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Volunteers

Westport Connections Party Ignites Community Support for Carver Youth at STEAM Enrichment Social

Max Kim, Ben Zuckerman, Jen McPartlin, Andrea Moore, Eve Gianni, Inwha Huh, Nikki LaFaye, Nadine Tanen, Mark Gilrain, Mindi Lund, Kimberly Konstant, Grace Almeida, Livia Orenstein, Anya Gianni Corio

On Friday, September 27, 2024, the Westport Connections Party, dubbed the "STEAM Enrichment Social," brought together an extraordinary blend of art, community, and charitable giving at Clarendon Fine Art Gallery. The evening was warm and exciting as new and old friends came together to raise vital funds and awareness for The Carver.

Sponsored by a wide array of generous organizations including Amazing Grace (NYC), bird, Bridgewater Chocolate, Clarendon Fine Art Gallery, Gault Family Companies, imageworks, Kindred Spirits & Wine, LANDTECH, and the post, the event radiated creativity and collaboration. The gallery provided a fitting backdrop for the evening, with its elegant art displays accentuating the event's focus on the enrichment of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) education.

Carver CEO Novelette Peterkin and Carver alumna Damaly Mendez

We are deeply grateful to the dedicated and visionary Connections Party Committee members: Inwha & Robert Kim, Andrea & David Moore, Eve Gianni, Mark Gilrain, Kimberly Konstant, Mindi Lund, Deb Placey, and Nadine Tanen. Their commitment, creativity, and generosity made this event a tremendous success.

A special note of thanks also goes out to our hardworking Student Volunteers—Grace Almeida, Anya Gianni Corio, Max Kim, Livia Orenstein, and Ben Zuckerman—who assisted in making the event seamless. Members of the National Charity League Westport Chapter also participated.

The evening also featured heartfelt remarks from inspiring Carver students. Cecilia Adriana Garcia, a rising 9th grader, shared her experiences in Carver’s Summer Transition Program. She highlighted the joy she found in creating art at The Norwalk Art Space, demonstrating how Carver enriches the lives of young learners through both academic and creative opportunities.

Deborah Hammerskjold, Mindi Lund, Jen Capelo, Brooke Sorensen, Inwha Huh, Drew Seath

Damaly Mendez, a Carver alumna and current sophomore at Quinnipiac University, reflected on her journey through Carver's Youth Development Program and the profound impact it had on her college success. She credited Carver with organizing multiple paid internships for her at Norwalk Hospital, which inspired her to pursue a nursing degree.

We are also thankful for the participation of Carver board members Philip Butterfield, Deborah Brennan, CEO Novelette Peterkin, Drew Seath, and Brooke Sorensen, who actively engaged with the guests throughout the evening.

The Westport Connections Party celebrated what is possible when a community comes together to support its youth. Together, we are helping to shape brighter futures for Norwalk’s young people.

The holiday season continues to flourish at 7 Academy Street with the annual Holiday Grab-And-Go.

Pictured: Director of Elementary Based Programs, Tricia Massucco (left) and Manager of High School & Middle School Programs, Mary Martini (right).

Since 10 a.m. this morning, our holiday dynamos, Mary & Tricia, have been handing out personalized gift bags to Carver families. This marks the third annual Holiday Grab-And-Go, a gift-giving initiative developed during the pandemic to bring cheer to the Carver community when the Holiday Party was on hold. What began as a socially distanced solution has become an event in its own right; 75 families will be streaming in and out of the Carver Center today to pick up their gifts!

The gifts in question were generously donated by Toys for Tots, St. Luke’s Church, and the Westport Police Department. From newborns to 13-year-olds, Carver kids are receiving toys picked for their age and interest.

Volunteers from St. Luke’s School and Brien McMahon High School have joined Tricia and Mary in spreading the holiday cheer. As the afternoon rolls on, all hands are on deck to put gifts under trees and smiles on faces!

Pictured: Brien McMahon High School Volunteers and Future Readiness Coordinator, Rayshonda Mitchell. Left to right: Doulsina Sandoval, Darlah Lapommeray, Ashley Fernandez, Rayshonda Mitchell, Isabel Muñoz, Cynthia Sainrilus.

Volunteers from Campbell Snacks wrap a mountain of presents for Carver's Holiday Party

Campbell Snacks employees visited Carver again this year to wrap literally a mountain of donated toys for hundreds of children in the community who will visit the Carver Community Center to see Santa and to receive those gifts!

Mark Feinberg gives financial empowerment seminar to Carver high school students

Mark D. Feinberg, Carver donor and longtime volunteer, and a consummate wealth management advisor at Merrill Lynch, held a financial empowerment seminar for Carver high school students at Brien McMahon High School. Mr. Feinberg shared his insights into wealth building, investments, stocks and bonds, and the secrets of the financial industry.

Halloween party inspires Carver kids' gaiety, creativity and sprightliness

The Carver community produces an annual Halloween Party for the neighborhood and for Carver kids from across Norwalk. Carver community events are empowered by many generous volunteers who bring their resources and enthusiasm to these occasions that joyfully engage our youth and their families. See all the photos here in our Facebook photo album.

High school volunteer, Jaden Snow, teaches the secrets of solving the Rubik's Cube

Jaden Snow, who will be a ninth grader at Rye Neck High School this fall, can solve the Rubic’s Cube in a minute or so. Jaden is revealing his technique in a workshop for 7 to 9 year old boys at the Carver Community Center this summer. The workshop occurs for one hour per day for two weeks. Jayden raised the funds to provide each participating camper with his own Rubik’s Cube to keep (and to take home to practice with during the summer’s workshop). Jayden also provides support to Carver summer camp counselors and their supervisors during the day.

Ribbon Cutting of the Carver Community Center's New Playground

On the first day of summer camp, Monday, July 1, 2019, at 11:30 AM, Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling, Congressman Jim Himes, Norwalk Common Council member Greg Burnett, Doug Adams (Brookfield Properties), Vernece Richardson (King Industries), Stanley Seligson (Seligson Properties), Carver Board members and other Carver leaders and guests gathered together to officially open the new playground at the Carver Community Center.