Area Walkers Show Their Support
at the 4th Annual STAR Walk, Roll and Stroll
Walkers at the 4th Annual STAR Walk, Roll & Stroll brave the rainy
weather at Sherwood Island State Park on Sunday, May 3.
May 13, 2009: Friends and supporters of STAR, Inc., Lighting the Way … enthusiastically came out to show their support for the 4th Annual STAR Walk, Roll and Stroll held at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport on Sunday, May 3 from 11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Despite the rain, approximately 600 participants attended the event which benefits STAR’s services and programs for infants, children and adults with developmental disabilities in Fairfield County. The event raised nearly $85,000.
Theresa Taylor, Co-Chairperson of the Walk, commented: “We are very blessed to have the supporters that we do. Everyone came out to the park on a rainy day – in hundreds – and stayed throughout, for all the events. It was amazing -- a great day.”
Children enjoy crafts and games at the 4th Annual STAR Walk, Roll & Stroll
In addition to the walk, participants enjoyed family activities, games and crafts, clowns, a magician, face painting, animals from the Darien Nature Center, entertainment and lunch—all under the covered family picnic area and pavilion at Sherwood Island State Park. Rubberband Unplugged, an acoustic rock and roll musical group composed of persons with and without developmental disabilities performed, as well as the Fairfield University Dance Team and Cheerleaders, Wilton High School Cheerleaders, Norwalk Y HipHop Dancers and STORM of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
Katie Banzhaf, Executive Director of STAR, said: “It was a great day. We are just so thankful and proud to have a wide range of supporters from area businesses, corporations and community organizations throughout the area. STAR is proud of the loyal partnerships that have been forged among our new and long-term supporters involved with this event.”
STAR is grateful to sponsors and supporters of the 4th Annual STAR Walk, Roll & Stroll including: Deloitte, Sam’s Club, HSBC, Fairfield County Bank, Patriot National Bank, Pepperidge Farm, the Levy Family, Prospect Hill Foundation, Kirwan Skin Clinic, People’s United Bank, MBI, Arch, the Bulkley Foundation. In-kind sponsors included PEPSI, Stop & Shop, Whole Foods Westport, Stew Leonard’s, Costco, Eucerin, Bigelow, Trader Joe’s, Pirate’s Booty, Kardea Health Bars, New York Bakery, Village Bagels and Michael Joseph’s Fine Foods. Media sponsors were STAR 99.9 and The Hour Newspapers.
Fairfield University Cheerleaders provided entertainment and enthusiasm
to the walkers, including STAR participant Mimi Lasu
STAR also received volunteer support from throughout the community, including friends and family members of participants, Norwalk High School students, Westport Firefighters, Westport EMS and Westport Y Men, who helped with the event. Prior to the event, numerous volunteer groups helped with the preparations including Norwalk, Weston and Westport Girl Scout Troops (Juniors and Daisies), Stapes High School Girls Lacrosse Team, Brien McMahon High School Happy Group, Norwalk RSVP Senior Volunteers, and Students Supporting Special Athletes group.
STAR, Inc., Lighting the Way is a not–for-profit organization serving individuals of all ages with developmental disabilities, as well as providing support services to their families. We create opportunities for individuals to live full lives with independence, freedom of choice and personal growth by providing support, services and advocacy. We inform and encourage the community to recognize and appreciate the value of all individuals. |