Kerry Y. Stevens of Darien has been named the Executive Director of the Horizons Student Enrichment Program at New Canaan Country School, an educational nonprofit program 
that serves more than 400 students from primarily Stamford and Norwalk.
Horizons at NCCS is the flagship program of what is now a national movement providing K-12 students from low-income families year-round academic, cultural and athletic opportunities, cultivating a safe and supportive community, nurturing potential, and inspiring individual dreams.
Ms. Stevens has been serving as the interim executive director of the program since June while a national search was conducted for the permanent position.
“During the last five months, Kerry’s infectious energy for the program, and her commitment to the students and families of Horizons was clear. We are thrilled to officially make her position a permanent one,” said Lisa O. Schultz, chair of the Board of Horizons at NCCS.
Peter O’Neill, interim head of New Canaan Country School, echoed those sentiments.
“Kerry’s strong background in philanthropic management, along with her deep and authentic commitment to Horizons’ mission and her energetic leadership and clear vision, gives me the utmost confidence in her ability to lead Horizons,” Mr. O’Neill said.
Ms. Stevens was previously a member of the Board of Directors for Horizons at NCCS for the last 12 years, serving as its chair for three of those years. Ms. Stevens’ previous professional experience includes serving as vice president and senior contributions officer for the Chase Manhattan Bank Corporate Philanthropy Program where she was responsible for a budget of $12 million, overseeing Chase’s educational grants. In addition, she created and managed Chase Partners in the Community, a worldwide employee volunteer program. Following her work at Chase, Ms. Stevens founded a philanthropic consulting firm, Community Investment Strategies, which provided services to corporate and private foundations focusing on building effective and impactful philanthropic programs.
Horizons at New Canaan Country School started in 1964. There are now 40 Horizons affiliates across the United States and counting. Over the past five decades, the programming at Horizons at New Canaan Country School has evolved to include a Summer Enrichment Program, a K-8 School-Year Program, a High School Program and a Parents Program that help eliminate the summer slide and reduce the achievement gap for the children served. Over the last 10 years, 100% of highschool seniors participating in the Horizons program graduated from high school and more than 95% went to college.
