On April 24, 2025 my wife Connie and I were honored to receive the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Champion of Youth Award. This award is given to those who have dedicated themselves to serving children and who have made an impact on youth services throughout the Lower Naugatuck Valley. This award meant more to Connie and me than just being given a trophy. This award recognized the two of us as a team who have dedicated ourselves to trying to improve the quality of life for all of the children of the valley, and for thousands of children who have been impacted through the work of our company, Diversified Nonprofit Services. For 31 years we have worked together to help kids. Being recognized by the local Boys & Girls Club is the pinnacle of our working together and the impact we have had.

Personally, I have much to thank the Boys & Girls Club for; It gave me a chance at life as a child, it encouraged me to lead a successful life, it has been the focal point of our company for 40 years, and 32 years ago it led me to Connie who is my life’s partner, my incredible wife, and the love of my life. Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for the Club and its leadership for this recognition. During the course of our acceptance speech we were able to thank those who helped us attain this recognition; our five children, our eight grandchildren, our three great grandchildren and the hundreds of Boys & Girls Clubs we have worked with. In closing our remarks David wrote a poem which summed up his 67 year relationship with the Valley Organization. A copy of this poem is the way we will conclude this post.

The Greatest Gift
By: David Condon

67 years ago, I was given my life’s greatest gift.
From the unlikeliest of sources, it gave my heart a lift.
Standing, scared, before a judge, waiting to hear my fate,
I could never have guessed his verdict would change my life, but wait.

With such kind words, he challenged me, to turn my life around
He sent me to the Boys Club, where opportunities to change abound.
I met a man named Charlie, who believed in every kid.
His goal, to change my life, and that he surely did.

From that first day, I knew the Club, was the place for me,
It’s a gift that’s kept on giving, as you soon will plainly see.
Charlie believed that I could grow, change the direction of my life,
Who could know his belief in me, would lead me to my wife!

For, you see, the chance he gave me, resulted in so much more,
More than I could ever imagine, he allowed my hopes to soar.
After graduating college, my first job teaching special kids!
Who just like me, needed help, and it was help that I could give.

DNS was founded, to change the lives of kids,
A chance to serve now more than ever and history proves it did.
That fateful day in Shelton changed my life’s entire plan,
But it was just the turning point, the results I believe are grand!

Hundreds of Clubs we’ve built, tens of thousands of children served,
A chance to pay it forward, to give children what they deserve.
Charlie’s gift keeps right on giving, thousands of people that I’ve met.
One led to a job interview in Indiana, a job I hoped I’d get.

I met the Executive Director, a woman with a joy and zest for life,
I could never have imagined that in 10 months she’d be my wife.
Not only my life’s partner, the guiding light for our five kids,
Never thinking of herself, bringing love and joy to everything she did.

This award is very special, not just because it recognizes us,
It validates our life together, and makes our work seem just.
31 years ago, we were married, and pledged each other love,
I still believe within my heart; our lives were joined by God above.

67 years ago, two men changed my life,
31 years ago, it led me to my wife.
Now this special moment, together we both share
A reminder of my life’s greatest gift, one that still proves rare.