YWCA Darien/Norwalk Hosts 6th Annual Cookies, Cocktails and a Cause

The YWCA Darien/Norwalk’s sixth annual Cookies, Cocktails and a Cause Ladies Night fundraiser takes place from 7:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, at Nielsen’s Florist, 1405 Post Road, Darien. The event is open to all women and membership is not required to attend.

The event, sponsored by William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage and Insurance, includes a holiday cookie swap, which is optional, and a cookie contest for those who bring a recipe. Michael Joseph‘s Fine Foods team of chefs and managers will judge the cookie contest along with guest judge Jill Stelben, who won the cookie contest last year.

Stelben’s recipe for Welsh cakes has been a holiday tradition in her family since the 1970’s, when her aunt first discovered it in a Diamond cookbook.

Wine and other beverages will be served along with hors d’oeuvres prepared by Michael Joseph’s. A raffle of prizes donated by local merchants includes items from Chelsea Piers, Spree, Pure Barre, CST 50, Sono Baking Company, Dance with Me Stamford, Art Plus Studios, Juliska, 1020 Post, Darien Pilates, Infinity Fitness, Posh Nail Salon, Equinox, Barrett Books, Blue Mercury, and Lanphier Day Spa, which also provided goody bags for the evening. Raffle tickets can be purchased online at ywcadariennorwalk.org with credit cards and will be sold at the event for cash or checks only.

Last year’s event, which was sold out and attended by over 150 women, raised more than $7,400 for the YWCA Darien/Norwalk and its community outreach programs, such as Parent Awareness, which encourages the positive development of Darien youth by providing education to families, and Job Search Support, which provides guidance and training for women in all stages of the job search process.

“Every year we look forward to this fun and festive event which is quickly becoming a local tradition. It is a perfect way to kick off the holiday season while supporting some of the YW’s most important programs”, commented committee chair Jennifer Clemow. Tickets for Cookies, Cocktails and a Cause are $50 and advance purchase is required. For tickets or information, visit ywcadariennorwalk.org or call (203) 655-2535.

Pictured above are committee members Kelly Clifford, Jennifer Fenge, Wistar Wallace, Lori Slotkin, Jennifer Clemow, Jane Lee Song, and Daphne Procopion. Not in photo: Diana Turowski, Heather Gray, Shane Roth, Megan Shain, and Jen Osborne.

The YWCA Darien/Norwalk is a non-profit organization dedicated to giving women the support and tools they need to transform their lives, be confident in their choices and raise healthy families. Its national mission, eliminating racism and empowering women, translates locally into a vision to create opportunities for growth, leadership and empowerment for all women and families. The YWCA Darien/Norwalk is located at 49 Old King’s Highway North in Darien, CT. For more information, please visit www.ywcadariennorwalk.org or call 655-2535.