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Joe Carapella enjoys working with people. He says seeing others’ passion to serve is one of his favorite things about making a difference in the community. Joe is a member of Clinton Human Services, the Clinton Lions Club, and NAMI Shoreline and has become a critical piece of Clinton Human Services’ suicide prevention efforts. His commitment to making a difference has helped the lives of those in his community.

Frances Swietlicki takes joy in watching people discover the history of his Guilford. A member of the Guilford Green Committee and the Guilford Keeping Society (GKS), Frances enjoys fundraising to restore pieces of the town’s history. Frances has spearheaded a number of GKS fundraisers, including anniversary events, and has served her community by keeping its history alive.

Elise Low is passionate about educating her neighbors about voting. A longtime mainstay of the League of Women Voters of the East Shore, Elise works to help register residents to vote and provides voter education. As a moderator at debates and a program moderator, Elise works to bring local elections to a wider audience.

Diane Beckwith Popolizio says one small act of kindness can change a life. As the founder of Helping the Homeless, Diane has teamed up with local organizations to serve those in and near her community, collecting and delivering needed goods to area shelters and food banks. Outside of her hometown, Diane has worked to support Turkey and Ukraine, helped bring clean water to areas in need, and organized litter clean-ups in her neighborhood.

Dawn Perrotti says volunteering allows her to use her skills and time to impact her community in a positive way. A member of the Community Dining Room’s Fundraising Advisory Committee, Dawn has volunteered for the Legacy Theatre, served on the Board of Education, and worked with community sports and school programs. Dawn believes in doing good work in her community and has well-served her neighbors.

Daniel Montgomery says that serving his community and seeing the positive lifelong impact of a volunteer can’t be overstated. Daniel fills his time volunteering for a number of local organizations and sits on the board of directors for the Ethan Miller Song Foundation and KidsforKids, Dancing for Life. For Daniel, developing relationships and working with families and children in need are some of the best parts of helping his community.

For Ashley Phan, it’s all about connections. As president and co-founder of We Are One Inc., an anti-human trafficking non-profit, Ashley says her favorite thing is connecting trafficking survivors and at-risk youth with resources. Ashley is a board member of the United Nations Association, and she does fundraising work to build connections and Branford and Guilford.

Anthony Cono Carrano has found a number of ways to make a positive impact in his community. After a career teaching Valley Regional High School students the secrets of math, Anthony continues to find ways to help his neighbors in retirement. As the head of the Ancient Order of Weeders in Essex, he can frequently be found helping beautify the traffic islands on Route 154. When he’s not driving for Friends in Service Here (FISH), Anthony performs with Con Brio and Capella Cantorum and is a member of the Hilltop Four Barbershop Quartet and the Community Music School’s New Horizons Band. Anthony is dedicated to being a positive force in his community.

Ann Murray is always willing to lend a helping hand to her neighbors. A member of the East Haven Fire Department Volunteer Company One, Ann has served her local firefighters association for 30 years. She’s a past recipient of the East Haven Merit Award and sits on the committee for future awardees. Ann continues to work to make an impact for all of her neighbors.

Michael Barbaro has a long history of providing financial support to numerous East Haven, New Haven, and Branford organizations for over two decades. Inspired by Neil Mellen, founder of Town Fair Tire, Michael is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community. His contributions have supported New Reach, St. Martin DePorres School, the Boys & Girls Club of New Haven, the Sarah Foundation, Connecticut Hospice, Wreaths Across America, Feeding Families Foundation, and Fair Haven Community Health.

Cathy Weiss has dedicated herself to various volunteer efforts, including serving as the Clinton Town Poet Laureate, organizing a community poetry project, and establishing the Cathy Weiss Sunrise Fund during COVID-19 to assist residents in Clinton. Inspired by the challenges of the pandemic, Cathy stepped up to support her community, granting 17 funds to those in need and demonstrating her commitment to making a difference. She also runs support groups for seniors and serves as a mentor to students. She loves the fulfillment and “helper’s high” she receives from her volunteer efforts.

