Community Connections
Shining a local light on:
The Iris Fund
Proudly serving:
Learn more about their charity:
Community Connections
Community Connections shines a light on local charities whose compassion, service, and dedication strengthen the fabric of our community. By sharing their stories, we hope to inspire others and help the spirit of giving spread throughout our towns.
Under the spotlight today: The Iris Fund
An interview with Brittney Crystal, The Iris Fund
How do you brighten our community?
We brighten our community by turning heartbreak into hope. 💜
The Iris Fund raises awareness about preterm birth, funds groundbreaking research to better understand and prevent it, and lifts up the voices of families who have experienced loss. We bring people together — parents, doctors, researchers, and advocates — to spark real change in maternal and infant health.
Through education, policy efforts, and community support, we’re building a future where more babies are born healthy and more families feel seen, heard, and supported.
Who do you serve in our community?
We serve preterm birth and loss families and the research we support will help us understand how all pregnant bodies work.
What are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of turning grief into action. 💜 What began as heartbreak has grown into a community of families, clinicians, and researchers working together to change the future of pregnancy and preterm birth. Seeing real research funded, clinics launched, patient voices centered in training, and policy conversations shift — that’s what means the most.
But truly, I’m proudest of the families who show up, share their stories, and make sure no one has to navigate loss or high-risk pregnancy alone. That collective courage is what drives everything forward.
How did you change a life?
Lyme Connection has made many connections through the years and helped thousands of people struggling with Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. The most remarkable experience I've had, was meeting someone who had found their doctor through one of our conferences and didn't realize it was our conference when they shared their story.
Who are your community partners?
Lyme Connection comes under the Friends of Ridgefield Community Programs Umbrella, has partnered with the Ridgefield Library the RVNA, Founders Hall, Ridgefield Parks & Rec and the Ridgefield Playhouse. We have also been very fortunate to receive grants from Ridgefield Thrift Shop, the Leir Foundation, and the Rotary.
Local-Insta thanks Fairfield County Bank for making our Community Connections series possible!
Celebrating the charities that make our community stronger.
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