Southington & Plainville Citizen | southingtoncitizen.com
Friday, February 17, 2023
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Southington United Way picks new leaders By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
“Serving the aging population is something that’s near and dear to my heart,” he said. “I think with any thriving community, we need to be mindful of taking care of folks who are aging and aging in place.”
SOUTHINGTON — United Way officials say new leaders are bringing new energy to the group supporting local non-profits. Taylor Deegan, general manager at Worldwide Wine & Spirits, is the United Way of Southington board presiTaylor Deegan, general manager of Worldwide Wine & dent. He’s worked at nonSpirits in Southington, is the United Way of Southington profits previously such as Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Oak Hill in Hartford and the board president. YMCA of Greater Hartford. was elected board vice presi- “I think what we saw during dent. Kathy Hopko, a corpo- the pandemic was the genOne of Deegan’s goals is rate attorney, was chosen as erosity of the Southington raising the United Way’s board secretary. Tim Vendet- residents really shine profile in town. ti, a finance vice president at through,” he said. “They sup“I’m excited to increase the Hubbell Electrical Solutions ported us during a really awareness of the United Way in Shelton, is treasurer. The challenging time.” and show what we do,” he vote for new officers took That support allowed the said. “We’re going to really place last month. United Way to keep its level truly shine and support our of aid to non-profits such as community and our partSupport for the YMCA, Bread for Life ners.” United Way and Senior Transportation Mark Berardi, development Services, a group that BerarBerardi said there’s strong officer at the Connecticut di said is doing important support for the United Way Community Foundation, work for residents. among town residents.
Berardi got on the board in 2019. Now past the pandemic, he’s optimistic about the group. “We did have to pivot our fundraising efforts during COVID,” he said. “Now certainly the sky’s the limit.”
New members, new ideas Previous board president Cheryl Lounsbury said she’d hoped to get younger members involved with the United Way. “The board has changed tremendously,” she said. “It’s young professionals in town … They’ve come with a lot of new ideas and a lot of new enthusiasm and energy.”
Some of those new members were taking part in the YMCA’s polar plunge. “When I first got there, we’d all die if we did the polar plunge,” Lounsbury joked. Bringing in new people is important to keeping the United Way vibrant. Lounsbury was concerned that the board was mostly older, retired people. “If you don’t change up with new people and new perspectives and ideas, they tend to do the same thing year after year. That’s not healthy” she said. Lounsbury will remain as a board member.
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