Ridgefield is a special place. Ask any resident why, and they’ll likely lead with the magic of Main Street—Deborah Ann’s, Books on the Common, the Memorial Day Parade. Ridgefield’s vibrant arts scene—The Aldrich, Ridgefield Playhouse, A.C.T of CT—would surely follow in a close second. And rounding out the top three? Ridgefield’s incredible sense of community. This town is full of special people who show up, who help one another through hard times. Here, community service and philanthropy aren’t just traditions—they’re woven into the fabric of what makes Ridgefield, Ridgefield.
But volunteer work doesn’t happen in a vacuum. For four impressive Ridgefield students—Ruby Weiner, Kayla Scatterday, Jake Travaglini, and Naomi Vakil—the desire to give back began in childhood and has only deepened over time.
RUBY WEINER
Fifteen-year-old Ruby Weiner was introduced to community service in kindergarten through her Girl Scout troop—a program she credits with helping shape her life. This year, she’ll serve as a national delegate for the organization.
A pivotal moment came when she was 11. She and her mom, Patty Labozzo, were dropping off food at the St. Stephen’s pantry—only to find it had been relocated to a picnic table after the property was sold.
“The pantry was in direct sunlight, which isn’t good for the food,” Ruby explains. “So Linda Hutchings, who started the pantry, moved it outside of town. And this was the beginning of Covid! So I said to my mom, ‘People need food. I want to make a new pantry.’”
Patty warned it would take a lot of work—and money. Undeterred, Ruby began researching. She applied for and won a Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation Youth Grant. Then she found a builder—Clark Construction—after seeing one of their beautiful flyers in the mail.
“I showed them my design and they said, ‘Instead of one, do you want five?’” Ruby says.
Despite the cost exceeding the grant, Clark built all five, donating their time and resources. Other local businesses generously donated supplies too.
Ruby’s Pantries are scattered around Ridgefield in shaded, visible spots: Ridgebury Congregational Church, Jesse Lee, Wooster Hollow, Boys & Girls Club, and at Clark Construction. Anyone can donate food—or take it.
Ruby shares a sobering statistic from Social Services Director Tony Phillips: one-third of Ridgefielders struggle with food insecurity. But the need goes beyond food. Basic hygiene and household items aren’t covered by SNAP or other assistance programs.
So in 2022, for her Girl Scout Silver Award, Ruby worked with Spirit Builders to add a sixth pantry inside at Ballard Green for residents only. It includes a section for food—and one for essentials.
To keep the pantries stocked, Ruby organizes an annual food drive at Scotts Ridge Middle School, with support from her former teacher, Emily Sherwill, and the Student Leadership Council. This past December was their biggest drive yet with over 750 items filling the shelves in the Weiner family garage.
In March, Ruby received the Danbury Elks Distinguished Citizenship Award, immediately earmarking the money for her various, ever-expanding endeavors. And Ruby’s Pantries was named Fairfield County Bank’s Charity of the Month, an initiative spearheaded by Kathy Graham. Ruby used that money to help stock her pantries, and to launch her next project: Club Sandwich.
Ruby approached Debbie Rundlett, Director of the Meetinghouse and pastor at Ridgebury Congregational Church, about using the space for her new endeavor. Rundlett agreed, and Club Sandwich meets there monthly, making over 120 bagged lunches. Each contains a sandwich, chips, a cookie, and fruit. They’re all donated to Dorothy Day Hospitality House in Danbury.
Whenever her funds or supplies are running low, Ruby sets about securing more.
“I go into stores and ask if they offer community donations,” she says. “Sometimes they say no, but more often than not, the answer is yes.”
Thanks to her perseverance, Caraluzzi’s gifted 15 pounds of cheese and meat, and Target gave her a $100 gift card, which Ruby used to buy bread, peanut butter, and jelly. Costco, Stew Leonard’s, Trader Joe’s, Lesser Evil Popcorn, and Big Y have also been generous donors.
Birthday cakes are another unmet need Ruby noticed.
“If families don’t have enough for food, they definitely don’t have money to make birthday cakes. Birthdays are huge in my family! Everyone deserves to be celebrated on their special day.”
Invited to speak at the Ridgefield Library on MLK Day, Ruby suggested an activity, too. With Children’s Services Program Coordinator Kathleen Tracey, Ruby and over a dozen participants assembled birthday boxes with cake mix, frosting, sprinkles, candles, plates, napkins, and a can of Sprite (which Ruby discovered can be used in lieu of eggs and oil). The items were placed into disposable tins that double as the baking pan, then tied with a bow and donated to Social Services.
