2022 Annual Report

Celebrating 20years!

Dear Friends of Mill River Park,

Twenty years is considered a generation. It’s a time to pause and look back but also to set our sights on where we are going. In 2023, Mill River Park Collaborative will celebrate its 20th anniversary as the leadership organization charged with creating and sustaining a world-class park along the banks of the Mill River in the heart of Stamford. Twenty years ago, there were many skeptics and naysayers who didn’t believe that the swampy, garbage-strewn river could ever be anything but an eyesore or that the narrow strip of land along its banks would ever form the basis of a legitimate park.

As we all know, they were wrong. The Collaborative forged a partnership with city, state, and federal agencies; corporations; foundations; and private donors to fulfill its mission. We raised tens of millions of dollars privately for the Park. We secured federal funds to restore the river, and for the first time in 360 years, the river flowed free and clean. We worked with the city to acquire land to expand the footprint of the Park and began to transform former sites of crime and chronic neglect into a place of family gatherings, lush meadows, and delight in nature. We worked with the community to build a unique playground that has been so heavily used that it will be replaced next year with a new state-of-the-art play space, again with community input. And we brought a spectacular carousel, skating rink, and display fountain to Stamford’s downtown.

Not content to just build and maintain a park, the Collaborative realized early on that the Park could be a living classroom that would instill in children (and adults) a love of nature and a commitment to the environment. It initiated programs for elementary and high school students that brought classroom learning alive in the Park. The Collaborative realized people are happier doing exercise when they are surrounded by the natural world, and so it offered an expansive series of fitness classes. It extended that happiness concept to outdoor movies, concerts, food festivals, summer camp, and more. As the Collaborative approached its second generation, it realized a dream to create a world-class welcome and learning space to enable it to continue to educate, illuminate, and engage the community year-round. The Whittingham Discovery Center fulfills that dream beautifully and is already becoming a centerpiece of the community.

Today, a generation later, we are poised for greater expansion to ensure the Park fulfills its commitment to world-class design to meet our community needs. A state-of-the-art inclusive playground is in the works, further expansion of the greenway both north and south is ongoing, and work to complete the last main section of the Park along Washington Boulevard is in the design stage.

It is good to take stock on this notable anniversary, of all that we have accomplished together. We all are — and should be — quite proud. But it’s more important to look forward, to dream together about what we can accomplish in this next generation, for the Park and for Stamford. We are confident that, together, our leadership and supporters will step up and step forward to continue to bring the people of Stamford and surrounding communities the very best of what a park can be.

Arthur Selkowitz, Board Chairman

What a difference a year makes!

This time last year, I was getting to know the Park and all the wonderful people who play a role in making Mill River Park such a special place. As I head towards my one-year mark, I am so energized by all that has been accomplished in 2022. I have had the privilege to build relationships with so many community members, elected officials, and partners. We have hit huge milestones in park-building, with many more on the horizon. We have brought joy to so many in Stamford and beyond.

As you read through this report, I hope that you are as inspired and excited as I am about all that the Park has accomplished over the past year. We have a lot to be proud of, not just this year but in the last two decades. What excites me the most is thinking about how we will continue to build on our legacy of connecting people and nature and thinking more expansively about how we can achieve that. How can we make sure that everyone in our community feels welcome to engage in our park?

This past year, we have made progress on advancing that goal, from the small details to the big moves in the Park. From movie nights that reflect the diversity of our neighborhood to family activities designed to be accessible to kids on the spectrum, we are challenging ourselves to be as inclusive as possible. Future construction at Archstone and the Playground are being shaped today by voices from all over Stamford, ensuring that we are building spaces to meet the needs of our thriving and growing community.

Our park is built on a culture of continuous improvement and a pursuit of excellence. I invite all of you to push us to keep thinking big about what that means in the future. As always, I would love to take a walk in the Park to discuss!

Nette Compton, President & CEO

Community Programs and Events

Park-Hosted Events and Programs

Providing opportunities for the community to gather continues to be a core priority of the Collaborative. The Park has increased programs for the community to gather, exercise, connect with nature, relax, celebrate, learn, and have fun!

Summer Fitness Programs

Mill River Park Summer Fit Club is a free-of-charge fitness program that typically runs from May to August. Our weekly class schedule provides our community with unique workout options, such as Zumba, rhythmic yoga with live drumming, BollyFit, sunrise yoga, and more. Fit Club in the Park has grown immensely in popularity, and 2021 marked our most successful summer yet, with approximately 3,500 total in attendance!

Friday and Saturday Movie Nights

Mill River Park Collaborative was joined by hundreds of park-goers in watching classic films at our annual free-of-charge Movies in the Park. The schedule included 10 different movies over five weeks, on Friday and Saturday nights on the Karp Great Lawn.

