United Way of Eastern Fairfield County

UNITED WAY HONORING THE REGION'S MOST VALUED VOLUNTEERS MARCH 16
FORMER NY JETS STAR BRUCE HARPER
LENDING HIS SUPPORT

BRIDGEPORT, CT - (March 9, 2004) United Way of Eastern Fairfield County is sending in its 'special team' - almost three-dozen of the region's most cherished volunteers who will be honored at the 2004 Celebration of Community Builders, March 16 at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard. Even the National Football League's New York Jets are getting involved, lending one of its esteemed special team record holders, Bruce Harper to help kick off the festivities.

The Annual Celebration of Community Builders is an opportunity for area residents, public service agency personnel and business leaders to meet and say thanks to volunteers representing about 30 regional agencies. The public is invited to the event - which begins at 5:30pm - and admission is free when accompanied by a donation in any amount to a local charity of choice.

United Way also utilizes the gathering to ratify its slate of officers, to honor key 2003 Campaign partners and volunteers, and present its own volunteer of the year with the prestigious Norman Leeds Award. This year's Leeds award is going to Daniel S. Carney of Lamar Outdoor Advertising, Chair of the 2003 United Way Day of Caring and the organization's Marketing & Communications Committee.

United Way tapped its national promotional partner, the NFL, to provide a volunteer from its ranks to be a special guest and speaker at the event. New York Jets former running back and kick returner Bruce Harper answered the call, and is expected to speak about how volunteerism helps young people develop into socially-conscious contributors in their communities.

Harpers achievements include leading the special teams for the Jets All-Four Decades Team, holding the Jets all-time records for punt returns and yardage, as well as kickoff returns and yardage. He is second in Jets' history in yardage gained, and has four of the top five seasons in kickoff return yardage in Jets' history.
The event will also be an opportunity to bring the community up to date on two of United Way's most ambitious and far-reaching initiatives, its Community COMPASS project and its local Success By 6 program.

Anyone interested in attending the Celebration of Community Builders can download a reservation form from United Way's website: www.thewaytocare.org, or make reservations by calling 203-334-5106 ext. 324. All reservations received (along with a donation) by March 9 will have their tickets sent in advance. Reservations received (with or without donations) after March 10 will be held at the Arena for distribution the night of the event.
For further information, please contact: Andrea Kovacs, Sr. VP, Marketing and Community Relations at United Way, 334-5106, ext. 309 or via email (preferred) at akovacs@thewaytocare.org, or John Voket, Marketing and Community Relations Spec. at 203-334-5106 ext 307.

A roster of Community Builders by last name, and new United Way board nominees follows:

Regina Burkhart - Home Town: Shelton
(Hometown Publications) Nominated by: American Red Cross of Southeastern Fairfield County

Thomas R. Casey - Home Town: Shelton
(Sikorsky Aircraft) Nominated by: St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation/Swim Across the Sound

Dr. Octavio Gregorgia Choy - Home Town: Fairfield
(Advanced Radiology Consultants) Nominated by: Project Blueprint

Lisa Coppotelli - Home Town: Westport
(Richard's of Greenwich) Nominated by: State of Connecticut Department of Social Services Western Region

Helene Cote - Home Town: Bridgeport
(Mitchell's of Westport) Nominated by: State of Connecticut Department of Social Services Western Region

Theresa D'Aquila - Home Town: Trumbull
(Trumbull High School) Nominated by: Girl Scouts of Housatonic Council, Inc.

Christine Donahue Brown - Home Town: Trumbull
(Palmesi, Kaufman, Goldstein, and Petrucelli,PC) Nominated by: The Kennedy Center, Inc.

Leete Doty - Home Town: Redding
(Retired, Sikorsky Aircraft) Nominated by: The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport

Louis Fernous, Jr. - Home Town: Fairfield
(Retired, Fortune Brands) Nominated by: Catholic Charities of Fairfield County/Catholic Family Services

George Ferrera - Home Town: Trumbull
(Retired, Perkin Elmer) Nominated by: School Volunteer Association of Bridgeport, Inc.

Robert Graether - Bridgeport
(Graether & Oross Electric) Nominated by: The Salvation Army of Greater Bridgeport

Maggie Gray - Home Town: Southport
(Greens Farms Academy) Nominated by: Burroughs Community Center

Kurt Hilzinger - Home Town: Trumbull
(Retired, Sikorsky Aircraft) Nominated by: Wakeman Boys and Girls Club

Susan C. Hitchcock - Home Town: Bethany
(Sikorsky Aircraft) Nominated by: Regional Youth/Adult Substance Abuse Project - RYASAP

Harold Levine - Home Town: Westport
(Retired, Levine, Huntley, Schmidt, and Beaver Advertising) Nominated by: Music and Arts Center for Humanity

Anne H. Lindquist - Home Town: Easton
(Retired) Nominated by: Alpha Community Services

Joan 'Rusty' Litt - Home Town: Bridgeport
(Retired) Nominated by: Jewish Family Service

Jennifer Maloney - Home Town: Fairfield
(Control-O-Fax) Nominated by: Mercy Learning Center

Hank & Barbara Mandel - Home Town: Stratford
(People's Bank) Nominated by: Child Guidance Center of Greater Bridgeport

Robert Mantilia - Home Town: New Canaan
(JP Morgan Chase Bank) Nominated by: Cardinal Shehan Center

Allen J. Marx - Home Town: Fairfield
(Retired, New York Mercantile Exchange) Nominated by: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Bridgeport

Maximino Medina, Jr., Esq. - Home Town: Bridgeport
(Zeldes, Needle and Cooper Law Firm) Nominated by: FSW, Inc.

John Mele - Home Town: New Haven
(United States Postal Service) Nominated by: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Connecticut

Karen Mercer - Home Town: Trumbull
(JP Morgan Chase Bank) Nominated by: United Visiting Nurse Assoc.

Lois Minto - Home Town: Stratford
(Jewish Home of the Elderly of Fairfield County) Nominated by: Sterling House Community Center

Val Rossi - Home Town: Westport
(Retired, IBM) Nominated by: Charles D. Smith Jr. Foundation

George P. Ruderman - Home Town: Fairfield
(Retired, GE) Nominated by: Bridge House, Inc.

Richard Slavin, Esq. - Home Town: Fairfield
(Cohen and Wolf, PC) Nominated by: Jewish Center for Community Services

Vincent Tichy - Home Town: Pelham, NY
(Retired, IBM) Nominated by: Bridgeport Area Youth Ministry, Inc.

Judy Urquhart - Home Town: Southport - Nominated by:
The Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield County, Inc.