Beyond her community work, Ruby maintains a rigorous figure skating schedule, training six days a week in New Jersey as a competitive ice dancer. Because her lessons are during the day, Ruby, who is a rising junior, studies at Laurel Springs, an online school. A lifelong dancer, Ruby also takes classes at Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance.
Though she may be soft-spoken and petite in stature, Ruby’s spirit is indomitable—balancing school, sport, and service with heart, grit, and grace.
KAYLA SCATTERDAY
Kayla Scatterday has been involved in community service from a young age—something she attributes to watching her mom, Catherine, dedicate so much time and energy to the town.
“She helped with the Ballard Park playground reconstruction, the Spray Bay at the Rec Center, and so many other things,” Kayla says. “Seeing her so active in the community has always been inspiring.”
When Kayla was in middle school, she and her mom joined the Ridgefield Nutmeg Chapter of the National Charity League (NCL), a philanthropic organization for mothers and daughters. The group partners with both national and local nonprofits—including Ability Beyond, Ridgefield A Better Chance, and Ann’s Place—to serve the community.
Kayla, also a member of the National Honor Society, volunteered widely throughout town with both organizations. But as she got older, she wanted to create something more lasting and impactful.
“I wanted to put my energy toward one thing,” she says. “Something where I could make a direct impact on someone else’s journey.”
In May 2024, Kayla brought an idea with her mom: she wanted to start a project.
Through a connection at Danbury Hospital, Kayla and her mom met with the Foundation team and toured several departments. One in particular stood out.
“I wasn’t a preemie myself, but witnessing the dedication of the NICU nurses and hearing the deeply moving stories of the parents and their tiny fighters left a lasting impact on me,”
Originally, my Kayla’s idea was to provide inspirational messages. But when the Scatterdays learned about the ongoing financial needs at the hospital, they realized a fundraising component was critical.
Born to Thrive officially launched in May 2024 with a $1,000 fundraising goal. Today, it’s approaching $10,000.
In December, Born to Thrive was named Fairfield County Bank’s Charity of the Month, earning a $1,000 donation. Then, they partnered with the Princess Ball, where they educated girls about the NICU and attendees decorated cards. There was also a fundraising class at Orangetheory, and Born to Thrive teamed up with Doctors’ Pediatrics, Barlow Mountain Elementary School, Lions Heart, and the girls Ridgefield High School lacrosse team to make cards for the NICU.
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“It’s been an amazing journey,” Kayla says. “So many different businesses and groups in town have been so incredibly generous, we’ve collaborated with so many to help spread the word. It’s been such a great experience—not only because I get to work with my mom, which is the best part—but also because I’ve met so many people and formed real connections.”
Kayla completed her senior internship with the Nuvance Health Foundation team, the organization through which Born to Thrive operates. This year, Danbury Hospital is celebrating its 140th anniversary, culminating in the Mosaic Gala in November.
In addition to her charitable work, Kayla has danced for over 15 years with Dance Factory and on the Ridgefield High School dance team, performing in competitions and shows.
“I grew up at Dance Factory. It’s my second home, a place where I’ve learned so much about myself and formed lifelong friendships.”
As Kayla prepares to attend Penn State this fall to study communications, she is passing the Born to Thrive baton on to her younger sister Caitlyn.
“Caitlyn is super excited about taking over,” Kayla tells us. “She already has so many ideas.”
To learn more about Born to Thrive, follow along on Instagram @borntothriveee or visit borntothrive.funraise.org.
JAKE TRAVAGLINI
An athlete and a musician, Jake Travaglini was captain of the Ridgefield High School varsity baseball team and played violin in the Symphonic Orchestra—something he nearly quit back in fourth grade.
“I have my mom to thank for that,” he says, laughing. “She convinced me to stick with it.”
This fall, Jake is headed to Vanderbilt University, where he plans to major in English with a minor in economics. “I’m hoping to play club baseball—and I’m bringing my violin, too. I don’t know if I’ll end up doing anything with it. We’ll see.”
Jake is a fifth-generation Ridgefielder on his father’s side. His grandfather, Aldo Travaglini, owned the Ridgefield News Store on Main Street—later rebranded as Squash’s.
But the core of Jake, the foundational part of what makes him him, he credits to his involvement with the Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield—a place he’s been going to since he was six years old.