Weekends at the Carousel — Fun Saturday Mornings and Sunday Storytime

The Carousel at Mill River Park has historically hosted local families to be a part of free crafts, story times, and performances for children. This summer, we were able to host over 200 children and their families with no entrance fee.

Mill River Park Cornhole League

Mill River Park’s Cornhole League returned with seasonal tournaments in 2021. This adult league brings together the best of Stamford each week to relax after a long workday. In 2021, we hosted 31 teams in seasonal tournaments, and our 2022 league hosted 22 teams for 10 weeks.

Halloween at the Carousel

Mill River Park Collaborative’s free-of-charge Halloween at the Carousel celebration is a time where the families of Stamford and beyond can gather to make memories their children will remember. In 2021, we were honored to host nearly 2,500 attendees.

Cohen Skating Center

In November, we count down the days until we can start the holiday season with the opening of the Cohen Skating Center. Our 9,000-square-foot ice rink continues to serve the community. During last season alone, we hosted an estimated 10,000 skaters. We also offered lessons to the MRPC Winter Vacation Campers, as well as lessons for underserved youth, character skates, and even a free community skate night!

Weekends at the Carousel

Mill River Park’s Carousel staff invited children of all ages to get creative with free winter-inspired crafts on Saturdays and Sundays for four weeks during the 2021 holiday season. We invited families to celebrate not only with crafts, but a visit from Santa, hot cocoa, cookies, and family fun.

Partner-Hosted Events and Programs

Throughout the year, Mill River Park Collaborative partners with local organizations to provide fun events for all ages. Mill River Park’s Karp Family Great Lawn is the perfect place to host the Stamford community.

The Holiday Stroll

In 2021, the Collaborative hosted the Holiday Stroll, presented by Parachute Concerts LLC, which featured larger-than-life illuminated displays; a state-of-the-art, 30-foot Christmas tree; Christmas Village, featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus; carolers; the Winter Beer Garden; and vendors serving up delicious bites, hot cocoa, and more. The Holiday Stroll hosted over 15,000 visitors during the holiday season.

Winter Beer Garden

In December 2021, Mill River Park collaborated with partners to bring a Winter Beer Garden to the Park. The event ran every Thursday through Sunday throughout the month, featuring locally brewed beers, live music, and festive holiday activities.

We are thankful to First County Bank for their continued sponsorships.

Hey Stamford!

The Hey Stamford! Food Festival returned in 2021 and brought together the foodies of Connecticut and beyond. Mill River Park Collaborative was excited to host the fourth festival, held over two weekends and packed with the area’s most popular food trucks, live music from renowned artists, local vendors, and more. The event was once again a huge success, drawing thousands of visitors.

Alive at Five

Stamford Downtown’s highly anticipated summer concert series came back in 2021 with an eager crowd. Mill River Park Collaborative partnered with DSSD to hold Alive at Five inside the Park, allowing the attendees to enjoy Downtown’s green space with local food trucks, craft beer and cocktails, vendors, and more.

“Mill River Park is a vibrant green space in the heart of downtown Stamford. Their programming provides an array of educational opportunities for children of all ages, and it is a wonderful place for Stamford families to enjoy together.” — Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons

Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular Park Party

On Sunday, November 21, 2021, the Stamford community gathered at Mill River Park to commemorate Stamford Downtown’s annual Thanksgiving Parade. Families were invited to watch as the parade’s giant balloons were inflated, with performances by Stamford’s very own marching band and local dance troupes.

Indian Independence Day and Kite Festival

The annual Indian Independence Day Celebration and Kite Festival kicks off the month of August, right outside the Mill River Park Carousel and presented by GOPIO-CT. This first weekend in August at Mill River Park is known for a celebration of Indian culture, showcasing local authentic food, dance performances, vendors, and speeches by community leaders. In 2021, the celebration saw nearly 200 attendees!

Parties in the Park

Located in the heart of Stamford, Mill River Park is a beautiful and accessible venue for birthday parties, corporate and community events, and more. With options for both indoor and outdoor event space, you can invite guests to enjoy the seasonal beauty of the Park at the Cohen Skating Center or celebrate year-round in the Brownstein | Selkowitz Carousel Pavilion and the newly opened Whittingham Discovery Center. The Whittingham Discovery Center will offer additional opportunities to host your next party, meeting, or special event at a unique venue your guests will never forget. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer sweeping vistas of the Park throughout the building, and the green roof and Dudley Williams Community Room offer sunset viewing year-round. To book a party, contact parties@millriverpark.org.

Dinner in the Park Gala Returned in 2022

Mill River Park Collaborative’s long-awaited Dinner in the Park Gala returned on May 5, 2022. Over 500 guests enjoyed a festive evening of support and celebration.

