Community leaders and volunteers celebrated

Monday, March 29, 2010

4/30/2010 By Quannah Leonard
Republican-American

Community leaders and volunteers celebrated Thursday the efforts of five volunteer groups or individuals and the annual campaign of the United Way of Greater Waterbury. About 300 people attended the 24th annual Community Leaders Dinner by the United Way at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Colorful kazoos decorated the center of each table, and were put to good use to mark volunteer achievements. The event recognized the efforts of community volunteers and businesses who supported the 2009-10 Annual Campaign, celebrated the community impact work of United Way and honored the 2010 community volunteer award winners. Kristen Bulkovitch, United Way president, said this year’s campaign was tough with the economic times and charitable competition, but Campaign Chairman Tim Bergstrom, senior vice president of Webster Bank, helped navigate the group through those difficult waters.

The total dollars pledged for the 2009-10 Annual Campaign is $3.3 million, Bergstrom said. He noted how the Leever family and MacDermid Inc. instigated the MacDermid Inc./Leever Family Challenge, which encouraged donors to step up their contributions. As a result of that initiative, just over $174,000 was generated.

Two women, a Waterbury business, a Waterbury institution and the Wolcott Public School System received recognition for their campaign efforts and their efforts to improve their community. Joyce S. DeCesare, 67, of Waterbury, was recognized as the Community Volunteer of the Year for having demonstrated outstanding volunteer service to the Greater Waterbury community. “I am humbled by this recognition,” said DeCesare, a retired director of guidance at Crosby High School and served 33 years in the Waterbury school system. She said she and her late husband John endorsed the philosophy of giving back. She is a licensed professional counselor and certified sports counselor. She serves on the board of directors of Holy Cross High School, Palace Theater and Waterbury Campership Fund.

The Leever Foundation, founded by the late Harold Leever in 1991, received the Frederic and Lucy Kellogg Award for exemplifying the Kellogg’s sense of community responsibility and social awareness and also embodying United Way’s vision of a caring community. Its mission is to support programs that will create opportunities for people, enhance health care and promote the arts primarily in Greater Waterbury. Both Lori Hart and Andy Leever, both board members and family, accepted the award for Ruth Ann, 95, Harold Leever’s wife. They said the foundation tends to keep a low profile but believes the reason for the award is that historically, Harold Leever was dedicated to Waterbury.

Kit Salazar-Smith, vice president of Western Connecticut Central Labor Council, said she was stunned to be singled out for the Organized Labor/United Way Community Service Award. She has been an employee of the state Department of Labor for 26 years. The United Way program says she is always up to organizing an event or fundraiser, and some of her community work includes investing eight years with the Naugatuck Valley Project helping to create jobs that are portable and lasting.

Wolcott Public Schools and the Platt Bros. & Co. in Waterbury were given the Spirit of Excellence Award for completing a well-organized and effective campaign. Platt Bros. showed a 15.2 percent increase in participation over 2008, and Wolcott showed an 8.1 percent increase in participation over 2008. This is really an award for the employees, said James Behuniak, company president and chief executive officer.

Bulkovitch also was honored. This month marks her 10th year anniversary with the organization. She received a 10-year anniversary pin and gift from the board of directors.

Frederic & Lucy Kellogg Award
The Leever Foundation

Community Volunteer of the Year
Joyce S. DeCesare, LPC

Organized Labor/United Way Community Sevice Award
Kit Salazar-Smith, AFSCME Local 562

Spirit of Excellence Awards
The Platt Brothers & Company
Wolcott Public School System