NORWALK — Malta House and Family & Children’s Agency of Norwalk each was presented Friday with a $25,000 check representing proceeds from Norwalk’s 24th Annual Community Ball in January.
“This will allow us to pay for about three months worth of daycare, our nursery where our women can leave their children when they’re out interviewing, working, going to school, doctor’s appointments,” Kim Petrone, board chairwoman at Malta House.
Malta House, a faith-based nonprofit organization that provides food, a roof, support services and independent living skills to homeless mothers and their children, was one of two local nonprofit social-service organizations chosen by Mayor Harry Rilling to receive proceeds from this year’s community ball.
“We picked two organizations that are so worthy of our consideration,” Rilling said during the check presentation at City Hall on Friday morning. “It’s very difficult (to choose) each year because we get five, 10, 15 requests.”
Family & Children’s Agency, which provides foster care, adoption, counseling and homeless services as well as home care for elderly persons living independently, received the other $25,000 check.
“It is a wonderful contribution to the work that we do,” said Family & Children’s Agency President and CEO Robert F. Cashel. “This will allow us to extend the work we do with children and families, adults and seniors that we work with, and programs like our after-school programs.”
The two $25,000 checks were the largest to date from the annual community ball. Although attendance was down somewhat at this year’s ball with roughly 480 people attending, the event raised a substantial amount due to the selling of sponsorships where local businesses and entities paid money to sponsor the cocktail hour, the dinner hour and other aspects of the ball.
Rilling thanked his staff and wife, Lucia, for helping organize the ball.
“They worked so hard and it takes a lot of time, a lot of energy … reaching out to the community to get donations, organizing everything,” Rilling said.
By Robert Koch Published 12:00 am, Sunday, April 2, 2017
Photo: Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media
The Hour
