Awards Will Celebrate Community-Minded Adult and Youth Leaders in Service on Dec. 1
DANBURY, CT -- United Way of Western Connecticut is pleased to announce the local individuals who will be honored as Hometown Heroes and Emerging Heroes at its 5th Annual Hometown Heroes Benefit Dinner on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury.
Hometown Hero and Emerging Hero Awards will be presented to the following individuals, nonprofit agencies and youth in appreciation and recognition of their service to towns within United Way’s service area including:
HOMETOWN HEROES
- Bethel - Walnut Hill Community Church
- Brookfield - David Moissonnier
- Danbury - David Krafick
- New Fairfield - Kathy Hull
- New Milford - Angela Chastain
- Newtown - Tom D’Agostino
- Ridgefield - Carol Maiolo
EMERGING HEROES
- Brookfield - Victoria McFarlin (Immaculate High School)
- Danbury - Jerfrey Martinez (Danbury High School)
- New Milford - Ryan Fanella (Immaculate High School)
- Ridgefield - Emma Kiernan (Ridgefield High School)
In addition, special awards will be presented:
- Corporate Philanthropy Award to UPS for exemplifying corporate social responsibility and demonstrating a tireless commitment to giving back to the community
- Collaborative Award to Mike Greene in recognition of the Danbury resident's leadership, commitment and generosity to the food rescue efforts of the Danbury Food Collaborative, which has rescued more than $835,000 worth of food for greater Danbury area food pantries.
“This year, we are pleased to honor Hometown and Emerging Heroes who have all made unique and lasting impacts on our communities,” said Kimberly Morgan, CEO of United Way of Western Connecticut. “We welcome the community to join us for a lively evening to celebrate the individuals and groups that make an enormous difference in lives across Western Connecticut.”
Nominees were selected based on several criteria, including achievement, action, commitment, impact and initiative. This year, proceeds from the event will support United Way’s food security initiatives, including its evening Mobile Food Pantry, the Groceries on Wheels (GROW) Truck, weekend food backpacks for hungry children, and a nutrition incentives pilot program.
“Seventeen percent of Connecticut children live in food-insecure households,” Morgan continued. “We know that food is the budget item over which struggling households have the most discretion--generally, families can’t lower their housing or transportation costs, but can choose to skip meals or buy inexpensive, less-nutrient dense foods. United Way’s work to increase food security helps improve the health and financial stability of families, and ensure that vulnerable children go to school nourished for success.”
Tickets, tables and journal ads are now on sale for the event online at www.uwwesternct.org/hometownheroestickets. For more information about Hometown Heroes, please contact Stacy Schulman at stacy.schulman@uwwesternct.org or 203-826-8479.
About United Way of Western Connecticut
United Way of Western Connecticut improves the lives of hard-working, struggling households by mobilizing the resources of local communities to create lasting change. We help residents across Northern Fairfield County, Southern Litchfield County and the City of Stamford by focusing on the vital building blocks for a good life: Education, Financial Stability and Health. We are committed to ensuring that every child enters school ready to learn, every family is financially stable, and every community we serve is healthy and strong. We are particularly focused on a population that United Way identifies as ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) in our communities. A United Way report published in September 2018 revealed that in Connecticut, nearly 1 in 3 households has earnings above the Federal Poverty Level, but below a basic cost-of-living threshold. Combined with those who are struggling below poverty level, 40% of all households in the state are experiencing financial hardship. By leveraging the collective power of the community, we are focused on creating an environment where individuals and families are self-sufficient and can achieve financial independence.
###
Contact:
Sofia Dupi
United Way of Western Connecticut
203-297-2716
sofia.dupi@uwwesternct.org
Website & Social: www.uwwestern.org | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube