2016 Family Champion Awards
Alyssa Goduti
Annually, the Council recognizes one Board Member and one staff member from each of our member agencies as Family Champions for consistently going above and beyond the call of duty responding to the needs of families served by their agency. This celebration is a joyous occasion to honor thirty individuals who are the "best of the best" in the field of family services in CT.
Since 2006, the Celebration of Family Champions has become an opportunity for The Council to recognize two individuals from each member agency who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to strengthen and support families in Connecticut.
To celebrate these family champions we first recognize that it is a person’s individual talent, skill and dedication that changes lives forever. Each of the councils 2016 champions achieved this honor in their own personal way, by demonstrating the best of what their agency has to offer, consistently giving more, reaching further, and taking bold steps to strengthen and improve the lives of families throughout our state.
“Good works is giving to the poor and the helpless, but divine works is showing them their worth to the One who matters.” ― Criss Jami, Killosophy
Meet the individuals who are the “best of the best” in the field of family services in Connecticut for 2016:
Catholic Charities of Fairfield County
John Gutman, Staff Member
Catholic Charities & Family Services, Diocese of Norwich
Angela Arnold, Board Member
Carole A. Gilbert, Staff Member
Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Hartford
Suzanne Gueble, Board Member
Ikea Sands, Staff Member
Family and Children’s Agency, Inc.
Rita Marber, Board Member
Jan Glorie, Staff Member
Family Centers, Inc.
Susan Yonce, Board Member
Lauren Tierney, Staff Member
InterCommunity, Inc.
Kenneth Reed, Board Member
Rick Amaral, Staff Member
Jewish Family Service - Stamford
Meryl Japha, Board Member
Rebekah Kanefsky, Staff Member
Jewish Family Services of Greater Hartford
Bernie Selig, Board Member
Marie Vick, Staff Member
Jewish Family Services of Greater New Haven
Betsy Fiske, Board Member
Princess Senu, Staff Member
Klingberg Family Centers
Robert L. Brown, Board Member
Mikayla Green & Elizabeth Boilard, Staff Member
LifeBridge Community Services
Bob Matthews, Board Member
Santiago Aguirre, Staff Member
Newtown Youth & Family Services
Sheilah Krasnickas, Board Member
Meredith Macmillan, Staff Member
Oak Hill
James F. Link, Staff Member
Luiz Fernandez-Lara, Staff Member
United Services, Inc.
Jim Clark, Board Member
Katie Roger, Staff Member
Village for Families and Children
Beth Bombara, Board Member
Iris Donate, Staff Member
Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies
Lisa Lee Pedemonti
Life Time Achievement Award
Patrick Johnson