The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the winners of the 2010 Gold Seal Awards.
Presented to the region’s business and community leaders who exemplify the spirit of selflessness and volunteerism, these awards are among the most prestigious and time-honored community service awards in the Valley.
Al Patuzzi, 2001 Gold Seal Recipient, is the 2010 Platinum Award recipient.
This award is presented annually to a past Gold Seal recipient who is still dedicated to volunteering their time and resources on behalf of the Valley Community.
Patuzzi is very active with the Derby-Shelton Rotary. He joined the Rotary in 1997 and hit the ground running. Al immediately began with active involvement and over the years has been a key player. Some of these accomplishments include Shelton Day Registrar/Booths and Entertainment Chair; Registrar for the Annual Auction and Annual Lobster Bake; Club Treasurer; District Treasurer; District Conference Treasurer and District Budget Guidelines committee just to name a few.
He has also served as a Board member of both Birmingham Group Health Services and Birmingham Group Health Services Foundation. In addition, for many years, Al served as the co-chair of the Annual Bowl-to-Benefit for The Umbrella. He has also served as the Treasurer and on the Board of Directors for both TEAM, Inc. and the Julia Day Nursery School.
The 2010 Gold Seal Recipients are Mike Healey, Ruth Parkins and Charlie Sullivan.
This award is presented annually by the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce for outstanding community service through dedicated and effective leadership.
In addition to his active participation as the Chairman of the Board for the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Healey has also been active with the Valley and State Car Retailers Associations and the New Haven Sheriff’s Association. Mike has given generously over the years to many Valley non-profit organizations assisting with their golf tournaments and more. He is also a strong and active supporter UCONN sports.
Professionally, Parkins is active with the Northeast Gas Association’s Public Awareness & Communications sub-committees in addition to the International Association of Business Communicators. Additionally, she serves on Junior Achievement’s Valley Community Board and the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven’s Women & Girls Fund. Ruth is the past chair of the Valley United Way Board of Directors and has served as co-chair of the Corporate Volunteer Council.
Sullivan has served on the board of the Boy Scouts of America – Housatonic Council; over 30 years on the board of the REC Camp; as Past President of the Board of the Boys & Girls Club; Valley United Way Campaign Committee; Co-Chair of TEAM’s Men Who Cook. In addition, he has served on the St. Joseph’s School Golf Tournament Committee as well as the Chair of Griffin Hospital’s Breast Wellness Center’s inaugural Housy One-Miler Swim.
Valley Community Foundation is the 2010 Silver Medal Award recipient.
The Valley Community Foundation (VCF) was established in 2004 to serve the Naugatuck Valley cities and towns of Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton. The renewed and strengthened Affiliation Agreement with VCF’s partner, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven provides for a dependable and secure income stream for Valley grant making and administration for generations to come. Since 2004, Donors have established over 80 Funds, valued at more than $7 million, and VCF has distributed nearly $1.5 million to Valley organizations.
The 39th Annual Banquet, presented by People’s United Bank, honoring this year’s award recipients is scheduled for Thursday, November 4, 2010, at Grassy Hill Lodge in Derby. The reception will begin at 5:30 pm with the dinner and program starting at 6:15 pm. Patricia Tarasovic, a 2000 Gold Seal recipient, will be the Master of Ceremonies for the evening.
Tickets are $65 per person and are still available through the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce at 203 – 925-4981 or www.greatervalleychamber.com.
