2 Fundraisers: Almost Same Names. Same Night. Same Town.

The boards of the Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education and the YWCA of Darien/Norwalk had better hope that what they've got on their hands Thursday night is an embarrassment of riches.

Imagine two friends who can't find each other at the Thursday night fundraiser. One of them was a little hazy on the event she was going to when she bought the tickets. One of them calls the other's cell phone to see where the other one is in the room. We eavesdrop midway through the conversation:

What do you mean, gingerbread houses? All I see are gingerbread cookies. [...]

Yes, I'm looking at my ticket now. Thursday night in Darien. 'Cookies and a Cause.' It's for the YWCA. I distinctly remember you saying it was for a women's cause. Thursday night. In Darien. I Googled it and found an announcement and paid for my ticket. I mean, there can't be more than one of these things in the same town on the same night with just about the same name? Right?

Wrong. There can be two.





Two organizations are hosting separate fundraising events in town, each on Thursday night and each with "Cocktails" and "Cause" in its name. Each organization is devoted to women's causes. Each organization has been holding its fundraising event for the past five years. One fundraiser features cookies in it's name. The other features gingerbread houses.

The "5th Annual Gingerbread Houses and Cocktails for a Cause is for the Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education, based in Stamford but serving Darien and other communities as well.

Either there's enough money and support for their causes in and around Darien to make each fundraiser a success or ... there isn't.

Have they really been running these two fundraising events with the same name for five years now? This year they're hosting them on the same night! If you had planned to go with friends, you'd better check back and make sure your friends bought tickets for the same Cocktails/Cookies event on Thursday.

One (benefiting the sexual assault counseling center) has gingerbread houses and takes place at the Country Club of Darien, the other (raising money for the YWCA) has cookies and takes place at Nielsen's Florists. Unless you get your check books or credit cards out and support at least one of these organizations, their lack of coordination could hurt both worthy institutions.

Thursday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m. at the Country Club of Darien: "Join The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education for our 5th Annual Gingerbread Houses and Cocktails for a Cause. Each guest receives a fully-assembled gingerbread house to decorate while sipping wine, enjoying a light dinner buffet and chatting with friends. Now in its 5th year, the event keeps growing. Last year the event sold out, so reserve your seat today!"