“I grew up there. I really can’t imagine my life without it. It’s such an important part of who I am.”
Starting in fifth grade, Jake joined the ______ Club, followed by Torch Club in middle school—a national leadership and service group that focuses on character development and community service. In high school, he became a member of Keystone Club, the Club’s most dynamic teen leadership program.
“I chaired the Teen Outreach Committee,” Jake explains. “We planned events to help retain the high schoolers—laser tag nights, pizza parties, Thanksgiving parties. I made flyers, helped organize everything. It was a way to build community and keep kids coming back.”
Jake has spent three summers working at the Club’s summer camp, and this past year began working at the after school program.
“It was great to reconnect with the kids I knew from summer, but in a different setting. I got to ask them how their sports seasons were going, how school was. That continuity made a difference, like I had a lasting connection with them.”
Jake’s deep commitment with BGC earned him their prestigious Youth of the Year award—a rigorous process which included essays, interviews with community leaders, and a speech delivered in front of friends, family, and Club supporters.
“It was a huge honor winning the award—especially because I was alongside people I grew up with. These friends were like my family growing up. We all gave really personal speeches that night, we were all being vulnerable, sharing our stories. It was a great night.”
Outside of the Club, Jake was an active member of the Youth Against Cancer Society at Ridgefield High School. He plays summer baseball with American Legion Post 78 and participates in their off-field service projects, like decorating Main Street for the holidays and placing flags on veterans’ graves. He and his twin sister, ______, volunteered weekly with the Scotland Elementary Yearbook Club this past year—which was extra special, since many of the students were familiar faces from the Club.
Jake is excited to head to Vanderbilt in the fall—and he’s thrilled that his sister will be attending college nearby at Tennessee State.
For now, though, he’s soaking in his last couple of weeks at the Club before moving on.
“It’s definitely tricky, getting to know all these kids, remembering names, their stories. But it’s worth it. It pays dividends.”
NAOMI VAKIL
For as long as she can remember, Naomi Vakil has been committed to giving back.
“When I was five, my sister and I sold box-stitch bracelets and keychains in front of the Rec Center to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS),” she recalls. “A man came over and wrote us a check for $100—and he didn’t even take a bracelet! That’s when I realized how powerful it is to support something bigger than yourself.”
That early spark ignited a lifelong commitment to service. In elementary school, Naomi continued raising awareness for LLS and participated in its Light the Night program. When her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, Naomi’s dedication to supporting cancer-related causes only deepened.
“I never fully understood the impact of cancer until my mom got sick,” she says. “When she was diagnosed, it really clicked how much cancer impacts people. Almost everyone you talk to has been touched by it in some way.”
As a sophomore, Naomi took part in the LLS Student Visionaries of the Year, a philanthropic leadership development program for high school students.
“I built a team of over 40 multi-generational team members and named it Canning Cancer,” she explains. “Some were classmates, some people I knew from other charities in town. We had seven weeks to raise as much money as we could… and we raised around $56,000! It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.”
It was this bringing together of people, this community-minded camaraderie that stays with Naomi to this day.
“People would come up to me in the halls to share their own stories,” she says. “It felt like the whole town was uniting. It’s amazing how much people can accomplish together, you know?”
The following year, Naomi was appointed Chair of the LLS Peer Committee, which is similar to the Student Visionaries of the Year program.
“I mentored over 20 students,” Naomi tells us. “I gave them fundraising tips and helped them with press. And now Ridgefield is considered a ‘legacy town’ for the program.”
Naomi’s impact goes far beyond LLS. She’s volunteered at Founders Hall for years, where she forged a special bond with an older woman named Clem during an intergenerational interview project.
“Clem is one of my best friends,” Naomi says, her whole face lighting up.
At Ridgefield High School, Naomi served all four years in student government, eventually becoming Student Body President.
“That role opened so many doors,” she says. “It gave me the chance to connect with people and create positive change in the school.”
Naomi and her winning personality, warm smile, and cheerful nature are unstoppable. She is a tour de force for good in our community, and someone who cares deeply about giving back.
“I think there’s opportunity everywhere,” she says. “You don’t have to be part of a big organization. It can be as simple as holding the door open for someone, asking a person how their day was, decorating bags for Meals on Wheels. Those smiles you get from others—that joy is contagious.”
Naomi heads to the University of Michigan this fall to study global studies with plans to pursue humanitarian work.
“I’m so passionate about community service,” she says. “And I know whatever I do next, it’s going to involve helping others.”