Nicole Talmadge hopes that her work will help break cycles of generational poverty. She wishes to honor her mother’s legacy, who was also a volunteer in Madison. As Executive Director of the Kids’ Scholarship Fund, Nicole has worked hard to award scholarships that connect underprivileged children with schools where they can find safety and support. She also started the OutRun 38 foundation, uniting over 6,000 runners, walkers, hikers, and triathletes worldwide to raise awareness for Cystic Fibrosis.

Jack Stacey is always ready to offer a helping hand when needed. During COVID-19, he ensured homeless people throughout East Haven and New Haven were provided with lunches. He and his wife, Susan, also often went to pick up food donations a few times a week for the East Haven Food Pantry. He has served nine years on the Civil Service Commission and is currently in his third term as a member of the East Haven Board of Education. Along with general community support, he is chairman of East Haven’s Veteran’s Council. He is heavily involved in organizing many activities to honor those who have served, including Memorial Day, Flag Day, and Veteran’s Day Services.

Cindy Sparago co-founded East Haven Pride, an organization that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in East Haven. She aims to create spaces where all are welcome. She also dedicates hours every weekend to providing labor assistance to the East Haven Food Pantry. She loves working with like-minded people who also want to serve their community. She is always searching for ways to give back and has tirelessly worked to make sure every resident of East Haven feels welcome.

Jean Schneider has volunteered for the Essex Community Fund for 15 years, serving in multiple leadership roles, including secretary, vice president, president, and treasurer. Inspired by her parents’ hard work, she felt it was important to volunteer for organizations that helped Essex residents have the best quality of life. Through ECF, she has fundraised to give grants to non-profits that help Essex residents with food insecurity, transportation, mental health insurance, fuel assistance, and educational opportunities.

Lorenzo Santamaria, a Marine Corps veteran and Purple Heart recipient, has lived his life serving his community and fellow veterans. As commander of the Edward A. Norton VFW Post #7666 since 1979, he has been at the heart of organizing Memorial Day parades and ceremonies for veterans. Beyond his leadership, he provides thousands of meals through Meals on Wheels and community events like the Guilford Veterans Day Lasagna Dinner. He was inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame in 2024 for his community work and generosity.

A cancer survivor, Jackie Peters is dedicated to helping others through their fight. As the leader of Team Pff, Jackie has expanded the team from supporting breast cancer research to raising over $100,000 for assorted causes, including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Make A Wish, The Cove, and several families coping with tragic circumstances. She wants to give back to the community who cared for her through both of her cancer diagnoses. Jackie also walks every year for Alzheimer’s. She says if she could walk a few miles to help with research for a cure, sign her up!

Eileen Parlato of East Haven has volunteered with various local organizations, including the East Haven Food Pantry, East Haven Pride, and Team Rubicon. She spearheaded the creation of a formal and consistent home delivery program for the food pantry, now serving nearly 50 households monthly. Along with managing this program, she also helps to distribute food at the pantry on Saturdays. Inspired by her parents, Noreen and Fred Parlato, who are East Haven Merit Award winners, Eileen believes that volunteering strengthens community connections, fosters empathy, and brings a deeper sense of purpose to those who give back.

Paul Muniz has been an avid server of Branford organizations for over two decades. As a chairman of the Branford Solid Waste Management Commission, he has led studies on Branford’s trash and recycling program, paving the way for new collection methods and improved cost controls. He has also increased flood risk awareness among Branford residents through volunteering for the Branford Coastal Vulnerability Working Group. As President of the Hotchkiss Grove Shore District, he spearheaded recovery efforts following two hurricanes. Inspired by his father-in-law and neighbor, Paul is driven by the belief that when you have the knowledge to help, it’s your responsibility to give back.

Lorrie Maiorano of East Haven has built meaningful connections with the community through understanding the unique needs and aspirations of the people she has served in many communities, including East Haven. She strives to grow personally through connections with others, and in exchange, she shares her skills, time, and care. Inspired by her upbringing and experiences as a parent, she has volunteered for organizations such as the East Haven Chamber of Commerce, the East Haven Economic Development Commission, and the New Haven Middlesex Association of Realtors.