By Mark Langlois

NEWS-TIMES BUSINESS EDITOR

DANBURY Joyce Ligi, senior vice president of Ridgefield Bank and a veteran banker in Danbury with more than 25 years of experience, will receive the greater Danbury area Good Scout Award in December.

Ligi has been recognized several times for her work in the community, which began when she was a teen-ager and a Girl Scout.

Among her awards is the Women of Challenge Award, presented in 1991 to five local women by the Girl Scout Council of Southwestern Connecticut.

"When I won the Girl Scout honor, my mother had all my old merit badges framed," Ligi said. "It was all so long ago, I don't remember what they were for."

Ligi, a former Union Trust executive also received the Outstanding Citizens Award in 1990 by the Danbury Jaycees; the Edith Hatch Volunteer Leadership Award by the local American Red Cross; and the Peter T. White Volunteer Service Award from the United Way of Northern Fairfield County in 1993 when she served as chairman of the board and as campaign chairman. She was contribution campaign co-chairman in 1996.

"She has a long history of helping people in both Ridgefield and Danbury," said Clarice Osiecki, who is chairing the December luncheon that will honor Ligi. Osiecki is the former president of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce and 1998 winner of the Good Scout Award.

"The luncheon is a major fund-raising effort by the Scouts," Osiecki said. "Close to 4,000 children participate in Scouting in the Danbury area, and as long as people believe in character building, good citizenship and helping immerse children in American culture, they will support Scouting."

The luncheon raised $50,000 in 1998 when Osiecki won and it raised the same amount last year when Anthony M. Rizzo won the Good Scout Award.

"We're extremely pleased to honor Joyce Ligi with this award," said Doug Krofina, Scout executive with the Connecticut Yankee Council, Boy Scouts of America. "Her leadership and tireless efforts in supporting numerous community organizations is reflected in the respect and esteem in which she is held."

Ligi chaired this luncheon in 1992 and was co-chairman several other times. Ligi said she supports the Boy Scouts because they work with literally thousands of boys in the Danbury/Ridgefield area.

"The leadership and life skills are so important. They are skills they can use throughout their lives," Ligi said.

The money raised by the luncheon supports the Urban Scout Reach Programs in Danbury, Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport, which brings Scouting to city children. The Connecticut Yankee Council serves 25,000 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Explorers and Learning for Life students.

The Good Scout luncheon will take place Dec. 5 at the Danbury Hilton & Towers. For information, call Chris Carolla, finance director, Connecticut Yankee Council, Boy Scouts of America at (203) 876-6868, ext. 257.

Contact Mark Langlois