The Volunteer Project They Never Forgot
What better way to close out National Volunteer Month than by recognizing those who go above and beyond?
This year, instead of honoring one individual, we’re celebrating a group of people who have been showing up—year after year—for 25 years: FactSet volunteers.
One homeowner they worked with still stands out. Her name was Maria.
Like more than half of the homeowners we serve, Maria was an older adult living alone in Norwalk on a small, fixed income. What began as a home repair project became something much more.
R-L: FactSet Volunteer Coordinator, Meredith Schiffer, & House Captain, John O'Sullivan.
Long-time FactSet volunteer leader Meredith Schiffer shared a moment she’ll never forget:
“Everyone connected with Maria so much so that one of our volunteers donated frequent flier miles and airport transportation to send her home to Austria to see her family. That was the first time she saw them in many years, and sadly also the last time she saw them.
This project was the first time we added on our own version of Extreme Home Makeover - FactSet edition. Employees secured custom drapery and stove donations; our then Chief Revenue Officer donated a leather couch and carpet, and the list goes on. In just one day, Maria's house transformed into a bright sunny place for her to enjoy the rest of her years.
Maria ended up paying it forward by leaving her home to a veterans' organization to help others in need. In a way, Maria became a part of my family, which passed the good vibes on to my children and to hopefully generations to come. For me, that is something you can't buy and was only made possible through participating in HomeFront.”
For 25 years, moments like this have brought FactSet volunteers back—again and again. It's that direct interaction we have with those who entrusted their needs to us.
Since 2000, teams of 40–100 employees have shown up each spring, completing transformational improvements for homeowners and community spaces across our area. But what makes this group stand out isn’t just their consistency—it’s how they approach the work.
They listen. They build relationships. They treat each home as if it were their own. And they understand that the spaces we live in can reinforce the dignity within us.
FactSet Team in 2023
HomeFront’s Associate Executive Director, Lou Valenti, sees it firsthand:
“The FactSet crew and leadership are not only highly motivated, but extremely talented. Many of them are home improvement Weekend Warriors who know how to get things done. It’s been such a pleasure working with such skilled, imaginative people.”
This year is no different. For our 2026 Spring HomeFront Day, FactSet volunteers will take on an ambitious project—transforming an empty asphalt exterior space at a residential program in Norwalk into a welcoming outdoor environment for individuals living with mental health challenges.
It’s work that reflects something deeper than a single day of service.
For a quarter century, FactSet volunteers have shown what it means to keep showing up— not just to repair homes, but to change lives. They’ve also shown what corporate citizenship can look like at its best.
We are proud to recognize FactSet as our 2026 Community Pillar Award recipient. And we are grateful—for the work, the care, and the example they continue to set.
L-R: HomeFront Board Chair, Kenneth Wiegand, FactSet Volunteer Leaders, Chris Paul & Meredith Schiffer (front), HF Exec. Director, Sean O'Brien, FactSet Volunteer Leader, David McGrath
37th Annual Spring HomeFront Days
FactSet will be in full solidarity with more than 500 kindred helpers starting this Saturday. Weeks of planning with the volunteer leaders is about to make a lasting difference for 17 older adults, veterans, persons with disabilities, single-parent households, families and children in crisis, as well as those served by a local, deserving community center. Join us in tipping our caps to this Spring's participating volunteer teams across 21 cities.
Corporate
Community Builder Level
FactSet, Norwalk
Civic
Greenwich Association of Realtors
Newtown Lions Club
Team Up, Danbury
Faith-Based
Holy Disciples Parish, Watertown
Newtown Congregational Church
North American Martyrs Parish, East Hartford
Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, Stamford
Southbury Faith in Action (SOFIA)
St. Edward the Confessor Parish, New Fairfield
St. Jeanne Jugan Teams I & II, Enfield
St. Luke's Parish, Darien
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Fairfield
St. Paul’s Parish, Kensington
St. Raphael Parish, Milford
St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Oxford
You can stay tuned on all of the godo works through our Facebook & Instagram pages.
Our neighbors come to us with major repair issues and our groups say, “Challenge Accepted.” With building material costs continuing to stay stubbornly high, we thank you for considering a gift that can help us to help families in need with the repair worries that keep them up at night.
