Photographs by William Taufic.
Patricia and Robert Phillips lived in Montclair, New Jersey, until Chesebrough Ponds, the company Bob worked for (ultimately as president), relocated to Greenwich. The couple chose “a lovely home in Shippan Point in a wonderful community,” where their two children would be close to playmates. It was 1974—and the beginning of the Phillips’ longtime service to the greater Stamford area.
Pat, already a Junior League member, immediately got involved. While chairing a committee on community action, she polled members from various towns on the biggest problem in their area. The response for all towns—even the quiet, bucolic ones—was the same: battered women. The revelation led to a lifelong commitment to helping victims. Pat created a task force and brought together social service agents, churches, synagogues and the police. “Everyone was in denial,” says Pat. “The police would just walk the guy around the block and then send him back home.” They started calling Pat to pick up victims, which she did, often with her two small children riding along.
“We got volunteers to offer safe homes,” continues Pat, “and eventually got the funding to create a shelter. It was highly successful.” Pat founded Domestic Violence Services at the YWCA, where she served as interim director for six months and oversaw the shelter there. Pat then spearheaded a campaign for a bigger facility and raised $3 million. She remains on the advisory council for the Domestic Violence Crisis Center and campaigned to raise another $3 million to establish the Shelter for the Homeless, where she was board chair for six years and still serves on the advisory council. Pat is also dedicated to assisting lowincome individuals and families who need a helping hand through her continued work with Person-to-Person. She has sat on the organization’s board, advisory council and development committee. “Bob says, ‘I can’t live with Pat and not do something!’” says Pat, chuckling.
Passionate about education, Bob founded the Stamford Public Education Foundation in 2001 and served as board president for three years. The foundation had a “dreary space on the edge of Mill River,” so Bob was easily persuaded to get involved in yet another philanthropic project—the Mill River Collaborative. “It’s one of the seminal projects for downtown Stamford. We’re very proud of it.”
Bob is also on the board of the Stamford Museum and Nature Center. “I’ve been interested over the years in the arts and the Bendel Mansion,” says Bob, who has encouraged more exhibitions there. “I’ve also been involved with Loft Artists and bringing them to the Nature Center and Mill River Park.” The Old Town Hall is another Stamford gem Bob has promoted as an art venue, and he was instrumental in bringing the Stamford Symphony to the Palace Theatre. Susan Rigano, executive director of the Stamford Public Education Foundation, comments, “Bob and Pat focus their attention on nonprofit boards that serve the homeless, the hungry, the poor, the young and the old with compassion and a genuine determination to help struggling individuals and families rise out of poverty toward selfsufficiency.”