In just about a week, on Tuesday, Jan. 29, we will gather at the Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station in Haddam to honor volunteers and community leaders and celebrate the year at our Annual Meeting.
We are proud to recognize Wilfredo Nieves, former president of Middlesex Community College and current president of Capitol Community College, with Middlesex United Way’s highest and most prestigious volunteer honor, the Community Service Award.
Nieves’ Middlesex United Way service goes back to 2002, when he served on the Campaign Cabinet and the Nominating Committee and chaired Loaned Executive recruitment. He served as campaign chair in 2003-2004, and he has served on and chaired numerous committees, including the Community Impact Council from 2007 to 2010. He currently serves on the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, and the Community Impact Council.
Joan Youngs, of East Hampton will receive the Community Leadership Award, recognizing her leadership in strengthening communities.
Youngs has volunteered with numerous organizations in her life, including Middlesex United Way. She volunteers in the office and has served on various committees, most recently the Affordable Housing Impact Team. In her hometown of East Hampton, Youngs helped establish a food and fuel bank and continues to volunteer and serve on the board.
Even Start Family Literacy, a program of Middletown Adult Education, in Middletown, will receive the Community Impact Award in recognition of the organization’s outstanding commitment to improving lives and community conditions.
Even Start is committed to giving families access to the training and support they need to create a literate home environment and enhance the academic achievement of both parents and their children. Even Start works to break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy by improving educational opportunities for families most in need. In the last 12 years, Middletown Even Start has worked with more than 300 families in Middlesex County.
In addition, Welles and Lillian Guilmartin, of Middletown, have been selected for the Tocqueville Society Philanthropy Award, for their significant role in inspiring philanthropy. They will be recognized formally at our Campaign Awards Breakfast May 1.
Outgoing Board President Gary Simonsen, of Madison, president of PrimePay LLC, will be honored after a two-year term in this leadership role. Clifford O. Straub, of Glastonbury, president of Lifestyle Financial Strategies LLC in Middletown, has been nominated to succeed Simonsen.
Breakfast will be served at 8 a.m. and the program will begin at 8:30 a.m. Tickets are $20. Please RSVP at www.middlesexunitedway.org/annualmeeting or by calling 860-346-8695.
We hope to see you there!
LIVE UNITED!
