Volunteer Action Center

A Division of Valley United Way

(203) 926-9478

Valley United Way's Volunteer Action Center honored a group of Valley "Volunteers of the Year" for the seventh straight year at an awards reception held on April 20 at the Seymour Public Library. Please click on the links to see pictures and some brief comments made by Volunteer Action Center Director, Pat Tarasovic. You can click on any of the images to see a larger photo.

Young Adult (14-18 years):

Edward Williams III

Ed is a Senior at Shelton High School. He has been a member and officer of Valley United Way’s Youth Leadership Program. Ed, who is very involved in many extra curricular activities at his school, has been involved and commited to community service and has served as an outstanding model to members of the Youth Leadership Program. He plans to attend Marist College in the fall and future plans are to become an advisor to the Youth Leadership Program.

Adult Volunteer (19-49 years)

Al and Diane Rochelle

On August 26, 1998 was a very dim day for Gary and Diane Bruce, their new home was destroyed to ashes as a result of 2 lightening strikes very early that morning. They were devastated beyond belief as they watched in horror many years of personal time and hard work taken away in a flash. Within the blink of an eye, as Diane says, Fire Chief Al Rochelle and family were there with total dedication and care to the Bruce family. As they launched the idea of rebuilding the Bruce’s home, plans were started within one week. Their unconditional support gave the Bruce’s New Hope for their future. The encouragement the Rochelle’s gave to the Bruce Family gave guidance to them overcoming their tragedy.

The Rochelle’s organized a group of at least 200 community volunteers out of which many of them were fellow firefighters. Along with volunteers, working schedules and jobs were all strategically planned, once again by Al and Diane Rochelle. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were also provided, all by volunteers. Workers were bused in alternate shifts back and forth to the Great Hill Firehouse which provided a place for them to eat. Diane strategically planned all meals coordinating neighbors, fireman’s wives, family members along with many small organizations for approximately 10-15 consecutive weekends. Diane Bruce said, "It certainly wasn’t unusual to see Diane on the jobsite at 7:00 AM every Saturday and Sunday mornings with hot coffee for workers, and still be there at 8:00 PM at night ready to handle any situation.

Al and Diane Rochelle, as well as their family, have sacrificed many days and nights and weekends of their personal life to see the house rebuilding project through. During the month of November they held a successful benefit fund raising at the Riverside Fire Dept for the Bruce Family.

Adult (19-49)

Beverly Kestler

Beverly is a member of Huntington United Methodist Church and is a liaison (volunteer) for Covenant to Care. The Huntington United Methodist Church agreed to sign a covenant with Covenant to Care to adopt a social worker so that the member of the congregation could provide items to children. Beverly has participated in this Adopt-a-Social worker program for several years. Her social worker is Sherri Harris, from the New Haven Department of Children and Families (DCF).

Beverly coordinates the entire program for the congregation with the cooperation of her social worker. When specific requests are made by the social worker to get items for needy children, Beverly makes sure the congregation is informed and then coordinates the delivery/pick-up of the items. The task of reaching children of the valley who are experiencing extreme poverty in the Valley area is very important to Beverly.

Meral Prewitt from Covenant to Care cannot say enough about Beverly and her giving spirit as one of the most active volunteers she has in the Valley region. She says she is a perfect example of a volunteer who can light the way.

Corporate Group:

Tele-Media Cable Co. Of Western CT

Tele-Media Cable Co. of Western Ct is being recognized here today for their on-going commitment and dedication to the needy families in the community they service. Over the past 6 years the corporation has given financial donations to local food programs to help feed the needy during the holiday seasons as well as donating over 1,000 toys to the Valley Toys for Tots campaign through their Sharing is Caring Holiday Food & Toy Campaign. Tele-Media representative placed drop off boxes in the local libraries and banks. As they collected the items, they distributed the food to the local food banks and the toys to TEAM, Inc. Their commitment to assist those less fortunate within their community has been a true example of a corporation who cares about the community where they do business.

Youth Group: (s) tie

Emmett O’Brien Regional Vocational Technical School Honor Society

Emmett O’Brien’s Honor Society went beyond excellence in their dedication and commitment to the Valley Toys for Tots Program. For the past several years they have made Christmas special for needy Valley Children by collecting toys and money donations for the program. This annual event brings in 150 to 200 toys a year. Not only do they contribute their time annually to the Toys for Tots program, they also made Easter baskets and donated them to a local church as well as delivered toys made from Emmett O’Brien’s carpentry shop to students at Ripton School in Shelton. Their ambition and willingness to assist others has been as asset to TEAM’s program.

