2023 BOUTIQUE INVESTMENT BANK NAMED

“We honor the successes of top performing leaders and dealmakers and congratulate them on their vision and excellence for executing value-creating transactions. We wish them continued success for the year ahead,” said, Shanta Kumari, CEO and Global Group editor, Global M&A Network.

Located in Southport, Connecticut, Carter Morse & Goodrich is a boutique M&A advisory firm that specializes in representing founder-led and family-held businesses valued between $25 million and $250 million. CMG specializes in advising leading companies in niche markets to plan, prepare, execute and close successful transactions that maximize shareholder value.

Ridgefield Playhouse Celebrates Pride Month

On Friday, June 16, in celebration of Pride Month, the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, Connecticut, hosted Chasten Buttigieg in conversation with Tony Award-winner and New York Times best-selling author, Harvey Fierstein; and author, columnist and award-winning Broadway, television and film producer Richie Jackson. The program focused on the young adult adaptation of Buttigieg’s New York Times Best-Seller, “I Have Something to Tell You” (Simon & Schuster), a hopeful and refreshingly candid memoir by Buttigieg, husband of former Democratic presidential candidate and current Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. The book chronicles the challenges of coming out and growing up gay in a small Mid-

MUSIC AND WINE, A WINNING COMBO

Former New York Yankees centerfielder and jazz music icon Bernie Williams and His Band of Friends performed live at Millbrook Vineyards and Winery on June 17, kicking off the winery’s 2023 Jazz Concert Series. Visitors to the sold-out show had the opportunity to taste and purchase Bernie’s Blend wines – a collection of wine that was created by Williams himself with Millbrook Winery’s winemaker Ian Bearup. A portion of the wine sales proceeds will be donated to the NAMM Foundation’s SupportMusic Coalition, which unites nonprofit organizations, schools and businesses working to assure that music education is supported in communities everywhere, and that all children have the opportunity to learn and grow with music.

AWARD-WINNING WRITER JOINS A CARING ORGANIZATION

western town. The young adult adaptation is completely rewritten with new stories, including resources for readers, parents and teachers about how to help young adults embrace their true identity.

“As Chasten, Harvey and Richie acknowledged on stage, they were each born in different decades and thus have endured varying degrees of our social and political climate toward the gay community. They were exceptionally well-suited for this kind of event,” said Jared Shahid, managing director, Talent & Marketing, the Ridgefield Playhouse. “…We had a lot of parents of gay teens in the room and they were visibly moved by Chasten’s candor, empathy and relatability. It was an important event for our community,” he said.

Americares in Stamford, the health-focused relief and development organization, announced the election of award-winning writer, director and producer Marti Noxon to its Board of Directors. Her threeyear term began in May.

Noxon first learned of Americares in 2004, when the organization was responding to the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami. Shortly thereafter, she hosted a fundraiser for Americares in Los Angeles, which was the first of several events she held to help raise visibility and funds for the organization. In 2009, Noxon helped found Americares Los Angeles Council, a volunteer group comprised of people in the entertainment industry working to promote awareness around Americares health programs and raise funds locally. The Los Angeles Council went on to organize a number of events in support of the organization. In 2012, Noxon also led the effort to produce “We Hate Hurricanes,” a comedy benefit to support Americares response to Hurricane Sandy. In 2020, Noxon served as an executive producer of Americares star-studded “Covid is No Joke” virtual comedy benefit to support frontline health workers at the height of the pandemic. In 2022, she co-chaired the Americares Airlift Benefit, which raised nearly $1.8 million for the organization’s programs worldwide.

At the same time, Noxon has traveled with the organization to Guatemala and the Dominican Republic on volunteer service trips to see Americares health programs firsthand and meet with the health-care providers and patients benefitting from these transformative health projects. She earned a degree in theater arts from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

The Americares Board of Directors oversees all aspects of the health-focused relief organization’s life-changing health programs, including its disaster response work and support for 4,000 under-resourced hospitals and health clinics worldwide.

FAIRFIELD COUNTY / WESTCHESTER COUNTY / HUDSON VALLEY REGION

WELLNESS TEA WITH GOOD-FOR-YOU INGREDIENTS

Bigelow Tea in Fairfield, Connecticut, the national market leader in the United States, has just launched new Bigelow Benefits Throat Defense Ginger Honey Lemon Herbal Tea joining the expanding line of Bigelow Benefits wellness teas. With a focus on always delivering a perfect cup of tea, this new, expertly crafted flavor features high-quality ingredients that are familiar and delicious, making it a perfect good-for-you addition for your throat care needs. It is a caffeine-free, non-GMO project verified, throat-calming tea featuring immune-support ingredients, including spicy ginger and bright lemon with the soothing sweet flavor of honey.

“Over the past few years, we’ve seen a tremendous demand and expansion for products that support a healthy lifestyle,” said Cindi Bigelow, president and CEO of third-generation family-owned Bigelow Tea.

Featuring all natural green, black and herbal teas with herbs, flowers and fruits,

SPECIAL SCHOOL, SPECIAL GRADUATES

each ingredient in the Bigelow Benefits range of teas is selected to provide specific natural good-for-you benefits that help support each tea drinker’s well-being.

Bigelow Tea has long been an innovator in the tea industry, introducing the first specialty tea in 1945 with the creation of its signature flavor, “Constant Comment”®. Since that time, Bigelow Tea has continued to push innovation in not only flavor, but also by creating functional teas that enhance consumers’ day-to-day lives.

A Sparkling Event

The town of Greenwich will celebrate Independence Day on July 1 with fireworks displays at Binney Park and Greenwich Point organized by the town’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

“The town’s annual Fourth of July Fireworks is always the most popular town-wide event,” said Joseph Siciliano, director of Parks & Recreation. The Bang for Your Buck fundraiser, which accompanies the event helps with the bulk of the costs. Contributions can be made to the Town of Greenwich Parks & Recreation Foundation and are fully tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. “Every dollar helps and suggested levels start at just $25 and up,” explained Siciliano. Details on making contributions can be found at https://www.towngreenwichprfoundation.org.

MULTIMILLION FEDERAL GRANT AWARDED FOR CO-OCCURRING CARE SYSTEM

The Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) has been notified by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of a five-year, $2.7 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This federal grant, titled “Westchester Co-Occurring System of Care-Tree Supporting Adolescents and Transitional Aged Youth with Co-Occurring Disorders and their Families, through a Wraparound System of Care,” will be implemented in partnership between DCMH, The Harris Project, Westchester Jewish Community Services, Family Services of Westchester, the Guidance

Center of Westchester, MHA-Westchester, and additional organizations.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said, “People living with both mental health and substance-use issues is something we recognize as a growing concern in our county. Our Department of Community Mental Health works every day to link with partners around the community – both inside and outside government. This grant will allow us to bring together top experts to better serve our communities.”

The project will serve over 1,132 individuals throughout the duration of the grant.

The Cerebral Palsy of Westchester Bridge School at Rye Brook, a New York State Department of Education-approved special education center serving students with disabilities, ages 5 to 21, recently held its graduation ceremony. Four graduates in formal cap and gown attire were surrounded by their peers as well as staff, family and friends at the program hosted by Principal Barry Wasser. Guest Speaker New York State Senator Shelley B. Mayer spoke on behalf of the state, congratulating the graduates and honoring them with a certificate of special recognition.

The Bridge School at Rye Brook, a division of Cerebral Palsy of Westchester, is

TEAM’S COMMITMENT TO HOMELESSNESS AND FOOD-INSECURITY

Caring for the Hungry & Homeless of Peekskill (CHHOP) was recently awarded the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce “Quality of Life Award” at the chamber’s “Stars Along the Hudson Gala Brunch” at the Abbey Inn & Spa in Peekskill.

The CHHOP team was recognized for their continued commitment to improving the lives of homeless and food-insecure individuals in Peekskill through their various services and programs.

CHHOP is a nonprofit organization with a mission that every person is entitled to safe and affordable housing as well as healthy and nutritious food. It works to alleviate hunger and home - lessness in Peekskill and the surrounding community by providing temporary housing, long-term housing, advocacy and clinical and support services to veterans, domestic violence survivors and a special education center serving students with multiple disabilities. It offers a comprehensive program that connects families, students and educational professionals to help students reach their academic potential and discover what the possibilities are for them beyond the school setting. chronically homeless men and women. In addition, CHHOP also provides healthy and nutritious food through Fred’s Pantry, supporting those who are hungry and facing food insecurity.