The Center for Family Justice is pleased to announce that Pam Schmitt, a Trumbull resident, has been named its 2019 Beatrice Boucher Volunteer of the Year.
Schmitt, who serves as co-chairperson of CFJ’s Circle of HOPE Volunteer Task Force, was honored recently at CFJ’s annual meeting for her outstanding work supporting the nonprofit, which provides crisis and supportive services to victims of domestic and sexual violence in six local communities.
The award is given annually to a volunteer who consistently and selflessly provides exceptional volunteer service to help advance CFJ’s mission of bringing hope and healing to victims and survivors of trauma and abuse from the communities of Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Stratford, Monroe and Trumbull.
Schmitt, who is retired from a long career in volunteer management at Danbury Hospital, joined CFJ as a volunteer more than a year ago and quickly immersed herself in a variety of volunteer roles. In addition to co-chairing its volunteer task force, she played an important role in helping CFJ plan its 2018 and upcoming 2019 Speaking of Women fundraisers. This year’s Speaking of Women will feature a keynote by former Olympic Gold Medal gymnast Ali Raisman, an outspoken advocate for survivors of sexual abuse.
Schmitt also helped pilot and launch a new Crisis Navigator position, which gives volunteers an opportunity to provide support and comfort to walk-in clients who come to CFJ in crisis. The role has been a critical one during a year in which CFJ has experienced double digit increases in walk-in clients.
“Pam has truly been an extraordinary volunteer, really helping our team provide our clients with the support and compassion they need and deserve,” said CFJ’s President & CEO Debra A. Greenwood. “She has been a tremendous gift not just to our clients, but to our staff, whom she has supported in so many ways. We are thrilled to honor her with an award she truly deserves.”
Schmitt said she was honored to receive the recognition. “My time at CFJ is always a purposeful and rewarding,” she said. “It is incredible meaningful whenever I interact with a victim and am able to help turn a tear into a smile, or receive a simple thank you or a hug of gratitude. When this happens, I know I have succeeded in my mission of making a difference by helping that victim navigate through what has inevitably been a traumatic experience.”
The award is named after the late Beatrice Boucher of Stratford, one of the most dedicated members to ever be part of CFJ’s volunteer family.
