Employee Appreciation Day at STAR Inc.

An announcement from STAR Inc., Lighting the Way of Norwalk:

STAR, Inc., Lighting the Way, a local not-for-profit organizations serving neighbors with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1952, celebrated Staff Appreciation Day on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

The inspiration of two STAR parents, Doree Levy of Westport and Barry Bosworth of Wilton, Employee Appreciation Day was an all-day recognition event, including hourly drawings for gift cards and prizes, free breakfast and lunch, home-baked treats, a baby photo contest and hundreds of smiles.

Over 200 staff members participated and were given royal blue fleece scarves embroidered with the STAR logo to proudly wear this winter. Parents, siblings, and other significant supporters sent letters of thanks to their favorite staff members or to share with the group.

On parent wrote, ”To all of you who try so hard to make other lives complete when they cannot do it for themselves, I wanted to Thank You from the bottom of my heart for coming to STAR each day and being a part of my sister’s life. You are her mentors, her friends, her mental and physical caretakers of her wellbeing. She is who she is because of you. My mom always said to me, “Those who work at STAR, and the group homes, they are a very special kind of people that do this.” And I so agree. Thank you all for being you.”

Partial funding for Staff Recognition Day came from the Katie Banzhaf “Wish Upon a STAR Fund”, created in recognition of Executive Director Katie Banzhaf’s 30th Anniversary. STAR Executive Director Katie Banzhaf was overwhelmed by the excitement exhibited by parents, staff and clients for this premier event.

Banzhaf said, “We encourage putting people first at STAR. We know our staffers do that every day, so it is nice to recognize them today! Today we celebrate all the kindnesses they give on a daily basis and the supports they deliver in the most dignified manner possible.

Whether it’s therapy to a child, interpretation for a family or assisting with dressing or feeding an adult we want them to feel good knowing that their dedicated work contributes to getting someone a job, supporting them through a challenging behavior, providing respite, being their mentor, or driving them to their favorite activity. Their work does not go unnoticed.”

STAR, Inc., Lighting the Way is a not–for-profit organization established in 1952 to serve individuals of all ages who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as providing support services to their families.

STAR creates opportunities for individuals to live full lives with independence, freedom of choice and personal growth by providing support, services and advocacy. They inform and encourage the community to recognize and appreciate the value of all individuals.

STAR serves over 600 individuals from birth through their senior years in Norwalk, Darien, New Canaan, Wilton, Westport and Weston, They inform and encourage the community to recognize and appreciate the value of all individuals.

For more information about STAR, Inc., Lighting the Way, please visit their website www.starct.org.

Captions:

Photo 1- Lorraine Santo, Solange Buissereth, Grace Colon, Mike George, Rick McVeigh, Mel Giuliani, Renetta Barr and Katie Banzhaf.

Photo 2- Haly Coleman, Diane Caston, Bill Casale, Nancy Armstrong, Jon Chandler, Katie Banzhaf and LInda Charette in front.