Photo Diary by John Voket, Merle Berke-Schlessel, Esq., Andrea Kovacs, Hilda Johnson, Ginny Carraro, Diana Ruemmele, Catherine Brennan
When you
see the microphone icon 
click to hear personalized testimony on volunteerism.
Right, DOC Chair, Dan Carney of Lamar, UWEFC President/CPO, Merle Berke-Schlessel, Arena at Harbor Yard Gen. Manager Lynn Carlotto, and UW 2003 Campaign Chair, Barbara Johnson of People's Bank.
The foursome kicked off the Day of Caring, Sept. 18, with a live kickoff and interview with Tim Quinn on WICC AM-600 in front of the Arena's Jumbotron. Carlotto arranged for the three-story Day of Caring message to run for the entire day.
The DOC Corporate
Action Team (CAT) from Beardsley, Brown and Bassett, LLC - including
chef and UWEFC Chairman Mark Fries (center)- served up a barbecue lunch
for clients of Goodwill Industries of Western CT
Cox Broadcasting's CAT split their volunteer resources between a renovation project at the Charles D. Smith, Jr. Foundation offices and the Grasmere Elercare Center. Above, Brian Wall and Angela Kosoluk visit with Grasmere clients. Right, Cox CAT Leader Lila Grimes slaps on the paint with fellow team members at the CDSF offices.
Above, the Cox team takes a break from painting duties at the Charles D. Smith, Jr. Foundation.
Above, Bridgeport Mayor John Fabrizi,greets Merle Berke-Schlessel, Barbara Johnson and Dan Carney at the Alpha Community Services site. The City of Bridgeport lent its Volunteer Action Team (VAT) and heavy equipment to complete a playground at Alpha's Clinton Avenue site.
Above and right, the City of Bridgeport volunteers take five while hearing from Day of Caring Chair Dan Carney.
Above, The CAT from Imagistics International spent most of their day installing insulation at a Habitat for Humanity home at Agresta Terrace in Stratford.
On
Sept. 18, General Electric held its orientation preceding an October weekend-long
build at the Agresta Terrace Habitat development. Above from left, GE's
Gus Serra meets with Barbara Johnson, Dan Carney and Mark Mastrionni of
GE.
Dan Carney and Barbara Johnson meet with United Way's new Loaned Executive from Aquarion, Senobar Safafar, and United Way's Cathy Greco.
ASPIRA represented one of the several former Day of Caring recipient agencies that decided to give something back in 2003. Above and right, VAT members from ASPIRA help perform a seasonal changeout at the Jewish Center for Community Service Thrift Shop.
Right,
the small but mighty first-time Day of Caring
team
from the Sartomer Company are too busy
to tear themselves away from their painting project at Stratford's Sterling
House Community Center.
Rhonda
Caldwell of the Rotary's Laurelwood senior housing facility stands with
DOC Chair Dan Carney, Barbara Johnson and Merle Berke-Schlessel in front
of one of the
newly-landscaped areas - courtesy of the VAT from Bridgeport Rotary.
The combined team from US Rep. Christopher Shays' office and the Somerset Capital Group repainted the gym and other common areas at the cardinal Shehan Center.
Three volunteers from the Trumbull's Jr. Women's Club collect funds for the Trumbull Food & Fuel initiative. The group had more than a dozen volunteers working concurrently at Day of Caring collection stations at the Trumbull Stop & Shop and Porricelli's Market.
Merle Berke-Schlessel admires the 2003 Day of Caring t-shirt while Dan Carney and Barbara Johnson get ready to visit with a crew from the Bridgeport Housing Authority who painted the board room at the Girl Scouts Housatonic Council headquarters.
The 2003 Day of Caring Logo was designed by Madison School 3rd Grader Laura Dias, and was unveiled at the UWEFC's recent Kickoff event at Harbor Yard. The new logo appeared on Lamar billboards throughout our six town service area, and on the 2003 Day of Caring t-shirts.
People's was also among the 2003 Day of Caring sponsors.
Left and above, the CAT from Zeldes, Needle and Cooper helped spruce up the Music and Arts Center for Humanity. Left, Legal Secretaries Lisa Tarczali and Patricia Smith scrubbing floor. Above, Attorneys Robert Frost and Alfred Jennings and Paralegal Marietta Stone cutting up old scenery for disposal.
The CAT from Day Of Caring Sponsor Southern Connecticut Gas Co. helped paint the men's and women's dorm at Operation Hope in Fairfield.
