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Feder, a real estate broker with Cushman and Wakefield, was the recipient of the United Way’s Volunteer Award in 2011, is vice-chair of its board of directors and also chairs the organization’s facility and volunteerism committees.
The Emerging Leaders Society, Feder said, was established by the United Way as an extension of the Stamford Business Council, which incorporates community business leaders to analyze data and devise solutions to support successful living in the community.
“The society partnered with agencies in the community to connect groups to solve important problems,” she said. This year, the society decided to tackle child obesity and healthy living and worked with the Mill River Park Playground to rehabilitate the park so children could have a safe place to play.
The society also worked with Person-to-Person in Darien to provide a nutritionist at the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County to assist single-parent families and diabetics with healthy recipe booklets. At Chester Addison Community Center, Feder said volunteers have developed Zumba and soccer programs for children.
In addition to health screening nearly 900 students, volunteers read stories and conducted activities with children. They also worked with teachers and parents on holistic programs at the Child Learning Center.
“A big part of this program is mentoring in the community,” she said. “We always need additional opportunities for that to happen.”
During her acceptance speech at last year’s United Way Awards Ceremony, Feder said people who make up the United Way want to make the world a better place.
“I give because it feels good,” she said. “There is something that feels really good about giving.”
For more information about the United Way of Western Connecticut, call 203-438-7711 or visit www.uwwesternct.org.
