Community Corner
Shepherds to Honor North Haven's Greg Dillon
North Haven's Greg Dillon has played an instrumental role in changing student's lives in the greater New Haven area.
On Thursday evening, October 11th, Shepherds, a mentoring and scholarship non-profit based in Bridgeport, will honor two of its most experienced and dedicated mentors, Tammy Taylor of Darien and Greg Dillon of North Haven, at its gala at The Inn at Longshore in Westport.
The evening will feature highly-respected TV journalist and co-anchor of ABC News’ Nightline, Byron Pitts, speaking on his life experience growing up in inner city Baltimore and overcoming the personal challenges of illiteracy and a speech impediment. Well-known, NBC 4 New York Weatherman, Dave Price, will serve as Emcee for the event.
Shepherds empowers inner-city teens from the New Haven and Bridgeport areas by supporting their education for four years at college preparatory schools - Notre Dame West Haven High School and Kolbe Cathedral High School, academic and life skill programs, and the positive role model of a committed Shepherds mentor.
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After graduating from Notre Dame West Haven in 1974, Greg became a police officer and supervised a Gang Unit. He saw many young men flourish and others fail as they struggled to find their way in life. Unsure how he could help to stop the cycle, he noticed a Shepherds’ advertisement and thought about it for a while before taking the plunge to volunteer to mentor students at Notre Dame. The rest is history.
Mentoring his 8th student, Jared (pictured above) a rising senior, Greg has seen the impact that the program has had on many young men and their families. All prior seven of the students Greg has mentored have graduated from high school and moved on to college. Greg still keeps in touch with them and says, “There is tremendous satisfaction in seeing a boy enter NDHS, full of doubt and indecision, maybe lacking confidence or unsure of their goals, and leaving NDHS as a mature, poised young man, brimming with potential, with a plan and a bright future.”
Find out what's happening in New Havenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Mr. Dillon will join Shepherds Board of Directors in recognition of his incredible support of the organization.
Would you like to change a life? Visit www.shepherdsmentors.org or call 203-367-4273 to purchase tickets to experience and celebrate Shepherds success at the Anniversary dinner or to learn more about Shepherds sponsorship and mentoring opportunities.
