By: Donald Eng
More than 40 children and teens from Trumbull and around Fairfield County received special honors on Nov. 10 at Cheering for Children Connecticut, a ceremony held to recognize youth volunteers who have donated their time and effort to benefit victims of domestic and sexual violence and child abuse served by The Center for Family Justice.
Among the teens recognized were students from St. Joseph High School and Madison Middle School, who as members of the school’s KARE club, have supported CFJ with donations of handmade blankets and other gifts for children who live in our safe house, Kathie’s Place. The KARE club is led by faculty advisor and Madison language arts teacher Jeanne Maglioglio.
All the honorees received certificates of appreciation from dignitaries including Connecticut’s First Lady Cathy Malloy and Casey Gwinn, author of Cheering for Children and a cofounder of the Family Justice Center movement and Camp Hope America.
Also on hand for the ceremonies were community leaders including CFJ corporate benefactors, Cindi Bigelow, CEO of Fairfield-based Bigelow Tea and Peter Giammarco of Verizon Client Partner Governance. Also attending were David Stevenson, president and CEO of the Central Coast Connecticut YMCA and Jessica Speers-Holmes, executive director of the Y’s Camp Hi-Rock.
In summer 2017, CFJ will launch Camp Hope Connecticut, Connecticut’s first camp for children impacted by domestic and sexual violence in partnership with the YMCA branch.
For more information, visit CenterForFamilyJustice.org.
Article Source: Local students honored by Center for Family Justice