Fairfield County Newsmakers, 12.29.2014
Four Seasons Ball raises $119,000
Some 300 guests raised more than $119,000 for The Kennedy Center, a nonprofit for people with disabilities, at the 50th annual Four Seasons Ball at Rolling Hills Country Club in Wilton.
The event honored philanthropist Dorothy Bannow Larson of Easton, one of the ball”™s founders. Event chairpersons were Robert and Barbara Scinto of Fairfield and chairwoman of the Tribute Journal was Denise Larson Fenton of Easton. The event sponsor was United Bank with additional sponsors including: GE Capital at the rhodium level; Denis Larson Fenton, People”™s United Bank, and R.D. Scinto Inc. at the platinum level; William and Gloria Paul Family Foundation of Trumbull, Anne and Peter Foley of Fairfield, Carla and Peter Gavey of Fairfield and Winter Bros. Waste System of Connecticut at the sapphire level; and Fairfield University and Renee and Ron Noren of Easton at the emerald level. Nine sponsors contributed at the ruby level, including Bigelow Tea, BlumShapiro, The Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation, Linda and Ken Halaby of Trumbull, The Kennedy Family, LLBH Private Wealth Management LLC, Merit Insurance, Newton Savings Bank and Pullman & Comley LLC.
Robinson+Cole honors Martin
Robinson+Cole, a law firm with offices in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts and Florida, presented George Martin of the New York Giants with its inaugural Giving Cup Award on Dec. 8 at The Avon Theatre in Stamford. The firm honored Martin for his work in supporting 9/11 first responders and their medical needs, presenting a $2,500 check to support his nonprofit, Journey for 9/11.
Rader joins LogicSource
Norwalk-based LogicSource appointed Andrew Rader as vice president of client solutions. Prior to joining, Rader served as vice president of the enterprise improvement practice for AlixPartners.
Novo Nordisk gives $1M for Ebola fight
Novo Nordisk, an international pharmaceutical company, donated $1 million to support Stamford-based AmeriCares”™ response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. AmeriCares is seeking to expand treatment capacity, reduce transmission, restore access to health services and improve safety practices in health care facilities.
Quinnipiac receives $10,000 grant
Quinnipiac University”™s School of Nursing and its game design and development program received a $10,000 grant from the Robert Johnson Foundation as part of the New Careers in Nursing Scholarship program. The grant, awarded to four teams nationally, is contributing toward an educational game created by students from Quinnipiac University and Southern Connecticut State University.
Art meets science
New York-based artist Steve Gerberich is presenting a large-scale, moving sculpture exhibit through March 1 at Discovery Museum and Planetarium, 4450 Park Ave., Bridgeport. From the animal factory of “The Painting Machine,” where plastic giraffes get their spots, to a 100-year-old line shaft connecting machines in “The Bowling Pin Factory,” the kinetic pieces move using basic motors, pulleys and levels.
”˜Style Me Successful”™ event set
Bridgeport-based nonprofit Empowering Through Beauty Inc. hosts its second annual community outreach event, “Style Me Successful,” from 2 to 7 p.m., Jan. 11, at the Norma F. Pfrieum Urban Outreach Initiative Inc., 877 Park Ave., Bridgeport. Attendees can access job-training resources, courtesy of the Bridgeport-based Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, and help for seniors seeking medical record assistance, courtesy of WellCare Heath Plans Inc. The nonprofit is providing haircuts, makeovers and beauty products.
Webster Bank announces new regional presidents
Waterbury-based Webster Bank announced it appointed Timothy Bergstrom and Michael O”™Connor as regional presidents in Connecticut for the Greater Hartford region and Greater Waterbury region, respectively.
Bergstrom has more than 25 years of retail and business banking experience, currently serving as senior vice president, responsible for Business Banking”™s Connecticut activities. He is on the board of directors for the Waterbury Regional Chamber, the Waterbury Housing Fund, the United Way of Greater Waterbury, The Palace Theatre, the Community Economic Development Fund and the Community Investment Corp.
O”™Connor has more than 20 years of construction and real estate experience, currently serving as senior vice president and director of Corporate Real Estate. He is a retired U.S. Army officer, having served in the National Guard, Reserves and Active Army. He is on the board of directors for the Palace Theatre and is a member of the Greater Waterbury United Way.
Initiative winners chosen
Fairfield County Community Foundation (FCCF) announced the winning ideas for its “What Works Community Challenge,” a crowdsourcing initiative, Dec. 15 at an award luncheon in Southport. The challenge identified strategies for helping Fairfield County”™s youths achieve independence by age 25.
The challenge winner was Alison Riith of Darien with her submission “Tiny Homes.” Finalists included Chrissy Cacace of Norwalk with “Positive Youth Development” and Carol O”™Connell of Ridgefield with “Communal Living,” and Quentin Ball of Greenwich won “most votes” with “High School and College Completion Network: 8th Through Life.”
Law firm rocks out for charity
Edwards Wildman, an international law firm with offices in Stamford and Hartford, participated in a battle-of-the-bands event with its rock band, Doc McCool and the Fools on Dec. 11 at Gramercy Theatre in New York City. The band included Gabe McCool, Dan Fiorello and Scott Wofsy of the Stamford office and Joy Whitney of the Hartford office, with Brian Lothson and Ted Bednarczck. The band raised more than $72,000 for veterans, lawyers and staff at the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center in New Haven.
Senior issues on legislative menu
The Southwest Connecticut Agency on Aging in partnership with Senior Services of Stamford, a nonprofit offering support services to seniors in the Greater Stamford area, hosted a legislative breakfast, Dec. 17, Post House. Some 40 attendees discussed issues including senior care, aging, medical transportation, affordable housing, mental health services and the growing baby boomer population.
Information for these features has been submitted by the subjects or their delegates.