Fairfield County Good Things Happening, 5.18.2015

IXP Corp. launches emergency services

Princeton, N.J.-based IXP Corp., a national public safety and emergency response provider, launched the Western Connecticut 911 Communications Center. Instead of routing calls into both police and fire departments, the streamlined 911 center directs all calls to the new police dispatch center. The centralization is expected to free four Danbury police officers and seven firefighters per shift and result in budgetary savings for the city of Danbury.

FCA Home Care recognizes Older Americans Month

Family & Children”™s Agency, a nonprofit human services organization, is honoring the 50th anniversary of Older Americans Month, nationally recognized during the month of May. This year”™s theme, “Getting into the Act,” focuses on how older Americans are taking charge of their health, getting engaged in their communities and making a positive impact in the lives of others. FCA Home Care for Seniors offers services providing aging adults with peace of mind, security and dignity.

Ability Beyond gala raises $725,000

Bethel-based Ability Beyond, an organization that provides services for more than 2,500 people with disabilities, held its annual fundraising gala April 25 at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury, raising more than $725,000 with donations still coming in. More than 500 people attended the event, which honored Ginny Young of Bridgeport with the Robert S. Young Humanitarian Award for her commitment to the organization and community.

Greenwich Hospital hosts cancer survivorship event

Greenwich Hospital hosted “Surviving Cancer,” a tribute to cancer survivors from throughout the community, May 11. The celebration was an opportunity for survivors, friends and families to reconnect with volunteers and oncology staff and learn about cancer care resources. During the event, Barbara Ward, medical director of the breast center, presented the 2015 Greenwich Hospital Breast Center Award to Frank Corvino, former president and CEO of Greenwich Hospital, for his efforts to establish the breast center.

Withers Bergman welcomes five

Withers Bergman LLP, a law firm, welcomed five new partners to its Greenwich office. M. Ridgway Barker, Patricia M. Lee and Clyde Tinnen joined the firm”™s corporate practice group, while James E. Nealon and Steven J. Moore join the firm”™s litigation and intellectual property groups.

The attorneys and their focus areas include: Barker with corporate, finance and security matters; Lee with project finance, telecommunications finance and corporate finance transactions; Tinnen in debt and equity financing transactions; Moore with intellectual property enforcement and defense; and Nealon with civil litigation with a focus on commercial, real estate, employment and intellectual property litigation cases.

First Niagara names director of private banking

First Niagara Financial Group Inc. appointed Peter Keller as senior vice president and director, private banking, based in Norwalk. Keller”™s responsibilities include leading private banking for the private client services division throughout the regional bank”™s four-state footprint.

Keller joined First Niagara in 2011 as senior vice president and private banking head, First Niagara Client Services.

New chairman for Norwalk Hospital

Norwalk Hospital appointed Edward Mahony of Fairfield as the new chairman of its board of directors. He is replacing Diane Allison, who completed her term as chairwoman. Mahony joined the Norwalk Hospital board in 2011 and has since served on several committees, including finance, audit and corporate compliance and quality. He currently serves as vice president and chief financial officer of Purdue Pharma, where he oversees the fiscal, procurement and information technology matters.

Connecticut Children”™s Medical Center”™s Gavin retires

Hartford-based Connecticut Children”™s Medical Center announced that Martin J. Gavin, its president and CEO, is planning to retire. Gavin, 65, continues to lead the hospital until a successor is chosen and in place.

During Gavin”™s nine-year tenure, the hospital saw significant growth, including the ability to provide care for 325,000 children, a 60 percent increase relative to the time before he arrived. The number of employees at the hospital has also increased by more than 600 under Gavin.

American Cancer Society seeks Relay for Life teams

The American Cancer Society is recruiting teams from businesses, schools, families, friends and places of worship to participate in the 18th annual Relay for Life of Fairfield, 3 p.m., Sat., June 6, Farfield Ludlowe High School. Relay for Life is a community-based event that unites teams from Fairfield, Easton, Bridgeport and Norwalk by committing to finish the fight against cancer and raise funds to support the American Cancer Society”™s mission.

To register, visit relayforlife.org/fairfieldct or call 800-227-2345.

Information for these features has been submitted by the subjects or their delegates.