Middlesex United Way Welcomes Two New Board Members in 2025

MIDDLETOWN, CT- Middlesex United Way has added two new community members to its Board of Directors for 2025. Stephanie Fisher and Michele Boutin were officially welcomed at the nonprofit's 2024 Annual Meeting held at Community Health Center, Inc. on Thursday, January 23, 2025.

Stephanie Fisher

Stephanie Fisher joins the Middlesex United Way Board of Directors as a dedicated community leader who is passionate about making a difference. With over five years of experience in the home care sector at Change Inc., she has cultivated a strong commitment to service and compassion. Fisher has been an active member of the Town of Durham Recreation Committee, including serving as chairperson, promoting community engagement and recreational opportunities.

Fisher is already a devoted member of the Middlesex United Way team. She is Chair of the nonprofit's Emerging Leaders Society affinity group. As a member since 2019, Fisher has been a major contributor to initiatives like the annual holiday toy drive and the Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project. She hopes to build the affinity group in 2025 by adding new projects and resources for young leaders in the community.

In addition to joining the Board of Directors, Fisher was named the recipient of the Justin Wilkie Next Generation Leadership Award at the Middlesex United Way 2024 Annual Meeting. The award commemorates the spirit of former Middlesex United Way staff member Justin Wilkie, who passed away tragically in 2017. Fisher's colleagues call her their "agency cheerleader" and describe her talent for transforming challenges into opportunities and encouraging those around her to become the best version of themselves.

Michele Boutin

Michele Boutin joins the Middlesex United Way Board of Directors as the Representative for the Women United affinity group. Michele has been an active member of the Women United committee for the past two years, contributing to fundraising efforts that support grants for organizations benefiting women and children in Middlesex County.

Boutin played a key role in organizing the Women United Power of the Purse fundraiser in 2024 (the first since covid-19). She worked closely with current co-chairs Dawn Norton and Allison Dowe to secure the event's location and funding for the popular fundraiser. As the affinity group's incoming chair, Boutin will also help oversee the evaluation and distribution of the 2025 Women United grants, which will support the group's impact areas of childhood and youth development, empowering women, and financial security.

In May 2024, Michele earned a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Saint Joseph. Her professional experience includes working as a social worker at the Hebron Senior Center, where she assisted older residents in accessing services and programs. Currently, Michele is an IICAPS Clinician at Wheeler Clinic, providing mental health support to children and families.

"Michele was instrumental in securing a grant from the Middletown Elks for Women United this past year," said Dawn Norton, the current co-chair of Women United. "She's going to be great and I look forward to what she comes up with for this year."

Boutin will take over as chair for Women United in March. If you're interested in learning more about either affinity group (Women United or Emerging Leaders Society), you can learn more by visiting Middlesexunitedway.org.

Middlesex United Way is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving lives and creating positive change within the community. Middlesex United Way’s Community Impact Council, made up of volunteers from a variety of backgrounds, awarded approximately $300,000 to 18 local agencies as part of the 2024-2025 grant cycle. Middlesex United Way also provided approximately $8,600 in funding for Connecticut’s 2-1-1 Helpline that connects callers with vital resources related to housing, employment, and mental health services.