Fairfield County Good Things Happening, 7.13.2015
27 funders band to end homelessness
Secure Jobs Connecticut, an effort to end family homelessness, is taking place across the state. The Melville Charitable Trust in New Haven and more than two dozen funders are awarding $500,000 in grants, with an additional $200,000 from the Connecticut Department of Housing, to help formerly homeless families obtain and maintain employment. The trust provided a match for every philanthropic dollar local partners collected, up to $50,000 per region. The initiative is projected to help 150 families in the southwest, south central, southeast, northwest and north central regions of Connecticut.
Bankwell promotes D”™Andrea
New Canaan-based Bankwell promoted Gary D”™Andrea of Hamden to first vice president of loan operations. D”™Andrea has managed Bankwell”™s commercial and retail loan servicing department since joining the firm in 2010. His responsibilities include managing all loan servicing functions. He holds a bachelor”™s degree from Southern Connecticut State University and was an instructor at the New England College of Finance and the American Institute for Banking.
Connecticut Green Bank appoints Sherman
Rocky Hill”™s Connecticut Green Bank promoted Genevieve Sherman to director of its commercial and industrial program sector. Previously an assistant to the organization, Sherman has been serving as acting director for the commercial and industrial program sector since January of this year. As director, Sherman”™s responsibilities include overseeing the bank”™s Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy program. C-PACE helps commercial, industrial and multifamily property owners make smart energy upgrades by means of long-term clean energy financing. Sherman holds a bachelor”™s degree in urban studies from Columbia University.
High schoolers receive $5,000 scholarships
Stamford-based First County Bank”™s philanthropic arm, First County Bank Foundation, administered the Richard E. Taber Citizenship Award, a $5,000 scholarship, to three high school seniors. The annual award honors high school students living in lower Fairfield County who consistently demonstrate good citizenship at school, at home and in the community.
Fashion Project benefits Project HEAL and honors Laudadio
Kathryn Laudadio from Fairfield battled anorexia and biopolar disorder for more than a decade and recently lost her battle at 22 years old. One of her coping mechanisms was fashion, specifically shoes, because they allowed her to accessorize her body and convey her personality without drawing attention to her figure. In Laudadio”™s honor and memory, her family is donating her 300 designer pairs of shoes to charitable re-commerce platform Fashion Project to benefit Project HEAL, which funds inpatient, residential and outpatient treatment for eating disorder sufferers who want to recover but don”™t have the finances for programs. For more information, visit fashioproject.com.
Human Services Council thanks First County Bank
Stamford-based First County Bank presented a check in support of the Norwalk Mentor Program.
David Van Buskirk, assistant vice president and business development officer, First County Bank, and Wendy A. Macedo, assistant vice president and branch manager, First County Bank, presented a check for $10,000 to the Human Services Council in support of the program, which was established in partnership with the Norwalk Public Schools, matching students in grades K-12 with positive adult role models.
Stamford Hospital earns award
For the second consecutive year, Stamford Hospital”™s Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center has earned the Center of Distinction award from Healogies Inc., a national provider of advanced wound care services. To earn this distinction, the center achieved outstanding clinical outcomes for 12 consecutive months, including patient satisfaction higher than 92 percent.
First County Bank announces relocation
Stamford-based First County Bank relocated its executive offices to 3001 Stamford Square, Stamford. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was May 20. Helping cut the ribbon were Darrel Harvey, co-CEO, The Ashforth Company; Stamford Mayor David Martin; Reyno A. Giallongo Jr., chairman and CEO, First County Bank; Robert J. Granata, president and chief operating officer, First County Bank; and Peter C. Rugen, senior vice president and chief administrative officer, First County Bank. Departments at this location include executive administration, business banking and First County Advisors, its wealth management division.
The Links honors Cooper
Valerie A. Cooper, founder of Stamford-based Picture That LLC, an art-consulting firm, was recognized for her corporate achievements and community endeavors in the arts during The Links Inc.”™s Eastern Area Conference Civic Luncheon. Cooper was recognized with fellow honorees Elsie Cofield, Noel Hord, Dollie McLean, James Michel and Maurice Mosley at Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Ledyard.
Cartus honored by United Way
Danbury-based Cartus Corp., a corporate relocation management company, received the “Imagination Award” from United Way at its “Day of Action” kickoff breakfast, June 3. Accepting on behalf of the company Terry Duonola of the Cartus United Way Volunteer Committee, along with Cartus colleagues Jennifer Cafarelli, Laura Heinlein, Theresa Keeler and Gail Ward, all of whom participated in the Day of Caring activities in the greater Danbury community.
First Niagara Foundation donates to child center
The Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut, a nonprofit mental health outpatient center for children and adolescents with locations in Stamford, Greenwich, Darien and New Canaan, received $1,000 from the First Niagara Foundation to support mental health treatment for youth struggling with school. The center works with schools to promote early identification and prevent the consequences of untreated mental health problems.
Information for these features has been submitted by the subjects or their delegates.