Dian Friedman has been a dedicated volunteer at The Village’s Suffield Second Chance Shop since 1973. For more than 50 years, the shop has been a central part of her daily life—a place of friendship, community and purpose.
It’s one of four volunteer-run Auxiliaries of The Village, alongside locations in Glastonbury, Simsbury and West Hartford. Together, the Auxiliaries have raised nearly ten million dollars to support vital services at The Village. As the Suffield shop approaches its 70th year in business, its legacy is deeply rooted in the dedication of volunteers like Dian, who have helped transform the lives of countless youth, adults and families over the years.
Dian has seen the shop evolve into a cornerstone of the community, offering high-quality, new and gently used items at affordable prices—all while supporting a meaningful cause. Her connection to The Village deepened through her husband Irving’s involvement with the Children’s Services Horse Show in Farmington, a fundraiser for The Village that also served as an Olympic qualifying event until the early 1990s, where she coordinated a fashion show fundraiser. When a friend suggested she become an Auxilian and use her love for fashion to help families in need, it was a natural fit.
I’ve been to The Village and seen all of the wonderful things that are being done there—and I understand, financially, how much money needs to come about to make it happen.
As adoptive parents, Dian and Irving understood firsthand the importance of the services The Village provides. After Irving sadly passed away more than a decade ago, Dian established a fund to continue supporting youth for generations to come. She made a legacy donation in her and Irving’s honor by including The Village in her will—ensuring her impact would live on.
Dian has also contributed to The Village’s Centennial Campus Transformation Campaign, an initiative to renovate The Village’s 100-year-old 1680 Albany Avenue campus in Hartford and create comforting, healing spaces for children who visit or temporarily live there. Her gift will be memorialized with an engraved brick on the entrance of the renovated campus—a symbol of how Dian is helping build a strong foundation for children to heal, thrive and lead healthy, productive lives.