Newtown’s Donna Ramey

Is Heading Regional Nonprofit Board

STAMFORD — Housing Development Fund (HDF), announced recently that HDF board member and Newtown resident Donna M. Ramey, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Savings Bank of Danbury, has been elected chair of its volunteer board of directors.

She succeeds Reyno A. Giallongo, Jr, senior vice president, First County Bank, who has served as chair for the past six years. He will remain on the executive committee as immediate past chair.

Ms Ramey has served on the HDF board since 2003. As chair, her vision is to help the premiere organization expand statewide. It currently serves all of southwestern Connecticut.

Her relationship with HDF began when its President and CEO Joan Carty invited the bank to become a member of its now-$28 million lending pool for multifamily housing. Since that time, HDF and Savings Bank of Danbury have collaborated on a number of affordable housing initiatives in the Danbury area.

Ms Ramey serves as the Community Reinvestment Act officer for her bank. She is an active member of a number of other professional and nonprofit boards.

“As someone who is passionate about helping people become homeowners,” Ms Ramey said, “I’ve always enjoyed counseling first-time buyers, particularly those in need of financial assistance. In addition, during my 40 years in banking, I’ve championed the creation of affordable housing.”

Retiring Chair Rey Giallongo, a Stamford resident, is one of the founders of HDF. He has been actively involved in all stages of HDF’s growth, including program development with area lenders, a model that has stood the test of time.

“HDF has achieved significant results under Rey’s leadership,” said Joan Carty. “We are very excited to have as qualified a successor as Donna Ramey. We look forward to working with her as she helps us continue to address the affordable housing crisis in Connecticut.”