Joselyn Osorio, Steward ’21–’22

Learning in the Park

With the opening of the Whittingham Discovery Center, we look forward to providing more learning opportunities in the Park. Serving as the foundation for our environmental education programming, the Whittingham Discovery Center highlights the delicate balance between people and the natural world. Mill River Park Collaborative’s belief is that understanding and appreciating this relationship is critical in the development of all young people. All our programs are designed to align with Connecticut’s Next Generation Science Standards, and we hope to improve literacy in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) and increase students’ knowledge and appreciation of nature and the environment. The Collaborative will begin to offer redesigned field trips to the Park, including both classic and halfday trips for all ages. These will include learning about the Park’s environment and the challenges it faces, allowing students the opportunity to brainstorm solutions for real-world issues.

Stewards

The Mill River Stewards High School Internship program is a paid internship for Stamford teens, with a focus on increasing environmental literacy and awareness. The Stewards program introduces Stamford high school students to careers in environmental conservation and stewardship, along with providing them with the “soft skills” necessary to successfully navigate work environments. Students engage in Park environmental projects, enriching field trips, and career-readiness workshops during their internships. Since its launch in December 2010, the Mill River Stewards program has served more than 100 teens ages 15–18.

“I came to the after-school Stewards in hopes of being able to learn more and gain new experiences. This job allows me to explore something I genuinely enjoy.”

—

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Stewards program was highly successful. Eighteen students completed a wide range of projects, including invasive species removal, meadow conservation management, river clean-ups, and the installation of a food forest. Stewards also participated in career prep and SAT workshops. This summer’s learning included seminars on resume writing and practice interviews. There were also workshops on nature journaling, climate change and greenhouse gases, and sustainability. Students participated in trips to Hood Mountain, the New York Botanical Garden, Silverman’s Farm, and the Maritime Aquarium.

We perform ongoing benchmark assessments to ensure Stewards achieve the goals they need to be successful. Stewards gain an increased awareness of their surroundings and the role greenspace plays in cities, as well as an understanding of climate change, over-consumption, resiliency, sustainability, and environmental conservation. Stewards master the skills and information necessary to pursue future jobs, internship opportunities, and environmental training at the collegiate level.

Docents

Launched with a pilot program in 2021, the Docent program combines the theoretical foundations of interpretation with the practical communication skills of public speaking. Docents receive an hourly wage while developing professional skills that include environmental science and stewardship, natural resource and facilities management, outdoor education, and team problem-solving and communication. In 2022, we had nine docents participate — three college students and six high school students. We are particularly proud that 100% of our Docents are graduates of our Stewards program.

This year-round program is two-fold: It provides both key workforce skills and a certification that serves as a launching pad for the Docents in their fields of interest, developing careerreadiness skills for jobs in parks, zoos, museums, nature centers, aquariums, and other like organizations that help visitors connect with nature.

Henkel Researchers’ World

Henkel Researchers’ World is an educational initiative designed by Henkel to introduce children (ages 8–10) to the fascinating world of science by putting them in the role of an actual researcher. In partnership with Henkel Corporation, we introduced their signature curriculum to local students. Following a successful pilot program in early 2021, we offered free oneday workshops in June 2021 where students explored the concepts of sustainability, consumption, recycling, materials science and more.

The newest addition to the Park, the Whittingham Discovery Center, showcases a Henkel Researchers’ World classroom that opened in June of 2022. “The classroom features science lab equipment and workstations customized for up to 20 elementary-school-aged children for a handson experience of our STEM curriculum,” said Jennifer Schiavone, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Americas and the program’s executive sponsor at Henkel in North America.

Through our partnership, we offer specialized Henkel Researchers’ World programs for school field trips and our camp sessions. In addition to the dedicated classroom, we launched the Henkel Researchers’ World Discovery Cart — this science station on wheels can often be seen roving through the park every weekend and at special events. Serving as an extension of the classroom, the cart offers 15-minute pop-up science experiments performed by Mill River Park Docents. This innovative approach provides fast bits of science fun to inspire children to learn more.

“We’re passionate about growing Henkel Researchers’ World in North America. Establishing a dedicated classroom and Discovery Cart with Mill River Park enables children to explore science and nature in an urban environment.” — Jennifer Schiavone, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Americas and the program’s executive sponsor at Henkel in North America

Youth Programs

Summer Camp

In 2021, Mill River Park Collaborative hosted an “almost normal” summer camp for 60 children. Our campers and staff had a blast, participating in eight sessions of active, skill-building activities all summer long. After over a year of uncertainty, Mill River Park Summer Camp provided a needed break for kids to safely have fun, build relationships, and learn new skills.

