The West Hartford Exchange Club recently made donations to the Town That Cares Fund and the New Britain Boys & Girls Club.

From left: Helen Rubino-Turco, Paul Connery from the West Hartford Exchange, and Suzanne Oslander, Community Partnership Manager with West Hartford at the check presentation at Town Hall. Submitted photo

Submitted

The West Hartford Exchange Club donated $3,000 to The Town that Cares from the proceeds of their 10th Annual Wine Tasting Event which was held in February.

The Exchange Club partnered with Wine Cellars 4 and heavy hors d’oeuvres were donated by various local restaurants. “This event was best ever thanks to those who bought tickets, our restaurants who donated food, the many donations for our silent auction, Wine Cellars 4 and their wine distributors for the great tasting and of course our Exchange members who worked so hard to make this event a success,” said Joe Righenzi, president of the Exchange Club. “We are so proud to be able to donate to The Town That Cares because we know that they make a positive impact on the quality of life in our community,” Righenzi added.

The West Hartford Exchange Club also made a donation to the New Britain Boys and Girls Club at its recent monthly meeting.  The presentation was made by West Hartford Exchange Club President Joe Righenzi to Stan Szczepanik, president of the Board of Directors for the New Britain Boys and Girls Club.

Righenzi praised the work of the New Britain Boys and Girls Club and its mission which is “to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizen”.  Szczepanik spoke to the club about the many programs that the Boys and Girls Club run throughout the year and the impact the club makes.  He also stressed the Boys and Girls Club core beliefs which are to provide a safe place to learn and grow, ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals, life-enhancing programs and character development experiences and hope and opportunity.

Pictured at the West Hartford Exchange Club meeting for the check presentation are (from left): Rick Ferreira and Joe Righenzi from the West Hartford Exchange, and Stan Szczepanik, President of the Board of Directors of the New Britain Boys and Girls Club. Submitted photo

The Town That Cares which is administered by the Town of West Hartford and funded 100% by contribution is a special fund to assist residents in crisis.  “We are so grateful for this generous donation which will benefit us at a time when many in our community need our support”, said Helen Rubino-Turco, Director-Human & Leisure Services for the Town of West Hartford which administers The Town That Cares Fund. 

The West Hartford Exchange Club’s mission is to make its community a better place to live through programs of service in Americanism, Community Service, Youth Activities and its national project, the Prevention of Child Abuse.  The club sponsors the West Hartford Police & Firefighters Annual Service Awards and provides annual scholarships to Hall and Conard graduates.  The club also donates to a variety of local charities.