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Gone Dishin’ for Fun, Fellowship and Community

by Gone Dishin' | Sep 30, 2007 4:11 pm

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volunteersIMG_0958.jpgNew Haven may be blessed with more energetic pro activists than any other city of its size and economy. Never is it more apparent than when the summer’s end signals that the brief hiatus from meetings and fund raisers is over; this September has been busy!

The United Way (volunteers pictured above, with Heather Calabrese, second from left) culminated its Days of Caring with a special campaign kick off event at Sage.

jimIMG_0960.jpgAlthough he is a relative newcomer, Jim Torgerson (pictured) wasted no time in getting totally immersed in the greater New Haven community and accepted the chairmanship of the 2007 fund raising campaign. With his leadership and a cadre of dedicated staff and volunteers, he expressed great optimism for the fund raising potential to support the agencies and institutions that have the most community impact. The enthusiastic crowd was well tended to by Dave McCoart and his able staff. The crowd was a great reflection of the diverse mixture of the community it serves; workplace campaign coordinators joined with CEOs from business, industry, and the non profit agencies and institutions.

delauroIMG_0952.jpgUnion League hosted a reception for the National Center for Children Exposed to Violence (NCCEV). Although that organization, housed at the Yale Child Study Center, has always depended on major support from the federal government, it became apparent to Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro(pictured) that the budget cuts to such social services would have a severe impact on their valuable contributions . She secured the collaboration of the posh eatery and convened a stellar committee to rally private sector support .

The mission of CCEV is to increase the capacity of individuals and communities to reduce the incidence and impact of violence on children and families; to train and support the professionals who provide intervention and treatment to children and families affected by violence; and, to increase professional and public awareness of the effects of violence on children, families, communities and society.
And high society turned out to learn how they could help from Dr. Steven Marans.

hauserIMG_0948.jpgBoth event chairwoman and CCEV volunteer staffer, Debra Hauser, Phd (pictured at left, with Sharon Capetta, Fund for
Women and Girls of the Community Foundation and event committee member)
and her husband, Dr. Jack Hauser addressed the “bigs”, bolstering the compelling case for the cause. It would seem that every person associated with philanthropy in New Haven filled the space. Seen dishin’ with Rosa and her special assistant, Stanley Welch , were Andy and Eileen Eder, Angel Fernandez, Mark and Janet Levy, Jack Healy, Lindy Gold, Will Ginsburg, Paul McCraven, Sharon Capetta, Helene Robbins, Nancy Alexander, Robin Teplitzky, and Bill Graustein, among many others.

Just to mix it up, but in the spirit of the importance of the quality of life in the Elm City, the dish found time to stop by for the opening reception at Gallery 195, courtesy of NewAlliance Bank.

murdochIMG_0953.jpgJan Murdoch (pictured) and Irene Miller (pictured below) accepted accolades from their flock of friends and admirers. The Small Space gallery at the Arts Council of Greater New Haven had a full house for the opening reception of cartoon art and the Educational Center for the Arts hosted their faculty and friends for the kick off of that extraordinary show. One has only to look at their faculty roster to know the quality of their work.

MillerIMG_0954.jpgAll shows are still mounted and open to the public, free of charge.

Speaking of CAW teachers, Dr. David Millen hosted an army of art lovers at his beautiful Hamden studio in a Walden-like setting. His work is incredible! He also showcased some of his very talented students, notable among them was work by attorney Laura Sklaver. The event occurs, alas, bi-annually, so readers will either have to visit on his website or have a very long wait.
Fellowship Place board members and donors were treated to a magnificent cocktail reception, on the Branford waterfront, at the home of Rita Berkson.

sledgeIMG_0981.jpgThe group was introduced to Mary Guerrera (pictured at left), the new executive director. Dr. William Sledge (pictured at right, with Rita Berkson, Fellowship Board Member), chairman of the organization’s search committee, expounded on her multiple skills and talents and the similarities of experience as she developed supportive housing in her former position in Greenwich. The evening also showcased the renovations and new buildings at the Elm Street campus in addition to the new 18 unit housing initiative on Whalley Avenue.

goldIMG_0977.jpgFounder Phyllis McDowell (pictured at right, with Lindy Lee Gold, past president, at left and Mary Guererra, Executive Director, at center) was thrilled with the news that a new building at the complex will be named in her honor. Fellowship’s mission is to help adults recovering from mental illness to lead more meaningful, fulfilling and healthy lives and provides a myriad of programs and services for them.

As a follow up on the reinvention of the New Haven Lawn Club, the Dish went to the first of a series of cabaret evenings. It must be noted (drum roll!) that these are affordable and open to the public! What was advertised as a light repast, prior to the performance, was actually an array of hand passed , delectable appetizers. A buffet, replete with a carving station and pasta bar preceded a lovely dessert presentation. The Secret Life of Opera Singers, a one woman show conceived and performed by a well accomplished and credentialed Imelda Franklin Brogue, was terrific! In one hour, it fused a classical recital with improvisational comedy and a hilarious behind-the-scenes look at the life of a singer, complete with audience participation and an Italian art song tutorial. It was sophisticated yet light-hearted entertainment of the highest quality. Debbi Bisno, of Bisno Productions , the very same woman who brings us the Moth, is responsible for the entertainment and Darin Bahl is the impresario of all special events at the club. If all of the above does not convince you to check out the upcoming calendar of the series, the clincher is that dinner is at the civilized hour of 6:30pm and the formal festivities conclude before 9P.M.-hard to beat on a “school night”!

We have received a lot of requests to talk about future receptions, shows, exhibits, fund raisers. It may come from the frustration of some readers at having missed some really good dishin’. Please comment and let us know how many of you want to plan your calendars to synchronize with mine……..All for the Greater Good!!

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