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Alexis de Tocqueville Society - Community change requires exceptional leadership
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Mar 12, 2010 - 9:57 AM

Deloitte and its employees have been constant pillars in the community through their volunteerism, personal, and corporate philanthropy across the globe. The Wilton Deloitte office has been involved with United Way locally for years. Pictured from left are Cathy DeCesare, United Way staff; Russ Golden; Alan Kessler, Deloitte; Tracey Golden, Deloitte; William Platt, Deloitte; Richard Goligoski, Deloitte; David Kennedy, United Way staff; Guy Moore, Deloitte; Brian Gallagher, President & CEO, United Way Worldwide.

On March 4th, over 80 Alexis de Tocqueville Society members, CEOs and other United Way supporters including Mayor Richard Moccia and his wife Barbara, gathered at the Guest House at GE Headquarters in Fairfield for an evening of forging relationships. Alexis de Tocqueville Society members are individuals who target their philanthropic efforts at an exceptional level to United Way.

Brian Gallagher, President & CEO of United Way Worldwide spoke of the society at a national level which accounts for approximately $1.2 billion annually from Leadership and Alexis de Tocqueville Society donors annually. Gallagher recognized and thanked the members there that evening as well as the corporate partners that align their relationship with United Way to their corporate philanthropic goals. Both GE and Deloitte were recognized for their role as a corporate partner locally in Coastal Fairfield County but also as Global Corporate Leadership partners.

After the event began with networking and socializing, the group heard not only from Gallagher but also the CEO of GE, Jeffrey Immelt who welcomed everyone, thanked them for their commitment to United Way and engaged them in conversation about United Way of Coastal Fairfield County’s work. He spoke of exceptional leadership being required to create community change, and that the work of United Way of Coastal Fairfield County is only made possible by the investment and support of its donor and corporate partners. They are the leaders whose investment and support move United Way’s work forward in the areas of school readiness, academic achievement, financial stability of families and healthy youth, families and seniors. Leading the campaign this year were Tri-Chairs Mayor Richard Moccia, Eric Stone from Enterprise Rent-a-car and Michael Rosten, Esq., Bowties Esq. Real Estate Services.

Among the companies represented that evening from Norwalk were Deloitte; Arch Chemical, whose Vice President of Human Resources, Hayes Anderson sits on the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County board; GE Capital Finance; and Norwalk Community College Foundation.

United Way of Coastal Fairfield County Campaign Tri-Chair Mayor Richard Moccia is pictured with wife Barbara and United Way Worldwide President & CEO Brian Gallagher

The setting at the Guest House at GE Headquarters in Fairfield, and the evening’s host Duncan O’Brien, General Manager, Global Business Development for GE Corporate Headquarters, created an atmosphere of comfort, friendships and partnerships. "My wife and I are Alexis de Tocqueville Society members because we believe in the mission of United Way and its focus on helping our neighbors in need."

Anne McCrory, United Way Board Chair, took the group on a journey through the exciting work being done throughout United Way of Coastal Fairfield County’s twelve town region. Spoke of their work in the area of Financial Stability and Academic Achievement. She spoke personally about her experience with some of the mentors and mentees in The Mentoring Institute of Coastal Fairfield County, and shared the personal journey of a woman who reached out to them through the Healthy Baby Diaper Drive and has now been placed in touch with the critical basic needs support she needs for her family.

Members of the newly formed Young Leaders Society enjoy multiple opportunities to meet CEOs and other high level corporate representative through a series of networking events throughout the year. The Alexis de Tocqueville Society Event on March 4th put the group in conversation with not only Brian Gallagher, President & CEO of United Way Worldwide and Jeffrey Immelt, President & CEO of GE, but also other United Way corporate partners such as Aquarion, Sikorsky, Deloitte, People’s United Bank, Sun Products, UBS, Arch Chemical and Southern Connecticut Gas.

United Way of Coastal Fairfield County’s mission is: “Together, we mobilize our communities to improve people’s lives”. Their vision is to advance the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. Working with many partners, United Way is focused on the building blocks that people need for a good life: a quality education that leads to a stable job, income that can support a family through retirement, and good health. United Way of Coastal Fairfield County serves the towns of Fairfield, Bridgeport, Stratford, Westport, Trumbull, Easton, Monroe, Weston, Norwalk, Wilton, Darien and New Canaan. For more information, www.unitedwaycfc.org.

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