Person-to-Person Hosts "Blues & BBQ" to Benefit Scholarship Program

CNN Anchor Ashleigh Banfield is Honorary Chair and Master of Ceremonies at Blues & BBQ Benefit.
Casual Evening of Cocktails, Dinner and Dancing Will Be Held on Saturday, September 13.

The organizing committee is finalizing arrangements for the Person-to-Person Blues & BBQ benefit, to be held on Saturday, September 13 from 7 to 11 pm at Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk.

Ashleigh Banfield, a CNN anchor who has covered breaking news across the country and around the globe over the course of her career, is serving as Honorary Chair and Master of Ceremonies. Banfield lives in Darien, home to one of two offices that Person-to-Person maintains (the other is in Norwalk), and has been seen volunteering in Reception at the Darien office where she has answered the phones, booked casework appointments and greeted clients.

“We are so fortunate to have her support,” says P2P Executive Director Ceci Maher. “Given how busy Ashleigh is with her career, we very much appreciate that she is supporting Person-to-Person and college students in such a hands-on manner.”

Blues & BBQ is a casual evening of cocktails, dinner and dancing that benefits the Person-to-Person Scholarship Program. (For additional information and to purchase tickets, visit the P2P website.)

According to Maher, the Scholarship Program is a cornerstone of the P2P service offering. “From the very beginning, P2P recognized the need to go beyond the basics of food, clothing and shelter to achieve our mission; we need to help provide opportunity for people living in poverty and the best way to do that is through higher education.” For more than 46 years, P2P has been awarding scholarships to college students from low-income households – from the $25 per semester that was given to a single mother in 1968 to the $340,000 awarded to 139 students for the upcoming academic year. “P2P has funded $3.6 million in scholarships for nearly 2,000 students in the last 10 years alone. And more than 78% of the scholarship recipients are first-generation college students.”

Helping to break the cycle of poverty is serious business, but raising the funds to do so is about having fun while doing good.

Committee members from all over Fairfield County (including Norwalk, Stamford, Westport, Wilton; even Ridgefield) have been planning a thoroughly enjoyable event. Guests should dress comfortably – blue jeans are welcome – for authentic barbecue fare provided by Some Things Fishy Catering during cocktails and dinner. There will be music while people mingle over hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Following dinner, guests may want to kick off their shoes but will definitely kick up their heels to the dance music of Booga Sugar.

“Our committee has invested a great deal of time and effort in planning an event that promises to be a lot of fun.” A good turnout is expected, so Maher is encouraging people to buy their tickets now, through the website or by contacting Development Officer Kat DiCerto (203 621-0696).

The committee is composed of Chairs Jan and Peter Smith, Julie Bauer, Alison de Lavis, Kristin Edwards, Lisa Field, Anthony Harris, Leslie Hueglin, Susie Lindenberg, Keith Lyon, Taylor McCall-Mazza, Sarah Ritchey, Kate Urbank and Leonora Valvo.

Blues & BBQ is generously underwritten by the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation with contributions from Diageo NA, Flowers & Flowers by Adam Manjuck, Wilton Wine Shoppe and World of Beverages. New Canaan Darien & Rowayton Magazine/Moffly Media is the exclusive media sponsor.