Carla Miklos of Operation Hope, Honored

United Way of Coastal Fairfield County honored prominent business and community leaders, including Carla Miklos, Executive Director of Operation Hope last week during their 2018 LIVE UNITED Celebration. On May 16^th hosted by Congregation B’nai Israel in Bridgeport attendees joined to celebrate the commitment of those who make a difference by having the courage and willingness to take action on behalf of the children and families living in Coastal Fairfield County.

Working tirelessly to change the way homeless individuals and families are served in Fairfield and across the region, Carla has played a critical role in ending chronic homelessness in Connecticut. Because of her efforts, and partners of Opening Doors Fairfield County, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Point in Time Count taken in January 2018, reported no unsheltered families found in Connecticut. These findings resulted in the ability of Operation Hope to transition its emergency shelter to an enhanced homeless response center.

Carla joined Operation Hope in 2007, after working for the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority as the manager of their Residential Lending division. She is a long-term advocate for affordable housing, homeless prevention, and economic opportunity. She was instrumental in creating a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), focused on providing access to savings, credit, capital and financial education to underserved populations. She serves on the executive committee and coordinating committee of Opening Doors Fairfield County, is a past board chair and current member of Supportive Housing Works, is a past board chair and past member of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, and is a member of the Reaching Home campaign’s coordinating council and Chair of the steering committee.

Ms. Miklos shared the stage with an impressive lineup of honorees, who have helped to reduce homelessness, transform community infrastructure, encouraged business leadership and philanthropy, and nurtured young learners – always giving of their time and talents.

Honorees:
Bridgeport Prospers Partnership Award
William M. Jennings, President & CEO, Bridgeport Hospital
Award of Distinction
Joseph M. Carbone, President & CEO, The Workplace
Collective Impact Leadership Award
Carmen Colon
Vice President, Bridgeport Ys

Carla Miklos
Executive Director, Operation Hope

The Elizabeth Roberts Changing the Odds for Children Award
Novelette Peterkin,
Executive Director, The Carver Foundation of Norwalk

The Madison Sayles Neighbors Helping Neighbors Award
William J. Hass, Ph.D.
President & CEO, LifeBridge Community Services

The August F. Serra Community Engagement Award
For a Lifetime of Excellence in Community Engagement Work
Charles B. Tisdale, Executive Director, Action for Bridgeport Community Development (ABCD)

The Norman Leeds Giving Back to the Community Award
Tocqueville Level Giving and Engagement
Carla Klein, The Klein Family Foundation

Chairman’s Circle Partnership
People’s Enterprise Rent-A-Car
GE
Aquarion Water Company
Pepperidge Farm

Outstanding Performance in the 2017-18 Campaign
Our Partners Who Collectively Raised Funds Million for United Way