We hosted 22–34 campers each week for eight weeks. (Some children attended multiple weeks.) Each week had a different theme and included five unique field trips. Campers visited Cove Beach; sailed on the SoundWater Schooner; and visited the New York Hall of Science, the Urban Air Adventure, and DreamWorks Water Park. In addition to weekly swim lessons, we added a new social–emotional learning component (SEL) to camp. SEL activities occurred every Wednesday and helped children who were dealing with the stresses of the past year due to COVID-19. Activities on “Wellness Wednesdays” included yoga, meditation, and Zumba Jr.

We were happy to provide a normal-ish camp for 60 unique campers. Thanks to our generous donors, this summer 50% of our campers received full or partial financial assistance. We hope to provide this opportunity to even more children through continued partnerships and grants in the coming years!

Vacation Camp

Throughout the school year, children can attend camp at the Park during school vacations while caregivers are at work. Over 165 campers attended winter and spring vacation camp sessions held at the Brownstein | Selkowitz Carousel Pavilion during the 2021–2022 school year. Participants have the opportunity to play, get creative, and even participate in pop-up science lessons! Activities include arts and crafts, sports, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), cooking, and outdoor recreation.

Green Team

Mill River Park Collaborative’s Green Team is a free environmental research program for sixth–eighth graders in Stamford. Students participate in a variety of research projects that apply classroom STEM concepts in an outdoor, experiential context. Students learn how to be environmental advocates and ways to be forces for positive change in their community.

The Green Team program prepares students for future paid internship opportunities, including the Stewards Program at Mill River Park.

During summer 2021, Mill River Park Collaborative hosted eight students for one month. Throughout July and August, students identified and inventoried trees, collected river flow data, sampled soil, built renewable energy circuits, engaged in nature journaling and drawing, planted food forests, explored river macroinvertebrates, and learned about a variety of careers in environmental fields and how to take action against climate change. They toured the new Discovery Center and visited the DEEP Salmon Hatchery, Silverman’s Farm, Crescent Lake, and the Mianus River Gorge.

The Whittingham Discovery Center

Two years since breaking ground, the Whittingham Discovery Center opened to the public on June 24, 2022. The Center is a state-of-the-art visitor and environmental education center that teaches visitors, campers, and school groups about the Park’s history and the city’s connection to nature.

The Center’s main purpose is to provide visitors with a place to explore the wonders of nature in the middle of the city. This was the hope of the Whittingham brothers, Andrew and Michael, for whom the building is named. To encourage this exploration of nature, the Center offers STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) programs with both a classroom and place-based park component. These programs are enhanced by an interactive exhibit space in the Center, which highlights how nature and healthy ecosystem functions make the city of Stamford more resilient to changing weather. In addition, film screenings, talks, interactive demonstrations, science shows, and drop-in public programs for all ages will supplement the hands-on learning experiences that the Whittingham Discovery Center offers.

In celebration of the grand opening of the Center, the Park hosted Meet Mill River Day in June 2022, with over 900 attendees. The festivities provided a weekend of festivities, including arts and crafts, tours of the Center, interactive science demonstrations, fitness classes, a DJ on the green roof, and much more.

“The opening of the center allows us to expand our programming and environmental education offerings to students and visitors alike. With our new science curriculum, we will expand our ability to foster and grow our city’s connection to and admiration of nature.” — Nette Compton, President and CEO, Mill River Park Collaborative

Main Street Garden

The Main Street Garden is a hidden gem at Mill River Park, featuring an array of beautiful floral gardens and plants. Situated outside the Main Street entrance, the Garden would not be what it is without its wonderful volunteers, Laura Godown, Eve Lapine, Sondra Limeburner, and Vickie Ruehl. The Collaborative is in awe of these Mill River Park champions, who work tirelessly with our team to ensure the Park’s lasting beauty.

Thanks to our Volunteers

As Mill River Park grows, so too does its need to continue to be a beautiful, thriving, and biologically diverse natural resource for the Stamford community. Volunteers play a vital role in helping the Collaborative deliver its mission of connecting people and nature, from gardening and land care to helping out with community events and environmental education programming. Mill River Park has historically hosted volunteer groups from local businesses, large corporations based in Stamford, and local families seeking to be involved. Since July 1, 2021, the Park has benefited from 15 corporate volunteer groups and six service clubs, totaling almost 1,470 hours of service!

More Growth. More Park.

As we look toward the future, the Greenway will continue north from Broad Street to Scalzi Park and south to the Harbor. It’s all part of our vision to create a 3-mile greenway from Scalzi Park to Stamford Harbor.

CLOONAN MIDDLE SCHOOL

What’s Next

As we look forward to the next 20 years and beyond, we are constantly looking ahead for new opportunities to better serve the Stamford community.

