The Wilton Education Foundation is one of two honorees at this year’s Wilton Family Y Annual Community Celebration. The WEF board is pictured, above.
Tickets are still available for the 27th Annual Wilton Community Celebration, a gala dinner dance and silent auction that benefits the Wilton Family Y’s Fund for Community Service. The celebration is being held on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Rolling Hills Country Club with the theme “Jazz It Up in the Big Easy.”
At the Celebration, the Wilton Y recognizes outstanding local volunteers with the Distinguished Citizen Awards. This year’s winners are Erin Woolard and the Wilton Education Foundation. “Both are extremely deserving after demonstrating many years of outstanding volunteer service to our community,” Y executive director Bob McDowell said.
The Celebration is open to the public, and tickets are $175 per person. About 200 people attend each year, and the event raises more than $60,000 for the Y’s Fund for Community Service.
“It supports all of our outreach programs, it runs the gamut from chronic disease prevention, youth leadership initiatives, and services for children with special challenges, as well as senior wellness and financial assistance for families in need,” explained Laura Downing, associate development director of the Y. “It’s our primary fundraiser that benefits the community fund. The entire amount raised is earmarked for those community service programs.”
This year the committee chose a New Orleans-themed gala evening and opted to feature a live big band for dancing, as well as dining, and silent and live auctions. Among the volunteers serving on the organizing committee are Mary Andrews, Vani Bettegowda, Ann Billik, Pam DeStefano, Jill Kidd, Karen Luchetta, Janet Montelbano, Nicole Morris, Hillary Morrissy and Terri Sheridan.
In addition, Wilton Wine Shoppe is donating the wine for the event.
Honoree: ERIN WOOLARD
The Y materials called Woolard, a Wilton resident for more than 25 years, the “consummate community volunteer from the beginning,” and said, “It is in recognition of her longstanding dedication to helping people and organizations succeed that Erin is receiving the Distinguished Citizen Award this year.”
Woolard has been an active volunteer at the schools her children attended, serving as a board member at the Community Nursery School and creating a vegetable garden for the preschoolers there. At Miller-Driscoll School, she created the Outdoor Learning Center, turning unused courtyard space into a fully functional outdoor classroom for children to connect with nature and enhance their school experience. The Center is now an integral part of the K-2 curriculum and resulted in an award from the Wildlife Federation and recognition as a Schoolyard Habitat for Outdoor Education.
She continued her service to the schools as her children grew up, at Cider Mill, Middlebrook and Wilton High School, where she joined the PTSA Board chairing a new position of House and Grounds. Her efforts resulted in blue slate benches at the front expanse of the school and planters that Woolard tends to and changes with the seasons. She has also made many esthetic contributions to the gymnasium and field house areas as well.
During her time in Wilton, Woolard has overseen two Post Graduation Parties, purchased art materials for school hallways, helped teachers with classroom enhancements, assisted with sports banquets and lacrosse events, and even invented a high-energy oatmeal cookie she distributed to hundreds of Wilton athletes over the years.
As an artisan, she has personally created numerous hand-crafted items for donation to Ambler Farm and other community group silent auctions. Erin is an active member of St. Matthews Church and volunteers for their many activities each year.
Honoree: WILTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The mission of the Wilton Education Foundation is to enrich the learning experience for students by supporting ongoing professional development of teachers; the latest in innovative and interactive teaching tools and technology; programming and materials for music and the arts; and “beyond the classroom” experiences that offer children confidence and skills to succeed in college as well as in adult life.
WEF came into existence over 20 years ago through the efforts of a core coalition of volunteers in the Wilton community who were concerned about providing enrichment opportunities for teachers and students alike. WEF’s many activities and fundraisers are entirely volunteer-run, and are done in partnership with the support of other community organizations, local businesses and professionals, elected officials, and civic groups. These events contribute a total of $100,000 annually to the schools.
The volunteer efforts of WEF have resulted in 100 percent SMARTBoard penetration in all grades, iPad carts for Cider Mill and Miller Driscoll, $20,000 in annual grants for teachers’ professional development, $5,000 a year to support the arts, and reading room resources for the elementary schools. Over the years, hundreds of WEF volunteers have established the organization as a catalyst for taking school staff and students to a higher level of academic opportunity through programs that promote reading, technology, music, arts, science, and professional development.
Event Sponsor: Bankwell (formerly The Wilton Bank)
The Celebration is sponsored by Bankwell in Wilton. Bankwell is the new name for The Bank of New Canaan, The Bank of Fairfield and Stamford First Bank; the bank will be acquiring The Wilton Bank later this fall, following regulatory approval.The Wilton Bank had sponsored the event for over 20 years, and Bankwell is continuing the positive legacy they established by maintaining continuity of support for the Y.
Reservations are $175 per person. Contact Y associate development director Laura Downing at 203.762.8384, ext. 273, or ldowning@wiltonymca.org for more information.
Editor’s note: GOOD Morning Wilton‘s Editor, Heather Borden Herve, is a board member of the Wilton Education Foundation.