The Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley presented two Raymond P. Lavietes Service to Youth Awards at its annual Service to Youth Awards dinner held at the Stone Barn Restaurant at Whitney Farms Golf Course on June 15, 2017. The Raymond P. Lavietes Service to Youth Award is the highest honor our Boys & Girls Club can bestow on an individual.
It is presented to those worthy of recognition due to their involvement in serving the youth of our community. Nominees exhibit outstanding leadership and untiring dedication to youth activities, a distinguished record in volunteer service with an emphasis on youth, and may be former Club members who have made notable accomplishments which would serve as a model to the youth of today.
The first recipient, Susan “Sooz” DeLeon, has been actively involved in our Boys & Girls Club for nearly 20 years. The Club became a second home to her children when she moved to Shelton, a recently divorced mom of two who was also working full-time. She was content that the Club was not only a safe environment but had counselors and mentors that were there to help. Both of her children became involved in every aspect of the Club, including work as they grew older. She joined the Board as a way to give back and never left. Sooz has served as a Board member for 17 years, including a 3‑year term as President. She is currently serving as Chairman of the Board. She’s served on most committees, including the John “Red” Larsen Golf Classic, Herbie Rollinson Memorial 5K Run-Walk, Executive, Personnel, and Governance, as well as serving as chairman of our 60th Anniversary Gala committee last year.
Her passion isn’t limited to our Boys & Girls Club though. She’s also organized and participated in other organizations’ fundraising events. From the March of Dimes Walk for Kids to Team’s Men Who Cook, Sooz is more than willing to help out wherever she’s needed. At Iroquois Pipeline Operating Company, where she’s worked for the past 25 years as a Paralegal and Compliance Specialist, Sooz has been part of Iroquois’ annual United Way campaign committee for more than 20 years. Iroquois also strongly believes in community support; the company received our Champion of Youth Award in 2009.
Sooz received the Women Making a Difference in the Valley award in 2013. The tribute recognizes “outstanding women” who have made positive contributions to the community and have demonstrated significant achievement in their fields of endeavor, both professional and volunteer. Sooz deeply cares for the community in which she lives and works, and we are all the better for it.
The second recipient Joseph A. Paglario, Jr. known throughout the Valley for his extensive civic engagement. “Community matters.” That’s what Joseph A. Pagliaro, Sr., always told Joe and his sister. Joe’s father set a shining example for his children to follow, and Joe has taken that example to heart. Joe’s involvement with the community began with the Shelton Board of Education, the Parent Child Resource Center, and Junior Achievement Valley Division. Following his father’s death in 2004, Joe joined our Board of Directors and never looked back. When he was approached in 2013 to be Board President, he accepted without hesitation, happy to serve our kids in any way he could.
Since then Joe has served on our personnel, executive, and development committees, and is now in the midst of his second term as Board President. He’s been a generous supporter of our Back-a-Kid annual appeal each year, as well as our annual Service to Youth Awards. A graduate of St. Joseph High School class of 1986 and Sacred Heart University 1990, earning a BS in Political Science, Joe went on to intern for Congressman John G. Rowland from 1989 – 1992, including Rowland’s first run for Governor.
In addition to his support of our Club, he’s continued his service with the Valley United Way, the Valley Community Foundation, the Gift of Life Foundation, St. Lawrence Parish Council, St. Joseph’s High School, The Recreation Camp, Griffin Hospital, and St. Catherine Academy. “Many people have said to me, it is our responsibility to grow and serve the community that has served us in the past,” Joe says. And like his father, he has been touched and changed by those he has been helping for the past 23 years.
Four Champion of Youth awards were also presented at the dinner. This is the highest honor our Boys & Girls Club can bestow on a company/organization. It is presented to those worthy of recognition due to their involvement in serving the youth of our community. Nominees exhibit outstanding leadership and untiring dedication to youth activities, a distinguished record in volunteer service with an emphasis on youth, and exceptional support of our Boys & Girls Club. The award recipients are: Town of Seymour- Kurt Miller, Family of Dr. Edward G. Bednar, Blanchette Sporting Goods (Shelton) and, Curtiss Ryan Honda (Shelton),
In addition, four From the Heart Awards were presented. This award recognizes individuals and organizations who go above and beyond in supporting our organization, contributing their time, talent, and/or treasure in ways that directly impact our members. Their special acts of caring are often the touch that makes their chosen program, event, or unit a success. The award recipients are: Don North, (Shelton), City Stitchers (Derby), Lewis Jewelers (Ansonia) and, Doggie Styles Pet Grooming (Shelton).
For more information about the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley visit us at www.BGC-LNV.org.
