Malta House To Celebrate Socially-Distant Annual Gala

Press release from Malta House:

Sept. 1, 2020

Norwalk’s own Malta House is celebrating its annual gala in a brand new way. On Thursday, September 10, the nonprofit will host a hybrid in-person and virtual event from Woodway Country Club in Darien. Safe and socially-distanced on Woodway’s terraces, ticketed attendees will enjoy a cocktail hour, paddle raise and dinner. For the first time ever, the community will be able to join the gala via live stream at no cost. Virtual attendees will be able to view presentations and even bid during the paddle raise, from the comfort of their homes.

In-person tickets start at $300 each and are nearly sold out, but those wishing to attend the event virtually can RSVP at https://www.maltahouse.org/2020-gala.

Rescheduled from its normal Mother’s Day celebration, the event on September 10 is planned to begin at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception. The live stream will begin at 7:15 p.m. Malta House’s founder Michael J. O’Rourke will present an award to the evening’s honorees, Mike and Cece Donoghue. Read below for more information about this inspirational couple.

Virtual guests will have the same donation opportunities as our in person attendees, through the annual Gifts of Love Paddle Raise and raffle ticket purchases for our “Bling” Item -- an exquisite piece of fine jewelry from Manfredi Jewels, New Canaan. “We are so excited to offer our first live-streamed gala. This year has presented challenges for our entire community, especially the mothers and babies we serve. But it has also provided us with this great opportunity to broaden our reach and invite new supporters into the Malta House family,” said Carey Dougherty, Executive Director of Malta House.

Pilar Hoyos, this year’s event chair, shared Dougherty’s view. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way! This year has been a rollercoaster with the gala, as we rescheduled the date due to the pandemic. Our volunteer committee has done an excellent job of planning, finding solutions and creating energy around this experiment. We all believe so much in the mission of Malta House and I’m grateful to be able to serve as chair this year.”

ABOUT THIS YEAR’S HONOREES: Mike and Cece Donoghue

Mike and Cece Donoghue are longtime supporters of Malta House and current co-chairs of the Connecticut Chapter of the Order of Malta. The Donoghues have been active philanthropists and volunteers in the region beyond Malta House, giving their time to New Covenant Center, the Thomas Merton Center, the Diocese of Bridgeport, Legatus in Fairfield County, St. Catherine’s Center for Special Needs, the Ignatian Spirituality Center at Fairfield University, Foundations in Education, the Veritas Catholic Radio network, Darien Challenger Baseball League, St. Catherine Academy in Fairfield, and Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T) Children’s Project. Mike and Cece and have five children ages 19 to 28 and are members of St Thomas More Catholic Church in Darien. In December 2019, Mike Donoghue was named Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Fairfield County.

● Gala 2020 live streaming will begin at 7:15 p.m. on September 10. Register to attend at https://www.maltahouse.org/2020-gala.

● Learn more about the women Malta House serves: https://www.maltahouse.org/our-families

This press release was produced by Malta House. The views expressed here are the author's own.