Each year, the United Way of Eastern Fairfield County’s
Board of Directors presents two Spirit of Caring Awards to
honor an individual and a company who have shown
outstanding volunteerism and commitment to the greater Bridgeport community.

Spirit of Caring for an Individual:
Adrienne Farrar Houel, Warrenton Network, Inc.

Adrienne Farrar Houel embodies the essence of the Spirit of Caring Award. She is an active participant in numerous nonprofit organizations throughout the greater Bridgeport area and is
an advocate for its residents both young and old – but especially for our community's youth. Her support for United Way of Eastern Fairfield County is extensive and dynamic. She served as the 2005 Day of Caring Chair. Instrumental in the November 2005 Community Conversation to close the educational achievement gap, she served as the lead moderator of the event. Ms. Houel has been the chair of the Operation Graduation Committee since its inception. She was instrumental in planning and implementing the May 2006 Education Summit, which brought together 500 area residents in an effort to lay the groundwork for novel, effective, widespread action to ensure that our students graduate high school prepared for the rigors of college.

Spirit of Caring for an Organization:
RBS National Bank

RBS National Bank is a generous corporate citizen and a true philanthropic partner. RBS's advocacy on behalf on the homeless and its ongoing support of United Way of Eastern Fairfield County's Community Impact initiatives have had a positive impact in our community. Through its funding to assist in the development and implementation of The Greater Bridgeport Area Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, RBS has helped provide both access to safe, decent affordable housing and also needed support services to prevent the problem from reoccurring. RBS's philanthropy extends beyond its work on behalf of the homeless. This year RBS employees collected and donated several hundred pounds of non-perishable food items, health & beauty aides, and cleaning supplies to local food pantries and soup kitchens. For its many altruistic accomplishments, RBS National Bank has a well-deserved seat at the head of the greater Bridgeport community's humanitarian table.