At The Carver’s 2026 Child of America Gala at Shorehaven Golf Club, Carver CEO Novelette Peterkin stands (L-R) with Child of America honoree DeAndre Parks and his wife, Latrice, alongside Dr. Susan G. Weinberger and Dr. Norman J. Weinberger, the inaugural recipients of the newly established George and Carol Bauer Humanitarian Leadership Award.
Carver’s annual Child of America Gala, held on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Shorehaven Golf Club in Norwalk, brought together friends, donors, educators, civic leaders, volunteers, and students for an unforgettable evening celebrating Carver’s mission and the bright futures of Norwalk’s children.
See all the gala photos in three Facebook albums!
Barbara C. Smyth, Mayor of the City of Norwalk, graciously took the time to join Carver’s 2026 Child of America Gala, showing her continued interest in and support for the students, families, and communities Carver serves throughout Norwalk.
Nearly $550,000 was given to support Carver’s K–12 after-school, summer, college readiness, workforce development, and enrichment programs.
This year’s theme, “A World of Possibilities,” came to life through inspiring videos and powerful reflections on Carver’s role in helping young people dream boldly, build confidence, and prepare for the future.
A highlight of the evening was the introduction of the George and Carol Bauer Humanitarian Leadership Award, established to honor individuals whose lives reflect transformative philanthropy, ethical leadership, and deep commitment to community well-being. The award celebrates the Bauers’ extraordinary legacy of generosity, humility, and service.
Dr. Damon Lewis, Principal of Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy and recently named National Middle School Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, attends The Carver’s 2026 Child of America Gala with his wife, Keisha Lewis.
Jasmine Prezzie introduced Carol and George Bauer. The inaugural award named in their honor was presented to Dr. Susan G. Weinberger and Dr. Norman J. Weinberger, longtime Carver volunteers, donors, and advocates whose lives of service reflect the very spirit of this new honor. Dr. Susan Weinberger, known nationally and internationally as “Dr. Mentor,” has transformed youth mentoring across the country, while Dr. Norman Weinberger has devoted more than five decades to compassionate medical care for vulnerable communities.
The evening also honored DeAndre Parks with Carver’s prestigious Child of America Award. A former Carver Board member, key architect of the Child of America Gala established in 2002, and longtime supporter of Carver scholarships, DeAndre has championed leadership, justice, opportunity, academic excellence, and access to higher education for our youth.
We are especially grateful to our Gala Chair, Jillian Kaminski (left), standing with Carver Board President Emeritus Charles Burns and his wife, Elizabeth, and Carver CEO Novelette Peterkin.
We thank the entire Gala Committee for their extraordinary leadership, creativity, and tireless commitment in bringing this unforgettable evening to life. Their vision, energy, and countless hours of behind-the-scenes work helped create a celebration that reflected the spirit of The Carver and inspired our community to invest in a world of possibilities for children and families.
Guests heard from Carver leaders and partners, including CEO Novelette Peterkin, auctioneer Robbie Gordy, Dr. Ruby Shaw Elementary School Principal Randall Austin, and Dr. Damon Lewis, Principal of Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy and the 2025–26 National Middle School Principal of the Year.
The live auction featured extraordinary experiences, including a Saturday Night Live dress rehearsal, a New York Giants VIP experience, a private chef’s tasting, a Metropolitan Opera private box, and a seven-night Tuscan villa stay. The paddle raise that followed invited guests to invest directly in Carver students at giving levels from $100 to $50,000.
Carver is deeply grateful to every sponsor, donor, volunteer, student, speaker, honoree, and friend who made the evening possible. Together, they helped create a world of possibilities for the young people Carver serves every day.
George and Carol Bauer, longtime champions of educational opportunity and community impact, are pictured at Carver’s Child of America Gala, where the newly established George and Carol Bauer Humanitarian Leadership Award was introduced in recognition of their extraordinary generosity, vision, and enduring commitment to creating a world of possibilities for children and families.
As the evening ended and guests lingered over dessert and conversation, the deeper meaning of the night became unmistakably clear: Carver is far more than its programs. Every day, across classrooms, cafeterias, gyms, science labs, robotics competitions, paid internships, college tours, summer camps, and mentoring circles, Carver is helping thousands of young people move forward — from uncertainty to confidence, from potential to possibility.
For nearly nine decades, Carver has stood beside Norwalk students as they take each next step toward brighter futures. The Child of America Gala is a celebration of generosity. It is also a celebration of the momentum of children discovering talents they did not know they possessed, of families finding hope, and of a community choosing, together, to invest in the promise of its next generation.