Middle Corridor West

This section of the Park promises to be a stunning oasis along the river, but progress on construction has been challenged by global material shortages that have become all too familiar in the news. The portion of work that our team oversaw, including riverside restoration and native plantings, was completed in the winter of 2021. The site has remained fenced off as plantings become established. Our partners at the City of Stamford are overseeing the second phase of work, which will include pathways, lighting, sidewalk improvements, and a muchanticipated horseshoe court.

Greenway North

Construction has been moving along nicely this year on the eastern bank of the river. Set to be complete by the end of this year, this new portion will add an additional mile of linear park. This new stretch of park, connecting the central area of the Park with Scalzi Park to the north of us, is a critical connector to area schools and neighbors. Hart Magnet Elementary School, Cloonan Middle School, and J.M. Wright Technical High School all connect directly to the pathway, with additional schools close by.

As the Park continues to grow and stretch to the north and south, we increase our appeal to runners, bike riders, and those who use other alternative modes of transportation. Connections through the Park into the downtown area are important for recreation and fitness and also serve as a commute alternative. As we grow, we are working closely with the city of Stamford on bike lane connections, making sure that the network of pathways, signage, and layout are consistent, logical, and easily navigable.

Mill River Entry Plaza

This core area of the Park is a critical next phase of work for us. As we’ve grown and added elements to the Park, it can feel like we’re assembling a puzzle laid out in our master plan. This central portion of the Park is home to a range of pop-up and temporary programming, from Alive at Five to our dog Bark Park, and is the last remaining big piece of this puzzle right in the heart of the Park. As we consider the design for this area, it is important we make sure it’s the right final piece, so that it not only fits in, but when we step back, the whole picture works. Toward that goal, we are pulling out all the stops to ensure a top-notch design that takes into consideration all of what this space means to the Park and to Stamford. We have hired a fantastic team, bringing back Centerbrook Architects of Whittingham Discovery Center fame, along with Stimson Landscape Architecture, voted best firm of the year by their peers at the American Society of Landscape Architecture. Together, we are curating an inclusive engagement process to bring together community voices, Park “power users,” nonprofit partners, Park staff, and city leadership across police, fire, and engineering.

For this cornerstone piece of the Park, the key elements include a permanent dog park that can be enjoyed by pets and owners alike, permanent public bathrooms, and the infrastructure and layout to allow signature events of up to 7,500 visitors for Alive at Five and the Hey Stamford! Food Festival, to name a few. Follow along as we advance these ideas into a comprehensive design next year!

Playground Renovation

The new playground will provide an opportunity for children to learn, care, and share. Children can learn from one another as they model good behavior, such as sharing, taking turns, and leadership. By creating this nurturing space within the Park’s natural setting, we aim to create moments of organic happiness for all children. This state-of-the-art playground will be unique and transformational for downtown Stamford and the greater Stamford community — both urban and suburban.

By investing in new, engaging, modern, and sensory-friendly equipment, together we can take this playground renovation to the next level, beyond simple ADA compliance, creating a unique destination playground experience where children of all abilities can play side by side. The new playground will better meet current ADA standards and will create an atmosphere for both children and caregivers to interact, engage, play, and learn.

Financials

Fiscal Year 2022 Operating Revenue

City of Stamford Operations Grant $692,500 Operations Tax Incremental Funding $345,026

Total City of Stamford $1,037,526 Investment Income $481 Individual Donations $181,836 Fundraising Events $254,146 Fee-for-Service/Programming (Individual) $258,584 Paycheck Protection Plan Loan Forgiveness $239,974 Corporate & Foundation Giving — Operating $596,931

TOTAL REVENUE $2,569,478

Fiscal Year 2022 Operating Expenses

Administration $279,344 Fundraising $260,456 Program Expenditure/Park Maintenance $2,032,436

TOTAL EXPENSES $2,572,236

Financials

Fiscal Year 2022 Capital Funding

Investment Income $4,018

City of Stamford — Tax Incremental Funding $1,029,974

Individual Capital Donations $818,201

State Grant — Whittingham Discovery Center $3,000,000

Corporate & Foundation Capital Donations $ 1,176,500

TOTAL CAPITAL FUNDING $6,028,693

Fiscal Year 2022 Capital Expenses

Construction Management $236,707

Capital Construction in Progress $6,076,713

Capital Fixed Assets $453,183

Capital Repairs and Maintenance $147,772

TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENSES $6,914,376

Mill River Park Collaborative Supporters

Legacy Grove

Special thanks to the donors who have given or pledged over $1 million dollars over the Collaborative’s 20-year history.

