Mayor Rilling Announces the 2024 Mayor's Ball Beneficiaries: Person to Person and the Norwalk Housing Foundation
Friday, April 5th, 2024
Mayor Rilling Announces the 2024 Mayor's Ball Beneficiaries: Person to Person and the Norwalk Housing Foundation
(Norwalk, Conn.) Today, April 5th, 2024, Mayor Rilling announced that he has selected Person to Person and the Norwalk Housing Foundation (NHF) as the two non-profit beneficiaries for the 2024 Mayor's Ball, scheduled for Saturday, May 18th, 2024.
The Mayor's Ball, established as a non-profit charitable institution in 1993, is an annual nonpartisan event that brings people together to help raise funds for local organizations selected by the Mayor of Norwalk. Person to Person serves 28,000 residents in Fairfield County with the following programs: three food pantries including a mobile pantry, a clothing center, caseworker assistance, a financial opportunity center, emergency financial assistance, college scholarships and summer camperships. NHF, the official public charity of Norwalk Housing Authority (NHA), offers scholarships and other educational services for Norwalk Housing students.
"The money raised for the Mayor's Ball will help benefit two incredible organizations that are instrumental in helping individuals break the cycle of poverty in our community: Person to Person and the Norwalk Housing Foundation," said Mayor Rilling. "Person to Person provides those in need with critical resources such as food and emergency assistance to help them get on a path towards achieving economic security. The Norwalk Housing Foundation provides scholarships and other educational services to youth living in affordable housing, helping them gain the tools to increase their employment opportunities and attain long-term economic security. I hope the community will join us for this wonderful event in support of these remarkable organizations."
"We're truly honored to be chosen as one of this year's Mayor's Ball recipients," said Nancy Coughlin, CEO of Person to Person. "Person to Person is dedicated to transforming lives by providing essential resources to help families and individuals navigate the challenges they face and move towards economic stability. This recognition reaffirms the importance of our work, and we're excited to continue making a difference in our community."
"Since awarding our first two scholarships in 1998, Norwalk Housing has been committed to redefining public housing as more than just a safe and affordable residence. We view education as the catalyst for profound life changes, and within NHA we have sought to empower those transformations at all stages of life," said Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director of Norwalk Housing Authority and the Norwalk Housing Foundation. "Through the College Scholarship Program, we witness education's impact firsthand as our students have embarked on remarkable journeys in accounting, healthcare, science, medicine and other careers. In the past 25 years, we've disbursed over $3.4 million in scholarships to Norwalk Housing students, a testament to our dedication to their progress and well- being. As most of our students pursue bachelor's degrees, with a growing number in graduate school, their prospects are growing along with the Program. And with graduation rates surpassing the national average for 4-year schools, the financial support we receive is driving truly superior outcomes. Spearheaded by our Program Director and supported by a dedicated cadre of talented volunteers on our Scholarship Committee, we are personally vested in our students' success. Our students continue to grasp the life-altering possibilities that higher education offers, pursuing their dreams with unwavering determination. We are honored to be selected by Mayor Rilling and his Mayor's Ball Committee. It is truly a testament to the Mayor's commitment to providing necessary tools to our public housing families so they can break free from the cycle of poverty. The donations through the Mayor's Ball will significantly advance our mission to ensure that financial barriers never hinder the pursuit of college education."
The 2024 Mayor's Ball is being held at 6:30 PM at the Serafresca at the Italian Center on 1620 Newfield Avenue, Stamford, CT. Tickets are available starting at $200 per person, and tables of ten can also be reserved. Tickets can be purchased online at norwalkct.gov/mayorsball. Reservations with payment will be accepted until May 10th, 2024, or until the event sells out. Please make check(s) payable to the "Norwalk Community Benefit Fund." Tax-deductible contributions to the Mayor's Ball can be made at any time.
For more information about ticket reservations, sponsorship opportunities, or to donate a silent auction item, please contact Norwalk City Clerk Irene Dixon at (203) 854-7704 or IDixon@norwalkct.gov.