Nancy Coughlin is the CEO of Person to Person, a nonprofit organization supporting 28,000 lower Fairfield County residents annually as they move toward economic stability with programs that include multiple food pantries, financial and housing assistance, wraparound casework support, financial and workforce coaching and summer camperships.
Coughlin grew up in a household led by her social worker mother, where free school lunch helped make ends meet. With a strong belief that the circumstances of one’s birth should not dictate one’s opportunities in life, she has devoted her professional career to addressing issues of poverty and economic equality in all its forms, including food security and women's and children's issues. She spent the early years of her career advocating for battered women and their children, after which she obtained a law degree, clerked for the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and practiced employment law at Baker McKenzie, then the world’s largest law firm, in NYC. She joined Person to Person in 2019, just 9 months before the global pandemic dramatically altered every aspect of the organization’s operations. Revenue has doubled under her leadership, as has the amount of food and financial assistance the organization provides to members of the community.
Coughlin holds a BA in psychology from the University of New Hampshire, and a J.D. from the Suffolk University Law School. She currently resides in Darien, where she has raised her four children.
The Club Calendar is at the end of this newsletter. Please refer to it to see the meeting schedule, social events and more. It will be updated when speakers and events are added.

The updated Greeters and Openers schedule is also near the end of the newsletter, so please check to see if you are on there!
Friday Meeting - May 1
Robin Jaffee Frank
Executive Director, MoCA\CT
Robin Jaffee Frank shared how Museum of Contemporary Art Connecticut (MoCA\CT) engages and inspires through innovative contemporary art exhibitions, world-class performances and transformative educational programs for people of all ages and abilities
This is the link to sign up for newsletters on the MoCA website. Also, membershipsare available on the site as well.
Luisa opened the meeting and shared how we at Rotary build collective community leadership for the betterment of society with gratitude.
Yvonne was the lucky raffle winner.
Bruce Paul shared the Great Duck Race signs.
Charitable Giving Grant Award Recipients 2026
36 recipients received total of $150,000
A Better Chance of Westport, Inc
Adam J. Lewis Academy
Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leadership
Campership Program, DHS
Caroline House, Inc.
Circle of Care for Families with Cancer, Inc.
Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants
CLASP Homes, Inc
Club 203
CT Burn Care
Earthplace
ElderHouse Inc.
Food Rescue US, Inc.
Global PEHT
Help for Kids
HomeBridge Ventures, Inc.
Homes with Hope Inc.
Homes for the Brave
Hoops and Dreams
INTEMPO Organization, Inc.
Kids Empowered by your Support, Inc (KEYS)
Klein Memorial Foundation
Mercy Learning Center of Bridgeport, Inc.
Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County, Inc.
Norwalk Housing Authority
Norwalk Symphony Society, Inc.
Off the Streets
Positive Directions: The Center for Prevention and Counseling
Saturday Academy
Sweet P Bakery
Team Woofgang and Co., Inc.
The Rowan Center
The Susan Fund
Wakeman Town Farm
Westport Bookshop/Used Book Sales
Wheel it Forward
The Rotary EPIC Day of Service is fast approaching! We have 12 projects happening in Westport, Norwalk and Bridgeport between May 11 and May 30 - see below for a quick list. To register for any of the projects in any location, and to find out more details, click here for the Westport Sunrise page. Many of the projects are filled. The ones that aren't are are in orange below.
Bridgeport Alpha YMCA Walk to End Homelessness 5/16/2026 Bridge Academy Seaside Park Cleanup - Interact Club project 5/16/2026 Homes for the Brave Painting 5/16/2026 CLASP Homes Gardening 5/11/2026 Walk to End Alzheimer's in Bridgeport 5/16/2026
Norwalk Open Doors organizing 5/16/2026 Stew Leonard's Swim School Water Safety Day 5/30/2026
Westport Stop & Shop Food Drive 5/16/2026 Gillespie Center Gardening 5/16/2026 Westport Library Book Sale May 15-18 Red Cross Blood Drive 5/29/2026 Compo Beach Playground work 5/16/2026
Fairfield Rotary Foundation 38th Annual Golf Classic
May 11, 2026
Brooklawn Country Club, Fairfield CT
Mail, email or fax to: Fairfield Rotary c/o 2026 Golf Outing P.O. Box 411, Fairfield, CT 06824 Fax: 203.330.0630 bill@universalprinting4u.com
203.330.0628
GUESTS LAST MEETING:
Robin Jaffee Frank, speaker MoCA\CT
Sandra Nygaard, MoCA\CT
Joe Quinn, guest of Thomas Engelke
Tony Kiniry, prospective member
GILLESPIE CENTER COOKING / SERVING SCHEDULE
One of our club’s ongoing and rewarding commitments to community service is our commitment to serving dinner meals on the first Saturday of each month at the Gillespie Center here in Westport.
We are back to serving meals at the newly renovated Gillespie Center. We have the option to drop off prepared meals at 4:30 PM or to bring meals to serve in person at 4:40 PM (allow extra time if the meals need to be reheated). Meal service should include a main dish, side dish, vegetable, and dessert (no nuts or shellfish please). The number of meals to provide, currently 25, will be confirmed to you to in advance when it is your turn to serve.
If you choose to drop off prepared meals at 4:30 PM you have the option to prepare homemade meals, purchase prepared meals at the store/restaurant of your choice, or you can contact Fresh Market on the Post Road in Westport where you can purchase prepared meals (protein, two sides and cookies for $7 - $10 per meal). If you choose the Fresh Market option call Tory at 203 227-2910 on the Monday prior to your meal service to place your order. You can pay for the meals when you pick them up.
If you are unable to work on your assigned Saturday you will be responsible to call other Rotarians on the list to switch dates.