Don & Lisa Brownstein

Anonymous

Don & Lisa Brownstein

City of Stamford

Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation

Fairfield County’s Community Foundation

General Electric (GE)

The Suzanne McGraw Foundation Inc.

National Fish & Wildlife Foundation

Selkowitz Family Foundation

State of Connecticut

John & Paula Todd

Andrew Whittingham & Family

Michael Whittingham & Family

Cherry Blossom Society

Special thanks to the donors who have given or pledged $225,000 to $750,000 over the Collaborative’s 20-year history.Don & Lisa Brownstein

Charter Communications

Marilyn Clements

The Cullman Family

First County Bank Foundation Inc.

Dean & Laura Godown

Henkel Corporation

Karp Family Foundation

Vince & Linda McMahon Family Foundation Inc.

Nestlé Waters North America Inc.

David & Miriam Nissen

Harley & Stephen Osman

The Overbrook Foundation: Robin & Julie Graham

Patricia & Robert Phillips

Reckson, A Division of SL Green

The Rich Family Foundation

Charles & Deborah Royce

The Herbert & Nell Singer Foundation Inc.

Structured Portfolio Management

Thomson Reuters

UBS

Barbara & Fabrizio Zichichi

Charitable Contributions

We want to acknowledge and thank all of our generous Park supporters who gave from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022.

$750,000 to $100,000

Anonymous

Charter Communications

The Cullman Family Henkel Corporation

$99,999 to $50,000

Marilyn Clements

Dean & Laura Godown

Stephen Hoffman The Stratfield Fund Velaj Foundation

$49,999 to $25,000

Brownstein Family Foundation

First County Bank Pitney Bowes Foundation Selkowitz Family Foundation

Synchrony Financial

$24,999 to $10,000

Berkowitz & Hanna

Castleton Commodities

International

The Day Family Foundation

Fairfield County’s Community Foundation

First County Bank Foundation Inc.

Anthony Gaglio Kirmar Foundation

Lapine Company

The Edith & Herbert Lehman Foundation

Amin & Fatima Mawji

Frank & Lori Mercede

Overbrook Family Advised Fund Reckson

The Rich Foundation Roe Foundation

SB&W — Soule, Blake & Wechsler Inc.

James Shapiro

Stamford Rotary Club Thomas Tryforos

Denise & Tom Walsh

The Whittingham Family Foundation

Wofsey, Rosen, Kweskin & Kuriansky LLP WWE Inc.

$9,999 to $5,000

Accurate Lock and Hardware

Asbury Automotive Group

Bauman Family Foundation

Cynthia & Richard Blumenthal

Boehm Family Foundation

Building and Land Technology

Stephen Canna

Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP

ConnectiCare Inc.

Cummings & Lockwood LLC

George Comfort & Sons Inc. Grade A ShopRite

Kravet Realty LLC M&T Bank

Elizabeth & Thomas Mantione

Harley & Stephen Osman Phibro

RMS Construction Andrew Shantz

Silver Golub & Teitell LLP Stamford Downtown Special Services District Stamford Hospital UBS

Joan Weisman Barbara & Fabrizio Zichichi

$4,999 to $1,000

June & Ronald Ahrens Bill Aron

Ashforth Properties Inc. Joseph & Tina Bartels

Laura Beck

Kerrin & Stephne Behrend Lincoln & Susan Boehm

George Boyce

John Cannavino

Centerbrook Architects and Planners

Claire L. Helsing Foundation Mimi Cohen

Jeffrey & Marty Cokin

Kathryn Corbally Maryly Culpepper

Denise & Nicola Doria

Fred & Harriet Dulaney

Eastern Land Management Empire Residential

Esta & Jay Feinsod

First Bank of Greenwich Alex & Clare Foster

Donna & Edward Fuhrman

David Genovese & Camilla Herrera

Robert & Sandy Goldstein

Bob & Mary Granata

Greenwich Hospitality Group LLC

Judith & Leonard Haber

Mike & Sarah Handler

Janet & John Harper

George & Phyllis Heller

Bill & Jevera Hennessey

HFB Movie Inc. — Happiness for Beginners Jim Himes

Christine Hinkle

David Hopper

Glen Iurato

Juanita James

Susan Johnson

Athena Kaporis

Betsy & Peter Kempner

Holly & Noah Lapine

David Lehman

Nina & Norman Lotstein

Lexa Logue & Ian Shrank

The M&T Charitable Foundation

David Martin

Peter McAllister

Jackqueline Mclean

Paul Mercado

Montagno Construction

Brent Montgomery Shelly Nichani

O&G Industries Inc.

