The City of Ridgefield once again took time during its annual State of the City address on Tuesday, March 17, to celebrate the achievements and community service of its community by announcing the winners of the fourth annual Make a Difference Awards.
The Make a Difference Awards are presented annually to recognize individuals and organizations whose service and leadership have made a lasting impact on the Ridgefield community. Community members nominate individuals and organizations and the city council decides on a winner for both categories.
Kathy Winters was named the 2026 individual winner. Winters, a longtime volunteer and community advocate, was recognized for decades of service across multiple local organizations, including the Ridgefield Garden Club and the Ridgefield Arts Association. Her efforts have helped shape public spaces, support local programs and bring new initiatives to life in the growing city.
“All I want to say is, as my daughter says, I have FOMO, fear of missing out,” Winters said. “Now that I see something and it’s fun and exciting, I get involved.”
Ridgefield Mayor Matt Cole highlighted Winters’ wide-ranging contributions during the ceremony, noting her impact on projects that have become fixtures in the community. Her work has included helping raise funds for the Ridgefield Community Library and playing a key role in launching the Ridgefield Art Association’s gallery in downtown earlier this year, a goal community members had pursued for years.
Winters’ involvement in Ridgefield dates back to 2003, when she moved to the city to be closer to family and quickly immersed herself in volunteer work. Over the years, she has supported park development, community beautification efforts and fundraising campaigns benefiting causes from youth cancer support programs to local arts and library initiatives.
“I love this town,” Winters said. “It’s so special.”
In addition to the individual award, Neighbors Helping Neighbors was named the 2026 organization winner. The Ridgefield-based nonprofit has spent more than four decades addressing food insecurity and, more recently, expanding services to include hygiene items, household supplies and seasonal food distributions.
Through volunteer support and partnerships with local groups and regional food providers, the organization serves residents across Ridgefield and surrounding communities, offering weekly food distributions and essential goods to those in need.
