Honoring Our Executive Board President, Alice Knapp
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 | 6 – 9 PM The Village Stamford | 4 Star Point Suite 101, Stamford, CT
It is our great honor to share that Alice Knapp, Executive Board President of Stamford Cradle to Career and President of The Ferguson Library, has been named the 2026 Community Catalyst Award recipient. Alice will be celebrated at the United in Impact Soirée on Wednesday, June 10, hosted by United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut in partnership with Bridgeport Prospers, Danbury Collective, and Stamford Cradle to Career.
A Lifetime of Service to Libraries and Community
Alice has led The Ferguson Library since September 2014, after joining the library in 2013 as Director of User Services. Her career in public libraries spans more than two decades, including a five-year stretch as Executive Director of the New Canaan Library and an earlier eight-year tenure at Ferguson as Director of Public Services.
Her work has been recognized at the highest levels of the library profession. In 2003, Library Journal named her one of its Movers and Shakers, and in 2020, the American Library Association honored her with the Sullivan Award, given to public library administrators whose leadership advances services to children.
A Quiet Force Across Stamford
Beyond Ferguson, Alice’s fingerprints are on much of the civic infrastructure that holds Stamford together. She chairs the Information and Library Science Advisory Board at Southern Connecticut State University, is a past president of the Stamford Rotary Club, and serves on the boards of the World Affairs Forum, the Stamford Partnership, and the DSSD Board of Commissioners. For years, she has been deeply involved in Stamford Cradle to Career’s collaborative effort to close the achievement gap, and she now leads our Executive Board.
The Community Catalyst Award recognizes leaders whose vision and commitment elevate everyone around them. Alice fits that description in every way. She is a generous, thoughtful leader who never seeks the spotlight, and her impact reaches every corner of our work.
Step Into the Speakeasy
This year’s celebration takes the shape of a 1920s-inspired evening of cocktails, dinner, and community connection at The Village Stamford. Picture timeless elegance, hidden corners, and the warm hum of conversation among guests united by a shared purpose. Whether you arrive in fringe and feathers or a sharp blazer, the night promises a fresh way to celebrate Alice’s leadership and the partnerships that move our community forward.
Dress Code: 1920s / Prohibition Chic
- For Men: Blazers or sport coats, collared shirts, dress shoes
- For Women: Fringe, sequins, beads, and feathers encouraged. Channel your inner speakeasy sophistication with vintage glamour inspired by the Prohibition era.
Seating: Cocktail-style throughout the evening. Limited premium banquette sponsorships are available for groups of six.
Why This Evening Matters
United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut works to build communities where every person has the opportunity to thrive. Their efforts focus on supporting ALICE households (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). These are families who work hard every day but often struggle to cover the cost of basic necessities. When you attend the Soirée or step in as a sponsor, you are making a direct investment in the well-being of families across Fairfield and Southern Litchfield Counties.
Whether you attend, sponsor, or contribute from afar, your support reaches families well beyond the night itself.
How You Can Celebrate Alice
There are several ways to honor Alice and support the families this event benefits:
- Purchase Tickets or a Tribute Ad for the event program. Full-page and half-page tribute ads are available, with proceeds supporting hardworking households across our community.
- Donate in Alice’s Honor if you cannot attend but would still like to support the cause she has championed.
- Learn More about Alice and the Community Catalyst Award.
We hope you will join us on June 10 to raise a glass to a leader whose work makes Stamford better in countless quiet ways.