The Spanish and Key Club of Derby High School

For eight years the Key Club and Spanish Club of Derby High School has organized annual toys drives for the Valley Toys for Tots program. With the cooperation of students and faculty more than 400 toys were donated last year as well as over $400 donated. This type of enthusiasm is displayed year after year. They sponsor a Senior vs Teacher volleyball game during their seventh period the day before exams and encourage their peers to participate by paying .50 each by donating a toy in the classroom. Besides donating toys, students volunteer their time. The students volunteer to set up, sort, pack and distribute the toys at TEAM. The students of the Key and Spanish Club are a valuable asset to the success of the Valley Toys for Tots Toy Drive.

Adult Group:

Citizens Engine Co #2

Deforest Street

Seymour, CT

Great Hill Fire Department

Botsford Road

Seymour,CT

Seymour Dive & Rescue

Emergency Management

Senior Adult Volunteer:

Teo Manfredi

Teo Manfredi is receiving the Volunteer of the Year award for his many hours donated to the Valley Toys for Tots Program. For over the past 12 years Teo, has lavishly decorated his home and yard for the holidays. For the many people who visit his home he askes that t hey donate a new unrapped gift in a barrel outside of his home marked "Toys for Tots." His home is illuminated with over 30,000 lights, which he pays for himself. He hand crafts each decoration and invites donors to leave their names and telephone with their donation, because at the end of the season her raffles off to a donor one of the lighted reindeer. Teo collects over 500 toys and donated over $500 to the toy drive. Teo’s enthusiasm and willingness to help those less fortunate is a most valuable asset to TEAM’s Toys for Tots program.

Community Hero Award:

Robert Fitzgerald

Robert Fitzgerald is the Valley’s Community Hero. It was Bob’s insight and self-less dedication in coordinating the massive volunteer effort in bringing the "Wall that Heals", a half scaled replica of the original Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC to Oxford, in Sept 1998. Bob took an idea and brought it to a realization. He was the driving inspiration for committee members who worked relentlessly from July 1997. When the town was approved as a site for this special memorial until it was time to return the site back to it’s original state after the wall was removed on Monday Sept 14, 1998.

Between 10 and 20 thousand people visited the traveling wall and museum. The site was staffed by hundreds of volunteers during the 80hr event. It was an overwhelmingly successful project and many people thank Robert Fitzgerald.

Corporate Leadership " Excellence In COMMUNITY AWARD":

Pitney Bowes Credit Corporation - Shelton,CT

Matt Kissner, CEO of PBCC said "The role of business in the communities we serve is demanding. Our customers, both internal and external have high expectations and depend on us to lead responsibly." He continued. The approach we have at Pitney Bowes Credit Corp is relationship with its community marked by the highest levels of trust, ethical behavior, communication and responsiveness to its needs."

Practically everyday of the week, PBCC employee volunteers are making a difference in the community they serve. Volunteerism is a unique and mutually rewarding way to strengthen the valley Community and offer exciting opportunities to their employees.

Just a few months ago, Governor John Rowland personally presented PBCC a proclamation citing the Corp and its employees for greatly enriching the State Of CT. The Gov stated "Volunteerism allows individuals and Corporations to give back to the community that have helped them grow and prosper".

We know that all PBCC volunteers celebrate volunteerism. We know that PBCC has a proud history of volunteerism. They have sponsored more than 35 community events and programs over the past two years. Just to spotlight a few projects:

• Special Olympics CT State Bowling Tournament
• Know How to Know How Program
• Diversity Reading Program
• CVC Week of Caring project
• CVC Back to School Project
• American Heart Walk
• Mentoring Program at Sunnyside School
• March of Dimes Walk
• American Cancer Society Daffodil Days
• Food Drives for the Valley Food Bank
• Clothes Drives for My Sister’s Place
• Lupus Walk

For more information on volunteer opportunities, please contact the Volunteer Action Center at 926-9478. The Center can also be reached by E-Mail by clicking here. 

A Division of Valley United Way

Revised: July 28, 2009.
Copyright © 2000 by Valley United Way.
All trademarks or product names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.