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When Madeline Monde joined the Westport Young Woman's League nine years ago, she wasn't sure what she was getting into. Now, she not only knows, but she also sets the course for the 56-year-old organization as its president.
"We're a diverse group of women with a threefold mission," she says. "Our three areas of focus are community service, fundraising and social activities."
The league produces two major fundraisers. CraftWestport is ranked in the Top 10 craft shows in the country and held the weekend before Thanksgiving. The other is the Minute Man Road Race, which will be run May 1. Both events are midway through their fourth decade, and during that time thousands of dollars have been raised.
Those funds have been distributed to organizations and causes around the county. "We have a ways-and-means process that accepts grant applications from nonprofit groups," says Monde. "We research them carefully, and if they meet all the criteria, the membership votes on whether to award them a grant." The league's focus is charities in lower Fairfield County that support women and children in meeting their daily needs, as well as worthy organizations in Westport.
Past recipients have included Person-To-Person in Darien, the Housatonic Community College Foundation, the Domestic Violence Crisis Center in Stamford and Kids in Crisis in Greenwich. "We've given grants to 29 agencies, and this year will give away more than $55,000," says Monde. Included in that figure is a $10,000 "super grant" to the Levitt Pavilion to help construct a new facility along the banks of the Saugatuck, not far from the league's own building.
Monde's term expires in June but first she has to oversee the race next month. The majority of the league's 200 members work on the race, and Monde has done duty in the past soliciting food donations. "All of the mom and pop stores are so generous," she recalls. "It's really heartwarming." And so, too, is the good work engendered this volunteer-created and staffed event.
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