Women's Club of Brookfield Honors Local Achiever

From the Women's Club of Brookfield:

The Women’s Club of Brookfield (WCB) presented its Woman of the Year award to Brookfield resident Diane Flood at Italia Mia on May 11. This award is only presented when the club wishes to recognize a candidate’s outstanding service to the town of Brookfield. Flood’s guests at the dinner included her husband, Daniel, daughter Sara, close friend Linda Frame and State Rep. Stephen Harding.

Harding made a speech honoring Diane, stating “Brookfield is one of the best places on earth because of people like Mrs. Flood. She has done so much for our town over the years, and she is so humble about it. When you tell her how much you appreciate all of her hard work, she always replies in her Boston accent, ‘Ahh, it’s nothing …’”

Flood’s extensive list of merits includes her leadership roles in The Garden Club of Brookfield, where she is currently president, and has previously served as publicity chairperson, scholarship chairperson and vice-president. She is also valued for her work with the Knights of Columbus, where she organizes their annual Christmas dinner. Flood also volunteers with St. Marguerites Church, organizing its largest annual fundraiser dinner and helping out with many other events, such as the craft bazaar and meet-and-greets. Flood also enjoys assisting the Boy Scouts by aiding with their ceremonies and fundraising events.

One of Flood’s ongoing projects is working toward having The Blue Star Memorial Highway Program instituted in Brookfield to honor its members of the American Armed Forces. This federal program would result in a Blue Star Memorial marker being placed, possibly in Williams Park, to celebrate Brookfield’s veterans.

Recently, Flood had her beloved family dog, Pepsi, trained to be a service therapy dog. She and Pepsi now visit Brookfield and Ridgefield schools, as well as Ability Beyond Disability, to assist those with various disorders to better function in their everyday lives.

What’s more, Flood, along with another dedicated parent, developed the P.T.S.O. (Parent, Teacher, and Student Organization) in 2006, which continues to benefit Brookfield in a multitude of positive ways today. For example, Brookfield’s SAT/ACT Boot Camp and Full-Length Programs at The Brookfield Learning Center emerged out of this organization. Even though Flood’s three children are long gone from the high school, Flood remains connected to the organization and its mission.

Her children are proof of her dedication to academic preparedness. One of her sons is in his second year in UCLA, another son having graduated a semester early from Berkley before graduating from HAAS Business School and is currently traveling in South America. Flood's daughter skipped eighth grade and went on to study mathematics and engineering at John Hopkins and is currently living in New York City, pursuing the career of her dreams.

This daughter, Sara Flood, spoke about how easy it is to take one's mom for granted, adding “…but seeing her receive this award and hearing about all she has done through the years makes me so proud of her.”

The Woman of the Year Dinner was hosted by WCB members Pat Tharrington and Joan Locke. Member Helen Fitzgerald managed the nomination process for the Woman of the Year. Diane Flood was nominated for Woman of the Year by member Melissa Marici.

The Women’s Club of Brookfield celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2014.

Further information is available through contacting WCB President Jeanine Hanewicz via jhh322@aol.com.