Oxford Resident To Receive Unsung Hero Award From Special Olympics Connecticut

Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT) will hold its 20th annual Hall of Fame Dinner on Wednesday, March 22 to recognize its extraordinary athletes, volunteers and sponsors for their dedication, leadership, spirit and support, organizers said in a news release. This recognition will include the first award recipient for Outstanding Special Olympics Local Program.

The event will take place at the Aqua Turf Country Club, 556 Mulberry Street, Plantsville. Registration will begin at 5 p.m., and the program will begin at 6 p.m. Rob Dibble from ESPN Radio, an iHeart Radio Connecticut station, will be conducting a live broadcast at the event. Renee DiNino from iHeart Radio Connecticut and Brad Field from NBC Connecticut will serve as emcees.

The Hall of Fame Dinner is made possible through the generosity of the Bozzuto and Calvanese families. The theme of this year’s event is “Rise Up.” Reservations must be made by emailing kellib@soct.org or calling 203-230-1201 ext. 276. The cost is $30 per person. To find out more, visit www.soct.org.

This year’s awards and award recipients include:

Outstanding Local Program Award– Presented to a Special Olympics local program that offers a quality sports training and competition program, provides athletes with health and fitness programs and social inclusion activities, and promotes community awareness.

· Special Olympics Oxford

Hall of Fame Awards– Individuals or groups who have made contributions of time and resources that have significantly impacted Special Olympics Connecticut.

· Eunice Murtha Award – Shane Fitzsimmons, Norwalk

· Community Leadership Award – NBC Connecticut, West Hartford

· Lew Perkins Coach Award – Derrick Ford, East Haven

· Sheila Schmidt Award – Joseph Dennin, Trumbull

· Bozzuto Family Award – The Kopcso Family, Stratford

· Susan Saint James Award – Catherine Kortlandt, Danbury

· Eunice Kennedy Shriver Award – Sharon Rivera, Meriden

Spirit of Life Awards – Special Olympics athletes who exemplify the true spirit and meaning of Special Olympics.

· Vincent Acquaotta, Windsor Locks

· Martin Cruz, Enfield

· Warren Hartleb, Newington

· John Turbeville, Stratford

· Jonathan Brangi, West Haven

· Lizzie Reynolds, Guilford

· Paige Beardsworth, Naugatuck

· Amari Denzel Timmons, Guilford

Unsung Hero Awards - Volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes for Special Olympics Connecticut with no expectation of recognition or reward.

· Bob Switzgale, New Hartford

· Rob DeMezzo, North Haven

· Chris Keever, West Hartford

· Tom Martin, Oxford

· Tahj McCall, East Hartford

· Renee DiNino, Wethersfield

· Dr. Christopher Agro, O.D., Enfield

· Michelle Plucenik, Brooklyn

· Jarrod Viens, Preston

· Katherine Kalisz, Marlborough

· Joseph Herten, North Branford

About Special Olympics Connecticut

Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for over 13,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports® partners - their teammates without disabilities.

Through the joy of sport, the Special Olympics movement transforms lives and communities throughout the state and in 170 countries around the world by promoting good health and fitness and inspiring inclusion and respect for all people, on and off the playing field. (www.soct.org)