darien, the Open Door Shelter and many others received awards. The Obie Harrington-Howes Community Spirit Award, the past winners of which were Bob Wells, Joe Viesta and Marge Harrington, is presented to a volunteer who has served several organizations and has made a difference through active volunteer work. Mandel, who has lived in Darien for almost 80 years, has served on a plethora of boards, committees and agencies: she was president of the Darien Library, the Fairfield County Community Foundation and the Norwalk Community College Foundation; a member of the boards of Finance and Education; the founding secretary of Aging-in-Place Gallivant; and served as first selectman. The grants are given to organizations that promote family strengthening, special needs, basic needs (such as food, shelter and health care), at-risk youth support, self-sufficiency, and crisis and abuse support.