Treasured Time receives $10K donation from Mass Mutual Foundation

Sharing from the Treasured Time Facebook page:

"Huge thank you to Mass Mutual Foundation and Tony Truino for the generous donation towards our mission!"

The Seymour-based Treasured Time "is a not-for-profit foundation whose mission is to grant the wishes of parents with life-threatening illnesses who want to create a lasting memory with their children."

Rock the Summer fundraiser slated in Ansonia

Adam's House in Shelton seeks volunteers

SHELTON - Adams House, 241 Coram Ave., is looking for volunteers.
The mission of The Adam Wysota Foundation is to offer grief education and peer support in a home-like setting called Adam’s House. 

Adam’s House is a safe, healing place for families as they go though their eight-week grief journey. 
Children and their families gather there to draw support from their peers and gain new strategies for dealing with their loss. 
Programs are offered at no cost to participating families. 

The organization is looking for people to be ambassadors by sharing it mission in their communities, plan and execute events, and fundraise at different points thought the year. 

Attend a meeting at 6 p.m. Feb. 13 with no commitment.
Never been to Adam's House? Schedule a tour at https://www.adamshousect.org/book-online or email brittaney@adamshousect.org.


*Shared from a Facebook event page.

Shelton company holds 11th annual golf tourney, raises funds for 3 area nonprofits

The 11th annual DiMatteo Family Charitable Foundation Golf Tournament was an overwhelming success, and contributed more than $33,000 to three nonprofits.

Representing this year’s beneficiaries are from left, Raymond Baldwin, Jr., President/CEO of St. Vincent’s Special Needs Services in Trumbull; Dianne Auger, President/CEO of St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation, for St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound in Bridgeport; Joseph Pagliaro, Jr., President, Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley in Shelton, with Rosemarie Esposito and Robert Lesko, both of Shelton, board members of the DiMatteo Family Charitable Foundation./Contributed photo

      STRATFORD - Golf and giving went hand in hand recently when more than 120 golfers swung their clubs at the 11th Annual DiMatteo Family Charitable Foundation Golf Tournament. 
     Organized by the DiMatteo Group in Shelton, supporters played a round of golf at Oronoque Country Club in Stratford to benefit three local nonprofits.

         The DiMatteo Family Charitable Foundation split the $33,000 proceeds equally between the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley in Shelton, St. Vincent’s Special Needs Services in Trumbull, and St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound in Bridgeport.

The Foundation was established by the DiMatteo Group 11 years ago as a tribute to Anthony “Tony” DiMatteo, their late father and company founder, who was battling cancer at the time. 

        “Our Family Foundation in conjunction with our Golf Tournament is committed to supporting various organizations that have made a difference in the lives of our family, clients, and staff,” said John DiMatteo, President of the DiMatteo Group. 
         “Since its inception over a decade ago, we have contributed over $330,000 for various well-known local and national charities that fund research, education, and finding a cure for diseases.”

  Founded over 56 years ago, the family-owned and operated business specializes in insurance, employee benefits, income tax, and financial services. Giving back to the community is part of the company’s mission.

  A committee of nearly 25 volunteers planned this annual golf tournament.  
 The following volunteers deserve special recognition for volunteering more than five years:  Shelton residents Lena DiMatteo, Rosemarie Esposito, Loretta Lesko, Robert Lesko, Natalie Lesko, Barbara Gelozin, Nancy Opitz, Karen Minopoli, and Maureen Yash; Bethany residents John DiMatteo, Kim DiMatteo, and Michael DiMatteo; Maria Rodrigues of Milford, Sue Doolan of Orange, Genie Tricarico of Seymour, and Debbie Bobela of Monroe.

         Many area companies and business associates of DiMatteo Group contributed to the tournament as sponsors. Top gold sponsors included: Liberty Mutual Insurance, Fairway Payments, The Hartford, Anthem BlueCross BlueShield and the DiMatteo Group. Park City Ford of Bridgeport was the hole-in-one sponsor.

