Fairfield County Newsmakers, 12.22.2014

Sissman presents ”˜Journeys,”™ a solo exhibit

Stamford-based artist Liron Sissman presents an exhibit titled, “Journeys,” depicting the facets of life through nature, Dec. 1-31, Darien Rowayton Bank, 1001 Post Road, Darien. The exhibit is free to the public. Artwork is for sale. Viewing hours are Monday to Wednesday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon.

For more information, contact Joanne at 203-669-4100 or visit liron.com.

Quinnipiac professor granted $15,000 to examine Gangi mummies

Ronald Beckett, professor emeritus in biomedical sciences and co-director of the Bioanthrology Research Institute at Quinnipiac University, received a $15,000 grant from the National Geographic Society/Waitt Grants Program to perform the first-ever examination of 60 Gangi mummies, Jan. 1-10. An international team will join him to study the Italian mummies. Anniello Catapano, Jennifer Curry and Annamaria DiCesare, diagnostic imaging students at Quinnipiac, will also assist the research team.

Bank of America is lead sponsor of Fairfield County Giving Day

Fairfield County”™s Community Foundation announced Bank of America as the lead sponsor of the second annual Fairfield County Giving Day, March 5. Giving Day is a 24-hour period of online donations to Fairfield County nonprofits that register to participate. The Community Foundation”™s 2015 goal is $1 million.

Last year, 9,211 donors contributed more than $620,000 to 267 nonprofits. An additional $127,500 in cash prizes funded by the Community Foundation, Bank of America and other sponsors were awarded to more than 50 nonprofits, totaling $750,000 in donations.

To donate, visit fcgives.org.

Greenwich chamber announces contest winners

The Greenwich Chamber of Commerce held its annual holiday party Dec. 10 at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, where it announced the winners of its annual holiday storefront decorating contest. Some 125 members and town residents attended.

This year”™s winners, pictured from left, are Sally Lockner, Greenwich Hospital Auxiliary; Wendy Siegel, Greenwich Orchids; Kathy O”™Malley, Hoagland”™s; Caren Vizzo, Cos Cobber; and Diane Dutcher, Coldwell Banker.

BlumShapiro hosts Thanksgiving Food Basket Campaign

BlumShapiro, an accounting firm with offices in Shelton, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, held its third annual Thanksgiving Food Basket Campaign for Christian Community Action, providing more than 2,000 meals for seniors and families in New Haven. The community wide food and cash collection was supported by organizations including, News 8, iHeartRadio, Big Y, Metro Tax, Eder Brothers, Harte Motors and Creative Benefits Planning.

The program included a bagging day where more than 50 BlumShapiro volunteers packaged more than 2,000 bags of food in preparation. Pictured from left, Tom DeVitto, chief marketing officer, BlumShapiro; Rev. Bonita Grubbs, executive director, Christian Community Action; Al May, director of development, Christian Community Action; and John Zinno, office managing partner, Shelton office, BlumShapiro.

Coldwell Banker Danbury donates to Ann”™s Place

The Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office in Danbury donated $520 to Danbury-based Ann”™s Place, a nonprofit providing support services to those affected by cancer. The donation was made through the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Cares Foundation, the company”™s charitable foundation.

Westport Resources achieves top rankings

Westport-based Westport Resources, an independent investment and financial planning firm, announced that several of its proprietary investment strategies received top rankings throughout the third quarter of 2014 from investment research firms Informa Investment Solutions and Morningstar.

Informa ranked Westport Resources”™ special income strategy, managed by Joseph Tatusko, as “Top Gun Best of the Best,” while Morninstar ranked Westport Resources”™ absolute total returns strategy, managed by Shawn Blau, with the highest ranking possible.

Vaccaro elected to SIFMA board

Westport”™s Westport Resources, an investment and financial planning firm, announced that founder and CEO John Adams Vaccaro was elected to the board of directors of the Security Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) for a three-year term. Vaccaro was also appointed chairman of SIFMA”™s private client group small firms committee for the second time, representing more than 300 national financial securities firms.

WDRC Radiothon sets new fundraising mark

Hartford-based Connecticut Children”™s Medical Center and Bloomfield-based 102.9 WDRC raised $115,376 for the 2014 Connecticut Children”™s Radiothon, the highest one-day total in Radiothon history.

FM morning show personalities, Chaz and AJ, joined with AM morning host Brad David to kickoff the fundraiser from Frank Pepe Pizzeria in West Hartford. The event featured special guests, Gov. Dannel Malloy, Sen. Richard Blumenthal and dozens of patients”™ families.

Darien business coach publishes new book

Darien-based business coach Douglas Campbell III published a book titled “The 16-28 Solution. Unleash the Passions of Your Youth: Five Big Lessons to Reignite Your Career.” The novel illustrates Campbell”™s story, alongside five client stories, of revisiting passions between the ages of 16 and 28 to advance their careers. This is a follow-up to his first book titled “Where to Go From Here: Reinventing Your Career, Your Business, and Your Working Life” (2009). The book is available for $16.95 on amazon.com, Barrett”™s Book Store in Darien or at Campbell”™s speaking/coaching events.

Campbell has 20 years of experience as a business and career transition coach and is a 30-year owner, alongside his wife, Gwynne, of the Sylvan Learning Center tutoring business in Darien.

TFI Envision receives MarCom awards

Norwalk-based TFI Envision Inc. received three Platinum Awards, three Gold Awards and four Honorable Mentions from the 2014 MarCom Awards Competition. The MarCom Awards is an international competition that recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communications professionals.

2014 PGA Tour Charity of the Year named

The PGA Tour announced The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a Connecticut-based beneficiary of the Travelers Championship, was named the 2014 PGA Tour Charity of the Year.

The camp was granted $30,000 to help provide a unique healing experience for kids coping with cancer, sickle cell disease, hemophilia and other illnesses, including children unable to attend the camp.

Reach Prep appoints Lucas as CEO

The board of directors for Stamford”™s Reach Prep, an education preparatory program for talented, underserved students, appointed Gina Lucas CEO.

Prior to joining, Lucas worked for TEAK Fellowship, serving as deputy director where she managed the budget, fundraising, financial resources and staff recruitment. She holds a bachelor”™s degree with honors in history from Trinity College and a master”™s degree in public administration, concentration in nonprofit management from Seton Hall University.

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