Fairfield County Newsmakers, 12.1.2014

Sacred Heart choral Christmas extravaganza

Bridgeport”™s Sacred Heart University student choir will present “A Choral Christmas Extravaganza,” a mix of holiday and Christmas favorites, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts, Sacred Heart University, 5151 Park Ave., Fairfield. For tickets, visit edgertoncenter.org or call 203-371-7908.

Bankers and lawyers host ”˜Celebrating Diversity”™

Bridgeport-based People”™s United Bank and Pullman & Comley LLC recently hosted “Celebrating Diversity” at People”™s United Bank corporate headquarters. The event, which attracted some 200 attendees, highlighted the work of women- and minority-owned businesses. The Bridgeport Regional Business Council, the City of Bridgeport”™s small and minority business resource office, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Bridgeport and the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council were supporting partners.

At the event, the hosts donated a check to FSW Inc., an organization assisting aspiring entrepreneurs.

AMG appoints Finnegan as CMO

AMG Funds in Norwalk, the retail distribution arm of Affiliated Managers Group, appointed William H. Finnegan as chief marketing officer.

Prior to joining, Finnegan worked for MFS Investment Management for 17 years, most recently serving as senior managing director, responsible for its marketing strategy, content marketing and client engagement.

Greenwich Chamber of Commerce inducts new member

The Greenwich Chamber of Commerce held its annual members-only meeting to induct a new member to its board of directors, Nov. 6, Greenwich Water Club. Rae Rosen, vice president of Communications and Outreach Group, was the guest speaker. Jim Hohorst was nominated as the chamber”™s new board chairman and outgoing chairman was Scott Weiner, who contributed to the chamber for eight years.

First County Bank grants $20,000 to Westport nonprofits

Stamford”™s First County Bank Foundation awarded four Westport-based nonprofits a total of $20,000 in grants to support their initiatives. The donations granted were $10,000 to Homes for Hope for its emergency shelter for homeless, single mothers and their children; $5,000 to Positive Directions for its adolescent behavioral health treatment program; $2,500 to Project Return”™s HEAL Program, which provides a nurturing environment to adolescent girls and young women in crisis; and $2,500 to United Way of Westport.

TD Bank promotes Rallo

TD Bank promoted Christopher L. Rallo to senior relationship manager in commercial banking, based in the Wilton office. Rallo”™s responsibilities include managing a commercial lending portfolio, commercial real estate and asset-based lending clients across Fairfield and New Haven counties. He has 34 years of experience in banking and lending, first joining TD Bank in 2003 and most recently serving as relationship manager.

High school student”™s project helps homeless

Sydney Allen, high school senior at Newtown High School, is taking on a senior project to help homeless children in New Haven. For her project, Allen will renovate one of the rooms designated for the Life Haven shelter in the Services, Education and Activities Reaching Children who are Homeless program. The renovation includes cabinet installations, a bookshelf, an art table, tables and desks, a study area, flooring and freshly painted walls. She plans to complete the project by December.

Neal-Boylan receives Diamond Jubilee award

The Connecticut Nurses”™ Association recently honored Leslie Neal-Boylan of Hamden, associate dean and professor for the Quinnipiac University School of Nursing, at its 2014 Diamond Jubilee and CNA awards program. She received the Virginia A. Henderson award for her contributions to nursing research. The Diamond Jubilee awards represent the highest honor in the state”™s nursing profession.

Coastal Orthopaedics opens emergency care center

Coastal Orthopaedics, with offices in Darien, Westport and New Canaan, will open an emergency care facility in December, 761 Main Ave., Norwalk. The new center, Coastal Ortho Express, will cater to orthopedic injuries and pain, such as breaks, sprains and dislocations.

For more information, call 203-845-2070 or visit coastalorthopaedics.com.

Lockwood-Mathews holiday open house

Norwalk”™s Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is partnering with The Talent Education Suzuki School, the Matthew Surapine Studio and North Pole”™s Santa Claus for a holiday open house, 12-4 p.m., Dec. 14, 295 West Ave., Norwalk. The two exhibits, “A Magnificent Victorian Holiday at the Mansion” and “Hidden Treasures: Artifacts from the LMMM Collections” will be on view and visitors can walk throughout the first floor of the mansion. Refreshments are courtesy of Stew Leonard”™s. Children are encouraged to bring a stuffed animal or doll for the “Doll & Teddy Bear Victorian Tea.”

RSVP by Dec. 7. Seating is limited. For tickets, email info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com or call 203-838-9799.

Crawford appointed as Rotary Club president

Henry Michael “Mike” Crawford, first vice president of Stamford-based First County Bank, was appointed president of the Rotary Club in Stamford. Crawford serves on the board of the Stamford Rotary and has previous held the positions of secretary and vice president.

Crawford has more than 30 years of experience in bank operations and currently manages the retail operations, loan servicing and bank secrecy act anti-money laundering departments at First County Bank.

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