New Haven was alive with the sound of fund, friend and fun raising on Fat Tuesday, from Crown Street to the Lawn Club. Gone Dishin’ was everywhere; we have the photos to prove it.
The Committee for the annual Torch of Liberty Award Dinner, the annual fund raising, name card grazing event of the Connecticut State office of the Anti-Defamation League gathered to recommit themselves to the work of the agency and their assigned tasks. Save the date of May 16 to see the who’s who list of New Haven business, professional, academic and general community. Under the leadership of Co-Chairs Marna Borgstrom (CEO, Yale New Haven Hospital), Ron Shaw (CEO, Pilot Pen), Marvin Lender (formerly of the bagels, now businessman and philanthropist), and Steve Saltzman (Brenner, Susman, Duffy et al), the honorees, Dr. Alvin Greenberg (neurosurgeon, businessman and community leader,Torch of Liberty recipient), and Police Chief Francisco Ortiz (Community Service Award) will enjoy a full house of well deserved accolades.
The group included Attorney and New Haven ADL Chairman Doug Skalka, former State Chair Bev Levy (once the voice of SBC, now an adjunct professor at Quinnipiac), Steve Kaplan (president of UNH), Bob Santy (Regional Council of Governments), Keith Norton (Office of the State Treasurer), Dr. Bill Ortman, Attorney Steve Ronai, David Benfer (president and CEO of Hospital of St.Raphael), Manny Rattafia , David Silverstone (resident and CEO of Regional Water Authority), Lindy Lee Gold (CT. DECD and ADL State Board), Amy Barry (shoreline columnist and ADL State Board) and many others. Vic Leavitt (newly appointed director of development for ADL) and Jan Magid (assistant development director) had the meeting well orchestrated for this high-powered group who will accept no less than success from their efforts in engaging the entire greater New Haven area.
At the same time, the Business After Hours event, hosted by the Chevrolet (Oakdale)
Theatre boasted a full house.
Some from each of the earlier groups continued on to Mardi Gras at the New Haven Lawn Club,
the annual benefit for the New Haven Free Public Library. Throngs of supporters reveled with live New Orleans Jazz, a sumptuous Louisiana style dinner buffet, and a lively silent and live auction. It would be easier to find people who were conspicuous by their absence than to mention all of those notables who came to support the new Courtland Seymour Wilson branch ; the goal of leveraging city and state funds with $1 million in private donations will be met. It seemed that every business in town contributed to the evening’s unprecedented success. Matt Scott (WTNH) and radio personality Mike Lapitino of WPLR were charming, persuasive and dynamic in their efforts to escalate the bidding frenzy.
The evening will also recognized citizens who make New Haven a great place to live. Those honored included beloved philanthropists Jean and Bill Graustein; in addition to their well known generosity, the Non Profit Resource Center of the Library is due to their largesse. Dr. Cheryl Norton and Southern Connecticut State University’s Department of Library Science, Doss Venema and Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven, and Maureen Wolyniec and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater New Haven rounded out the list of additional award recipients.
Among the donors of auction items, Frank Criscuolo (Basta and Claire’s), jeweler Peter Indorf, Soonil Chun (Arts Council), John Cavaliere (Lyric Hall), Susan Godshall (Greater NH Chamber of Commerce) , Paul Mc Craven (New Alliance Bank), artist and historian Frank Mitchell, architect Eric Epstein and artist Tony Falcone enjoyed the attention to their items. Michael Morand (Yale Office of New Haven and Gov’t Affairs and chairman of the Library Foundation Board)and James Welbourne (city librarian) were the presenters. Other Foundation members Ruth and Jon Wilson (widow of Courtland Seymour Wilson; and his son, a golf professional) were joined by additional friends and family members and Elsie Chapman, David Newton, Dr. Cornell Scott and Claudia Merson. Brad Gallant, chairman of the Library’s Board of Directors, could not have imagined a greater coincidental celebration of his birthday! Congratulations were in order for the staff and supporters of the New Haven Free Public Library for their contributions to the — ¬¶..yup, you betcha – the GREATER GOOD!
