Norwalk, Conn. – Family & Children’s Agency (FCA) officially welcomed four new Board members. Lilwyn (Lil) Dyer of Ridgefield, Colleen Cary Katz of Old Greenwich, Bharat Sarpeshkar of Westport, and Jennifer Toll of New Canaan, were voted in as members.
“I am thrilled to welcome Lil Dyer, Colleen Cary Katz, Bharat Sarpeshkar, and Jen Toll to our esteemed board of directors. Their impressive backgrounds and unwavering commitment to making a positive impact in our community are truly inspiring. We are grateful for the dedication and contributions of all our Board members, and we look forward to the exciting possibilities that lie ahead,” said Robert F. Cashel, President & CEO of Family & Children’s Agency.
Lilwyn (Lil) Dyer of Ridgefield is a Registered Representative & Insurance Agent with New York Life Insurance Company where she has worked for over 20 years in the investment and sales arena.
Ever since she and her husband adopted their son and heard of FCA, Lil has been moved to give back her time and resources, specifically to mothers and children in need. Lil believes that in being deeply involved, she can make a difference.
Lil was originally from the Philippines before moving to California and then Washington for eight years. She now resides in Ridgefield with her husband, Paul, and their four children.
“I believe in the organization’s mission and want to contribute to meaningful causes that align with my values. I look forward to connecting with others who are passionate about the same cause and make a positive impact in the community by improving the lives of families,” said Lil.
Colleen Cary Katz of Old Greenwich is a full-time faculty member at Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in New York City, teaching students who are getting their master’s degrees in social work. She is also a researcher and has focused her scholarship on child welfare-involved adolescents and young adults, especially those emancipating from foster care. She has explored the direct experiences of these youth and the experiences of those who provide them with proximal support: their primary parents, their child welfare caseworkers, and their out-of-home caregivers.
Prior to entering academia, Colleen was a children’s psychotherapist, serving kids with experiences of maltreatment and trauma. She resides in Old Greenwich with her husband, Josh, and their two children, Anna, 5, and Ozzy, 1.
“I grew up in Darien and heard a lot about FCA growing up: my grandmother, Anne Cary, was a long-time volunteer who believed deeply in the mission of the Agency. It feels meaningful for me to follow in her footsteps, especially in light of the fact that my social work practice and research have been devoted to child welfare involved children and families. I’m looking forward to contributing in whatever ways would feel most helpful to the current board, administrators, and staff,” said Colleen.
Bharat Sarpeshkar of Westport is a global leader with more than 40 years of experience in financial services, building businesses to serve the needs of institutional clients worldwide. Bharat has extensive knowledge of international operations and technology, global payments, and trade finance. He built and managed billion-dollar businesses, ran multi-region operations centers, and managed a sophisticated, international client base.
Bharat worked at Citigroup in a number of senior roles, overseas and in the United States, until his retirement in September 2022. In the most recent role he was responsible for managing a global portfolio of financial institution clients facilitating international trade flows and providing access to technology to help them fulfil their social obligations through greater financial inclusion.
Bharat was a member of the Board of Directors of CLS Group Holdings and CLS Bank Ltd, serving as Deputy Chairman of CLS Group. He is particularly interested in working with nonprofit enterprises in the local community, and those focused on conservation, climate change, and economic empowerment. Bharat has an undergraduate degree in Economics and an MBA with majors in Marketing and Finance.
Bharat worked in India, then Singapore, before moving to the US with his family in 1995. He and his wife, Rumjhum, live in Westport since with their dog, Laurel. Their son, Adhiraj, now lives in Brooklyn and daughter, Nayantara, lives in Stamford.
“After a long and enjoyable career in international financial services, I decided to direct my energy closer to home, helping to support our local community. Being on the board of FCA allows me this privilege, giving me the opportunity to support initiatives that allow kids to overcome barriers to reach their potential and programs that enable economic empowerment for struggling families,” said Bharat.
Jennifer (Jen) Toll of New Canaan has taught in a variety of settings for 30 years. She attended the Lycée International in France for four years and is a graduate of Bucknell University.
Jen has worked with a number of nonprofits in the area including the Wilton Woman’s Club where she was a former Co-President. Jen has been involved with FCA as a very generous supporter and was a co-Chair for the Agency’s IMAGINE benefit for the second year in a row this year. She is currently a board member of the Bauer Foundation, a trustee at UMC of New Canaan (and serves on their Preschool Board) and is on the Advisory Council for the Wake Forest University Leadership and Character Program.
She raised her three daughters (Carolyn, Taylor, and Courtney) in Wilton and has lived in Fairfield County for the last 47 years.
“I have admired the work of FCA for many years and the scope of their services for all ages. I have had the opportunity to become more involved in the last few years. I am honored to join the Board and look forward to working to advance the mission of the Agency. I am so impressed with the dedication of the Staff and Board members and am grateful to be part of the FCA family,” said Jen.
