Oliver Kaufman, 62
How do you invest in your local community?
I volunteer every weekend and sometimes during the week. I've picked 2 non-profits Food Rescue and Filling in the Blanks that address food insecurity and childhood hunger respectively. For fun, I volunteer at food and music events like the Greenwich International Film Festival, Hey Stamford Food Festival, and others.
What volunteer opportunities would you recommend?
I started volunteering when my kids were teenagers and I couldn't teach them anything by writing a check. I wanted to teach them to give back, to show them that poverty is not far away, it's here in Stamford and the surrounding towns. Food RescueUS - Fairfield County (based in Stamford) and Filling in the Blanks are wonderful non-profits with awesome people and low overhead! You can easily see how your efforts make a difference.
What do you love most about living in Stamford?
Stamford has so much to offer from the beaches to the woods of North Stamford, so many great restaurants and it was a great place for my kids to grow up. I enjoy outdoor yoga at Harbor Point during the summer months. I also love being only 25 minutes away from Grace Farms in New Canaan which offers the local community so much in terms of art and nature. One of my favorite events is the Thanksgiving Parade. I brought my kids when they were young. Then about 5 years ago I started volunteering as a balloon handler and was promoted to a balloon manager. Every kid’s dream! Most recently I had to manage 3 balloons which was quite stressful but a ton of fun.
Any hidden gems in the local community?
It won't be hidden anymore but the Bartlett Arboretum is a great place for a walk especially in the winter.