          At the silver sponsor level, the following generous sponsors were: Preferred Tool and Die, Inc. of Shelton, 3PL Worldwide, Inc. and Berliner Insurance. 
         Other event sponsors included: Commonwealth Cares Fund, Inc., Acadia Insurance, Selective Insurance, and CATIC Financial, Inc.

            In addition, for over a decade, Steve Geremia from Safelite AutoGlass in Bridgeport has organized a "Hit the Windshield" putting contest on the day of the tournament and donates the prize and the proceeds. 

            John DiMatteo added, “We are extremely grateful to all our friends, family, and customers who have so generously contributed to our golf tournament. This annual event is the major source of funding for our Family Foundation and we want to recognize the community’s ongoing support.”

            Some of the past beneficiaries of the golf tournament have included: Project Purple, National Kidney Foundation, the Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services, The Kennedy Center, Juvenile Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, Spooner House, Homes for the Brave Female Soldiers/Forgotten Heroes, and MovingWithHOPE.           

               DiMatteo Group continues to maintain its foundation of integrity, personalized service and treating others as an extension of the family. “We have successfully transitioned the business from our parents and founders to the second generation with three siblings and two spouses, each of whom manages a key department,” said John DiMatteo. 

             Three siblings serve as officers of the company. John DiMatteo of Bethany specializes in financial planning and works with his wife, Kim DiMatteo, a partner in the business.  
             Loretta Lesko of Shelton, the second youngest sibling, serves as Vice President, and is in charge of Operations, while her husband Robert Lesko is a partner.  
            In addition, Rosemarie Esposito of Shelton, the eldest sibling, is the agency’s Treasurer, an Enrolled Agent and manages DiMatteo Group – Tax & Accounting Services LLC.  View www.dimatteogrp.com for more information.


This is a press release from the DiMatteo Group.

Hamden woman donates AED to Seymour Middle School in son's memory

Pictured from left, Seymour Middle School Principal Bernadette Hamad, Lauren Rossi, Michael Vincent Sage Dragonheart Foundation, Seymour Middle School Assistant Principal Ernie DiStasi, and Associate Superintendent of Seymour Schools Nancy Snopkowski. /Contributed photo

SEYMOUR - Lauren Rossi of the Michael Vincent Sage Dragonheart Foundation of Hamden and mother of the late Michael Vincent Sage Friday presented Seymour Middle School Principal Bernadette Hamad and Assistant Principal Ernie DiStasi with a Defibtech Automated External Defibrillator and AED Cabinet for use at Seymour Middle School. 

The Defibtech AED was obtained by Seymour Public Schools Director of Security Rich Kearns, through a grant offered by the Michael Vincent Sage Dragonheart Foundation.

The Michael Vincent Sage Dragonheart Foundation, Inc. was established in memory of Michael Vincent Sage, who died on Feb. 5, 2010 at the age of 29 from a sudden cardiac arrest, SCA. 

Michael Vincent Sage

The mission of the Michael Vincent Sage Dragonheart Foundation is to raise awareness and support research into the early diagnosis and prevention of sudden cardiac arrest, including bystander awareness education, CPR training, and availability of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools, athletic facilities, and other public forums.

Rossi told school officials, “We carry on in the hope that Michael’s story shines a light on the importance of bystander education, AED training and availability of AEDs so there are fewer sad endings for families whose loved ones suffer an SCA. Michael’s presence in our lives was, and continues to be, a gift and we hope to be able to share this gift with others.”

Associate Superintendent of Seymour Public Schools Nancy Snopkowski, who was on hand for the presentation said, “It is so comforting and reassuring to know that this AED will be available if the need arises for our students, staff, and visitors at Seymour Middle School. We sincerely thank the Michael Vincent Dragonheart Foundation for this generous donation and all that they do for the communities they have touched.”


This is a press release from Seymour Public Schools Director of Security Rich Kearns.