Home Rosica News Kentucky Derby Day Dinner Dance to Benefit Stamford Non-Profit

Kentucky Derby Day Dinner Dance to Benefit Stamford Non-Profit

Laurel House of Stamford will observe Kentucky Derby Day, May 4th with a “Derby Dinner Dance.”   The evening begins with live action TV coverage from Louisville followed with games, silent auction, dinner and dancing.

The 2013 benefit will honor long time Board Director Michael R. Parker as Laurel House’s first “Champion for Recovery.”  Mr. Parker’s nearly two decades of service to Laurel House will be acknowledged during a brief ceremony at the gala.  Mr. Parker is President of Parker Global Strategies. He guides his company’s strategic direction and manages the day-to-day business operations.  Mr. Parker has been active with area non-profit organizations for many years.  He has been a board member and twice Chairman of the Board at Laurel House. He also serves on the Executive Council at AmeriCares and is a member of the Board of Visitors of the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University.

For over a quarter century, Laurel House has provided Resources to Recover for people with mental illness and their families in and around Connecticut.

Co-Chairs for the 2013 event are Ms. Cheryl Palmer, a member of the Board of Directors and Mr. Rey Giallongo, Chairman and CEO of First County Bank.

“The emphasis at Laurel House is on recovery.  We believe people can and do recover from the worst effects of serious mental illness,” said Laurel House President and CEO Linda Autore.

For more information about Laurel House’s Derby Dinner Dance, email Ann Rogers, VP Marketing and Development at arogers@laurelhouse.net.

Pictured are Derby Dinner Dance Co-Chairs Rey Giallongo, Chairman and CEO, First County Bank and Cheryl Palmer, Laurel House Board Director.

Rey A. Giallongo, Jr., is chairman and chief executive officer of First County Bank and serves as President of the bank’s Foundation.  In addition, Rey is vice chairman and a member of the board of commissioners of the Stamford Downtown Special Services District, a board member of the Business Council of Fairfield County and serves as board member and secretary of the Housing Development Fund.  He is an independent member of the board of directors of The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Co., a privately owned, multi-national tree care company with headquarters in Stamford, and serves on the board of directors for COCC, a co-operative technology services provider for financial institutions.

In addition, Giallongo provides advice to The Ferguson Library and The Boys and Girls Club of Stamford as a citizen advisor.  He is immediate past president of United Way of Western Connecticut and president of Fairfield County Bankers Association, and serves as a trustee of the YMCA of Stamford.

Cheryl Palmer serves as a member of the Laurel House board and is the President and Founder of Strawberry Hill Associates, LLC, a strategic consulting firm specializing in driving revenue in mid-size companies. Formerly she was Chief Revenue Officer for Club Quarters, LLC, a privately held hospitality business; and President of The Food Emporium, a $500 million dollar specialty food retail division of The A&P Company.

In addition to her Board participation at Laurel House, Ms. Palmer serves on the Board of B&G Food, Inc. and is a member of the Board of Advisors for Sacred Heart University, Jack Welch School of Business.  She is also a past board member of the Girl Scouts of Southwestern CT, Women’s Business Development Council, Stamford YWCA and Domestic Violence Services, Inc.

Ms. Palmer and Mr. Giallongo reside in Fairfield County.
www.laurelhouse.net