Matthew & Meghan Osowiecki

Elizabeth & Nagi Osta

Parachute Marketing Group LLC

Alan & Lynn Pearce

Robert Peirce

Polly Perkins Johnson

Pooja Hospitality LLC, DBA Super 8 Stamford

Mr. & Mrs. Rapoport

Robert Half International

Robinson & Cole

Chuck & Deborah Royce

Jay Sandak

Adam & Laurie Selkowitz

Alana & Jed Selkowitz

JJ Sendelbach

Aga & Paul Senecal

Helen & Sheldron Seplowitz

Rachel Sherman

Shipman & Goodwin LLP

Richard Silver

Brian & Carrie Sponheimer

Stamford Board of Realtors

Judith Steinberg

Judy Stewart

Kristen Stops

Gail & Stephen Trell

University of Connecticut

David Veber

Pam & Richard Vogel Sharon White

Alex Yaraghi Ari Yasgur, NEIP Jennifer Young

$999 to $500

Bartley Family Orthodontics

Dale & Max Berger

Thomas Bonfiglio

George & Meg Bradt

Jeffrey Brennan

Ellen Bromley

Charlie Carroll

Childcare Learning Centers

Lynn & Stephen Cohen

Computronix

Dorothea Donelan

Susannah Drake

Gendai Echezona

Erik Findeisen

Avram & Rhoda Freedberg

Bonnie & Joel Glasky

Emily Gordon

Half Full Brewery

Dianne & Malcolm Houtz

Anne & Mitchell Katcher

Jay Keeshan

Haddon Kirk Robert Kirk

Alice Knapp

David Kooris

KPMG LLP

Eve & Seth Lapine

Ellen & James Levenson

Anderson Livingston

Jill & William Lovers

Melissa Mulrooney

Rob Pedicano

John Polera

Risa & Steven Raich

Redniss & Mead Inc.

Ashleigh Sabold

Chip Schenck

Arthur & Betsey Selkowitz

Service Master of Westport

Adam Setterburg

Douglas Sharp Grant Silver

Elena Singher

Stacy Sonnenberg

Robin Stein

Therrien & Associates P.C.

