Colleen Younghans
Operations/Communications Director
Email: colleen.younghans@ctunitedway.org

April 11, 2007

United Way to Present Annual Community Builders’ Awards

BRISTOL, CONN – The United Way of West Central Connecticut, serving the communities of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville and Plymouth, will hold its annual Community Builders’ Reception on May 3, 2007. The event recognizes and honors those who share their time and resources with the United Way to help build a stronger, healthier, more compassionate community.

This year’s theme will be “At the heart of what matters,” which will focus on sharing and celebrating the story of the thousands of donors, hundreds of volunteers and countless partners who come together to improve the quality of life for individuals and families in our communities.

Among those volunteers who will receive United Way’s highest awards are Elaine Couture, Director of Human Resources for Wheeler Clinic and Anthony Malavenda, Director of Human Resources for Bristol Public Schools.

Couture will receive the Lou Bachman Award in recognition of her leadership and commitment to the United Way for the last twenty years. She began her involvement with the United Way of Plainville in 1987 as a member of their Board of Directors. She then served as part of the task force that negotiated the merger with the United Way of Bristol, Burlington, and Plymouth to form what is now the United Way of West Central Connecticut. For ten years, Couture has been Secretary of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Personnel Committee. She is also responsible for the annual United Way campaign that is run at Wheeler Clinic. When asked why she became involved in United Way, Couture explained, “I personally felt a desire to be a part of a local organization that truly serves its community by bringing together the people of the community as donors, as volunteers and as partners – all working together to help improve the lives of others in the community.”

Anthony Malavenda will receive the Spirit of Caring Award recognizing his generous spirit of community volunteerism. Malavenda has been involved with United Way since 1997 and has served on the Board of Directors for the last seven years in various officer positions, culminating with his upcoming role as Board Chair. He has also served on other community-wide committees and boards, including the Bristol Adult Resource Center (BARC). Also, as Director of Human Resources for Bristol Public Schools, Malavenda is heavily involved with our education system. Malavenda stated, “Being involved in your community is very rewarding. The work I do for United Way does have a positive impact on the community and it feels good to be a part of that.”

The Special Initiative Award will be presented to the Plymouth School to Career Business Partnership for their commitment to ensuring that all students are ready to leave high school and become effective members of society. Established in 1999, this school/community partnership consists of school staff and administrators and local business and community leaders. The group’s mission is to “offer all students the opportunity to explore programs relevant to their career goals through school-based, work-based and connecting activities. This includes a direct relationship between businesses, schools, and community to prepare all students to become responsible members of society and better contributors to the workforce.”

Winners of this year’s Award for Excellence in recognition of their long and valued tradition of annual corporate and employee support of the United Way community campaign are The Fletcher-Terry Company and Radcliff Wire, Inc. Catherine Arcari who has served as the internal campaign manager at The Fletcher-Terry Company for the past thirty years says, “United Way is a very worthy local community organization. I’m proud to have been able to assist the employees of The Fletcher-Terry Company to give back to their community through the United Way campaign.” Charlie Radcliff, President of Radcliff Wire echoed Arcari’s comments indicating their support of United Way stems from “a strong belief in the theory of giving back to your community.”

If you would like more information about the Community Builders’ Reception, contact the United Way at 860-582-9559.

About United Way of West Central Connecticut
The United Way of West Central Connecticut originated as the Community Chest of Bristol, Conn. in 1922 and later expanded into the towns of Burlington and Plymouth. The United Way of Bristol, Burlington and Plymouth merged with the United Way of Plainville in 1996 to form the United Way of West Central Connecticut, which is one of 22 independent United Ways in Connecticut and one of 1,350 national and worldwide agencies. The United Way of West Central Connecticut has been in partnership with individuals, business and organizations working to improve community life for 85 years.