YWCA Of Darien/Norwalk Names Permanent CEO

Information via YWCA Darien/Norwalk

DARIEN, CT — The YWCA Darien/Norwalk Board of Directors announced last week the appointment of Jennifer Buchholz as the organization's chief executive officer.

Buchholz had been serving as interim CEO since the beginning of 2024, and assumed the role permanently this summer. Before stepping into the CEO role, she served on the board of directors for four years.

The organization also announced the launch of its new season of programming.

This year, YWCA Darien/Norwalk will continue to build a more inclusive and connected community through new mission-aligned education and awareness initiatives, providing countless women and families with the support and tools they need to lead empowered lives.

Additionally, YWCA is reenvisioning its club offerings to further foster the deep friendships and networks that have been a cornerstone of the YWCA experience.

"Today’s announcement marks a new chapter in the nearly 50-year history of YWCA Darien/Norwalk as we renew our commitment to the YWCA’s national mission of empowering women and eliminating racism. We’re thrilled to see this unfold in our upcoming season’s programming, which provides a range of diverse experiences for women of all ages to connect, have fun, learn, be challenged and make an impact on our community,” said YWCA Darien/Norwalk Board of Directors Vice Chair Tara Giblin in a news release.

"Jennifer's passion for our mission, combined with her extensive experience as a corporate executive, makes her the ideal leader to guide us forward. Her vision for supporting women and girls, along with her dedication to fostering collaboration with organizations across Darien and Norwalk, will help expand our outreach, strengthen networks, and ensure that YWCA Darien/Norwalk continues to be a vital local resource," Giblin added.

Buchholz previously served as chief human resource officer for multiple organizations and worked in a wide range of industries of scale from public Fortune 500 companies such as General Electric and CB Richard Ellis, to smaller privately held corporations.

While at GE, Buchholz led the largest hub of the company’s Women's Network. She is also actively involved in numerous community organizations throughout Fairfield County, including formerly serving on the board of directors for sister YWCA in Greenwich and the Women’s Mentoring Network in Stamford. Buchholz has lived in Darien for eight years while raising her 15 year old son.

"My entire career and life philosophy has centered around developing empowered communities, establishing cultural connections and fostering diversity and inclusion – which is exactly what we aim to achieve here at YWCA Darien/Norwalk," Buchholz said in a news release. "I am honored to take on this role and look forward to continuing my work with our dedicated board, volunteers, and staff in building upon our mission-driven programming and education and awareness initiatives throughout the Darien and Norwalk communities."

Highlights of the upcoming 2024/25 season of programming include:

• YWCA’s first Family Open House: A free event for the whole family featuring a fun-filled day of crafts, performances and interactive activities where you can also learn about how to get involved with the YWCA's work to empower women and families and advance social justice;
• New and refreshed educational series of events including a Financial Literacy program, a Well-Women Series and a Women-Owned Business feature;
• Reimagined club offerings including the Youth Empowerment Committee, Network of Working Women, and Beyond Newcomers Club;
• A robust Week Without Violence - a signature week of events for YWs across the country as the YWCA dedicates a week in October to raising awareness of domestic violence; and more.

For more information about YWCA Darien/Norwalk, including all of its upcoming events and programming, click here.