Family Centers honored two outstanding volunteers for their leadership and service to the community and welcomed Nisha Hurst as its new Board Chair at its 135th Annual Meeting, held Tuesday, November 3, at First Presbyterian Church in Greenwich.
Kate Clark, outgoing Chair of Family Centers’ Board of Trustees, received the Helen Gratz Rockefeller Outstanding Volunteerism Award, the organization’s highest volunteer honor, recognizing exceptional leadership and service by current or former Board members.
A dedicated advocate for Family Centers for more than a decade, Clark joined the Board in 2015 and became Board Chair in 2022. Throughout her tenure, she has co-chaired fundraising benefits, hosted events and helped recruit new trustees, earning the respect of fellow Board members and staff for her thoughtful leadership and unwavering commitment.
“Kate’s leadership has meant so much to Family Centers, but I’m especially grateful for the support she gave me personally during my first year as CEO,” said Louis Josephson, Family Centers’ President and CEO. “She generously extended her time as Board Chair to help ensure a smooth transition, and I can’t overstate how much her guidance, encouragement and steady presence have meant to me. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had her by my side during this first year.”
The Annual Meeting also marked a transition in Board leadership, as Nisha Hurst succeeded Kate Clark as Chair of Family Centers’ Board of Trustees. Hurst joined the Board in 2023 and previously served as Vice Chair. Her community involvement includes service on the boards of Literacy Volunteers of Stamford/Greenwich, Greenwich United Way and Greenwich YMCA.
Andrea Byrne, Program Manager of Family Centers’ Literacy Volunteers, with Alex Velaj, recipient of the Anne Firestone Ball Family Champion Award. Nov 3, 2026
Louis Josephson, Family Centers President and CEO, with Kate Clark, recipient of the Helen Gratz Rockefeller Outstanding Volunteerism Award. Nov 3, 2026
Louis Josephson with Nisha Hurst, incoming Chair of Family Centers’ Board of Trustees. Nov 3, 2026
Family Centers also honored Alex Velaj with the Anne Firestone Ball Family Champion Award. Named in honor of longtime Family Centers Board leader, volunteer and philanthropist Anne Firestone Ball, the award recognizes individuals whose leadership, dedication and service have made a meaningful impact on the community.
Through his support of Family Centers’ Literacy Volunteers program, Velaj has expanded learning opportunities for parents and children, providing books, educational materials and experiences that strengthen English language skills and bring families together.
His contributions helped make the program’s Fall Bookfest possible, providing nearly 1,000 books to families across Family Centers. Velaj also takes an active role in Literacy Volunteers, attending events and introducing new experiences for families, including a field trip to the Stamford Museum & Nature Center’s Planetarium & Astronomy Center.
For more than 130 years, Family Centers has served residents of lower Fairfield County by bringing education, health, and human services together to help children, adults, and families thrive. Family Centers makes it easier to find services and support in one place because people rarely have just one need.
For additional information, visit: familycenters.org