About Us

DSABC’s mission is to build the character and confidence of Danbury students through business and community partnership so that they may achieve personal and academic success.

Our Values

DSABC’s values are at the heart of each mentoring relationship we support. By leveraging the experience and knowledge of caring individuals to assist in the growth and development of students, we affirm that we value:

1. Collaboration between public schools, businesses, and the community
2. Positive role models
3. Student achievement, both personal and academic
4. Confidence, character, and self-esteem as vehicles to success
5. Successful transition into post-secondary education, workforce, and society
6. Encouraging life-long learning
7. Volunteerism

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History

Founded in 1990, DSABC is a 501c3 non-profit organization that formed as a collaborative community organization between Danbury Public Schools and local corporations. The initial purpose of DSABC was to foster cooperation among businesses, the community, and the Danbury Public Schools to promote lifelong learning and the successful transition of youth into society and the workforce.

The organization enlisted volunteers from businesses in programs such as job shadowing, career fairs, and project mentoring, with the cornerstone program being its school-based mentoring program. The school-based mentoring program began with 40 mentor-student matches.

Currently, DSABC’s primary programs are the school-based mentoring programs, which provide more than 150 mentors to students in the Danbury Public Schools and Henry Abbott Technical School. Our mentors are employees from our partner businesses in the greater Danbury area and community members that want to make a difference in a young person’s life.

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DSABC’s Year in Review
2024-2025

DSABC IMentors Trained

77

New Mentors Trained

DSABC New Mentor Mentee Matches

97

New Mentor-Mentee Matches

DSABC Current Mentor Mentee Matches

152

Current Mentor-Mentee Matches

70

Students served through Foundations for Your Future  programming

13

DSABC Mentor Program Scholarship Recipients

18

Danbury High Flex Presentations Organized

Our Staff

Alexis Koukos, Executive Director

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Kirsten Nesello, Marketing and Database

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Ernelyn De Jesus, Mentor Cordinator

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Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Jessica Westerfield, Chair
LesserEvil

Shay Nagarsheth, Vice Chair
CT SBDC

Jim Moretti, Treasurer

Jen Tomaino, Secretary
Union Savings Bank

Board Members at Large

Rachelle Brice
Linde Inc.

Alfredo Calderon
Union Savings Bank

Loren Daly
Danbury Board of Education

Alexis Koukos
Executive Director, DSABC

Trena McNeal
Ives Bank

Taylor O’Brien
City of Danbury

Antonio R. Santiago, Ed.D.
Naugatuck Valley Campus, CT State Community College

Elli Scarfi
Boehringer Ingelheim

Michael Seelig
Danbury Public Schools

Partners & Supporters

Companies invest in youth mentoring by encouraging their employees’ participation and through financial support. In return for these investments, businesses have seen increased employee productivity and improved morale. As an additional long-term benefit, business engagement in youth mentoring helps to prepare the future workforce.

  • ARKA
  • Boehringer Ingelheim
  • Bright Insurance Group
  • Bristol Global Mobility
  • Branson Ultrasonics
  • Candace V. Fay, Attorney & Counselor at Law, PC
  • Cartus
  • City of Danbury
  • Collins Hannafin, PC
  • Danbury Public Schools
  • Danbury Senior Center
  • Fairfield County Bank
  • Fairfield County Community Foundation
  • Holiday Diner
  • Jennings Oil & Propane
  • Lesser Evil
  • Linde
  • M&T Bank
  • Naugatuck Valley Community College
  • Newtown Savings Bank
  • PMC-STS
  • Ives Bank
  • Southridge Technology
  • Texas Roadhouse
  • Town Fair Tire
  • Union Savings Bank
  • US Army Recruiting – Danbury
  • Walmart
  • Wells Fargo
  • Western Connecticut State University