Fairfield County Bank Named Top Fundraising Team for the Center of Empowerment and Education’s SafeWalk Six Years Running

 

Photographed, from left to right: Kelly Pellizzari, V.P., Branch Manager of Fairfield County Bank's Mill Plain Road branch in Danbury. Michelle Luis, A.V.P., Small Business Lending Manager, Fairfield County Bank. Sean Hargraves, A.V.P., Sales Management, Fairfield County Bank. Kathy Graham, V.P., Branch Manager of Fairfield County Bank's 150 Danbury Road branch in Ridgefield.
Photographed, from left to right: Kelly Pellizzari, V.P., Branch Manager of Fairfield County Bank's Mill Plain Road branch in Danbury. Michelle Luis, A.V.P., Small Business Lending Manager, Fairfield County Bank. Sean Hargraves, A.V.P., Sales Management, Fairfield County Bank. Kathy Graham, V.P., Branch Manager of Fairfield County Bank's 150 Danbury Road branch in Ridgefield.

Ridgefield, CT—October 31, 2025: The Center for Empowerment and Education (CEE) held its 19th annual SafeWalk on Saturday October 4, during which Fairfield County Bank was named the top fundraising team for the sixth year in a row.

SafeWalk is CEE’s premier event to unite the community for their vision to create safer communities free from interpersonal violence for all individuals in Northern Fairfield and Southern Litchfield Counties, as well as raise funds to support the confidential services offered by CEE to victims experiencing domestic or sexual violence. Every year, thousands of people across Connecticut gather in small and large groups to walk or run a 5k. Additionally, several towns hold in-person events for supporters to walk in unison.

Fairfield County Bank has a decades-long partnership with CEE and has been a corporate contributor to SafeWalk each year since its inception. The Bank’s dedicated team of volunteers garners support from friends and family to reach their fundraising goal, which is often surpassed.

“I’m really grateful to work for a company that not only supports organizations in our community, like CEE, but also encourages employees to give back as well,” said Kathy Graham, Vice President and Branch Manager of Fairfield County Bank’s 150 Danbury Road branch in Ridgefield. She is a member of CEE’s Ambassador Council and the SafeWalk event chair. “It’s amazing to see so many of my colleagues come together at the SafeWalk community walk here in Ridgefield each year.”

CEE is one of only four Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) member agencies throughout the state that provides both domestic violence and sexual assault victim services and the only area agency that provides comprehensive prevention education programs for local schools, colleges, and the community at no cost. Their mission is to break the cycle of interpersonal violence through empowerment, education and support services utilizing inclusive, trauma-informed, and client-centered practices for all individuals in the community.

 

 

Founded in 1871, Fairfield County Bank is a $1.7 billion community bank with locations throughout Fairfield County. Fairfield County Bank delivers a full range of financial services through superior Client relationships and the knowledge that when you put your money in Fairfield County Bank, it stays in Fairfield County — strengthening our communities. Visit www.fairfieldcountybank.com to find out more about the Bank.