Tristan Anthony Fitness Leigh Walton Alicia & Bruce Wettenstein Waleska Williams

$499 to $250

Marilyn Adelberg

Wendy Block

Kathleen Bordelon

Sarah Boyle

Katharine Brennan

Matthew Clarke

Laura Copeland

Frank Copsidas

Linda Cremin

Andrew Critelli

Leonard D’Andrea

Keegan Drenosky

Arlene Ettinger

Mary Fedeli

Gloria Fernandez Tearte

Robert Fucigna

Andrew George

Anna & Ronald Gold

Isis Goulbourne

Nancy Gramps

Edward & Susan Greenberg

Duane & Lee Hill

Laura Indellicati

David & Lorraine Kweskin

Learning in Retirement

Stephen Lynch

Kay Maxwell

Ellen & Joel Mellis

Yogesh & Sushil Nehra

Robert Phillips

Marianne Pollak

Swati Ray

Henry & Linda Rubinstein

Ryan Salvatore

Andrea & Peter Scheyhing

Brian & Monica Sciacca

Heidi & Mark Silverstein Camille Spaulding

Eileen & Steven Swerdlick

Preston Tisdale

Elliot & Emily Turner

Carl & Dana Weinberg

David & Paula Weinstein

$249 to $100

Terry Adams

Susan Benthall

Maureen & Michael Cacace

Paul Carella

James & Violet Coats

Linda & Salvatore Colucci

Jeannette Compton

Lila Croen

Gloria DePina

Amanda Dubois Mwake

Richard Essegs

Jeffrey Farber

Phil Farin

May & Vagn Fausing

Edward & Ronnie Fein

Garry & Sue Feldman

Gregg Ferguson

Belinda Foster

Amershi Gada

Gary Gepner

Joseph Giancola

Maya Giddens

Michelle Ginsberg

Tonje Gjorven

Marilyn Goldblum

Barry Hersh

Elizabeth Huffine

Barbara & Bob Karp

Karen Kelly

Cathy Konicki

Jeannie Kriftcher

Geoff Kupferschmid

Nick & Rebecca Lai

Silvia Lederman

Judith Liebeskind

Carol Luders

Jose Maldonado

William Malloy

Martin McGrath

Rosanne McManus

Elsa Mekonen

Jean & Robert Meyer

Barbara Miller

Stanford Miller

Elaine Mintz

Joan Montello

Merritt & Roslyn Nesin

Craig & Suzanne Olin

Marc & Susan Peyser

James Popper

Joan Ross

Gunnar Sahlin

Lisa Santos

George Schott

Ann Seidel

Eugene & Frieda Shapiro

Elaine Sharlach

Barbara Sherber

Stephen Sherman

Preeti Sikri

David Stein Turhan Tirana

Johnna Torsone

Christel Truglia

Janet & Peter Vanderwaart

Mirellise Vazquez

Diane & Neal Warner Ann & Bernie Weiss

Juliet & Matthew Weissman Menachem Wilenkin

up to $100

Elvira Albert

Eucaris & Norberto Barroso

Maria Baxter

Greg Bilionis

Judith Birnbaum

Catherine Bischoff

Daniel Block

Richard & Susan Blomberg

Gregory Bomash

Lauren Boswell

Steve Brace

Savanha Brubaker

Cecelia Calvo

Constance Cirillo Freeman

Corti Cooper

Kathleen Degidio

Nicole Desir Wilson

Cathleen Donnelly

Carley Dowd

Lee Anne Fernandez Shirley Firestein

Larissa Friedenberg

Aisha Gawad

Shannon Gilman-Bey

Jamie Goldman

Martha Gonzalez

Charles Guinta

Richard Harper

Gail & Richard Hofmann

Tucker Houghton

Annie Hughes

Brian Ingmanson

Kathryn Johanessen

Karen Juul

John Keller

Suzanne Kennard Roger Kerr Caryl Komornik

Mary Krayeske

Shyamli Kumar

Linda Levy

Karleigh Logan

Deirdre Macneill

Thomas Madden Meenakshi Madhu

Jonathan Man

Roselyn Mangot

Grace Markovits

Elizabeth Mercede

Garry Morton

Esther Ortiz

Kurt & Susan Ostheimer

Donna Pascale

Riya Punjabi Rim Raslin

Cristina Reyes

Bernadette Rivera

Erin Rossettie

Donald & Rosemary Rullman

Michael Sabia

Marina Satinover Angela Schumann Barbara & Nolan Schwartz

Emily Serven

James & Pamela Shadford

Carolyn & Frederick Shulman

Jane Silverman

Mollie Simons

James Simpson

Andrew Sklover

Richard Slavin

Latosha Smith

Yolanda Sotelo

Patricia Stanley

Karen Steger

Garcia Stella Darcy Taylor

Vicki Tone

Amy Vitale

VMware Foundation Cheryl Vukelic

Terry White

Dudley Williams III Veronica Yungasaca Janneth Zurita

Ways You Can Help

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we rely on our donors to maintain, program, and build the Park.

There are many ways to support the Park:

Make a piece of the Park yours: Consider a naming opportunity, which will serve as a living legacy to the community. There are also a host of programs and scholarships that provide essential support and opportunities for our community.

Make the Park part of your estate planning: Ensure your impact by including Mill River Park Collaborative in your planned giving. Options include making a bequest to the Park, naming the Park as a beneficiary on your life insurance policy, or establishing a charitable trust. Tax advantages associated with each option vary, so we recommend you consult with your tax advisor prior to making a giving plan.

Your support will help assure that Mill River Park Collaborative continues to grow and remain a vibrant part of downtown Stamford.

For more information, contact development@millriverpark.org.

Board of Directors

(as of November 1, 2022)

Arthur Selkowitz

Chairman

Arnold M. Karp

Vice Chair

Fatima Mawji, MD Vice Chair

Robert Granata

Treasurer

Don Brownstein

Secretary

Ralph Blessing

George Boyce

Bonnie Campbell

Kathryn Corbally

Keegan Drenosky

Emily M. Gordon

Robin Graham

Conor Horrigan

David Kooris

Noah Lapine

Frank Mercede

Loren Nadres

Shelly Nichani

Matt Quinones

Ryan Salvatore

J.J. Sendelbach

Jim Shapiro

Camille S. Spaulding

Jon Winkel

Jennifer Young

Fabrizio Zichichi

Nate Zubal

Nette Compton President and CEO

Professional Staff (as of November 1, 2022)

Nette Compton

President and CEO

Mike Stake

VP of Capital Planning

Alicia Wettenstein

VP of Development

Dianne Houtz

Director of Administration

Kristia Jankowski

Director of Environmental Education and Sustainability

Kevin Kelly

Director of Business Operations

Katteryn Baez Marketing and Program Coordinator

Brandon Forlenzo

Landcare Technician

Britt Garth Senior Communications Manager

Eva Maldonado

Lead Safety Coordinator and Park Ambassador

Madison Molnar Steward Internship Supervisor

Alex Nelson Park Ambassador

Vincent Piselli

Landcare Manager

Jason Riendeau Park Ambassador and Maintenance

Brian Sachs

Landcare Assistant Manager

Marlie Saint-Surin

Private Events and Carousel Operations Manager

Kristy Schutzman Horticulture Supervisor

Tiffany Wilson

Youth and Family Programs Manager

“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.”

— William Shakespeare