The Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley held its second annual “Get Your Walk On” Herbie Rollinson Memorial Walk for the Kids on Sunday, May 16, at the Riverwalk in downtown Shelton, raising nearly $20,000 to support the Shelton and Ansonia Clubhouses.
The success of the walk was attributable to the more than 250 walkers who participated and our generous sponsors, including marquis sponsor, Newtown Savings Bank.
Naugatuck Valley Savings & Loan and Aquarion Water Company were bronze sponsors, and many local and area firms contributed as sponsors to the event.
A classic and custom car show sponsored by CT Cruise News magazine drew auto enthusiasts from around the Valley and raised additional funds. All money collected from the walkathon and car show supports the Shelton and Ansonia clubhouse programs.
Herb Rollinson was a director of the Boys & Girls Club from 1972 until his death in 2008. Members of the Board and staff of the Club felt it fitting to name this fundraiser after him in tribute to all his work and support of the Club. As the Club historian, he remembered much of our treasured history.
The walkathon was held in conjunction with the first Soupstock Festival.
The brainchild of Liquid Lunch restaurant owners, Michele and Fred Bialek, SoupStock was an all-day festival where visitors could taste soups and chilis for judging, view artisans with hands-on displays of their crafts, and listen to a range of bands playing all day long. Proceeds from SoupStock went to the newly established Mary A. Schmecker Turtle Shell Fund at the Valley Community Foundation, in memory of Mary Schmecker, a long-time ceramics instructor at the Boys & Girls Club in Shelton.
“This was the second annual walk for the Club, and this year we partnered with Liquid Lunch to hold SoupStock the same day to start a ‘happening’ in the Valley-and we did just that,” said Sooz Deleon, Boys & Girls Club LNV’s Fundraising Committee Chair. “The community support was great, with a high turnout of people, volunteers, and walkers. I’m hoping this will be the start of a long partnership for the two organizations, because it’s all about the kids.”
The Boys & Girls Club awarded prizes to the top individual and the top team for most pledge dollars. The Top Individual prize went to Samantha Heins, who won a Nikon COOLPIX S570 Digital Camera, which was donated by Club Board member Donald W. Smith, Jr., P.E. Sam has been a member of our Club since she was 7 years old, and last year was named the Club’s Girl of the Year, as well as the Youth of the Year. She raised more than $500.
The Top Team prize went to our own Ansonia Clubhouse, which will receive a David M. Grant Catered Buffet Lunch for 15, donated by Board member David M. Grant. Ansonia Club members answered the challenge of Unit Director Jim Queen, raising more than $2,700.
Walkathon participants also included Herb Rollinson’s family; Apicella, Testa & Company; Team Ribas; Team Roscoe; Bungay School in Seymour; Cohen & Thomas; Cub Scouts Pack 25; FW Serra; Lafayette School; LoPresti School in Seymour; Newtown Savings Bank; Ortho Specialty Group; and Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P.; as well as numerous individuals. Apicella, Testa & Company almost took the Top Team prize again this year (they were last year’s winners), but were pleased when they larned they were bested by the kids.
Thanks to all those people who gave of their time and money to help the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, which enables all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. For more information about our Club, visit us on the web at www.BGC-LNV.com.