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Community Corner

A Birthday to Remember: Event Raises Over $2,000 for Connecticut Brain Tumor Alliance

March 15th would have been Katy Wichlac’s 66th birthday, and so her daughter, Maria Grove, wanted to make sure that Katy’s life was celebrated, and her memory honored, in style – toga style, that is.

Katy passed away from a glioblastoma brain tumor in 2012 but led a rich, full life beforehand.  Maria, following in her mother’s footsteps of “always throwing a great party,” created The Wines of March to benefit the Connecticut Brain Tumor Alliance (“CTBTA”), a local nonprofit organization serving brain tumor patients and caregivers.  Guests, who were treated to a wine tasting, a craft-beer tasting from Shebeen Brewing Company, and original performance by the Connecticut Concert Ballet Ensemble, were invited to wear a toga, with a wink to “The Ides of March.”  They celebrated the night at the Connecticut Concert Ballet Studio, against the backdrop of the theme colors – yellow in honor of Katy and grey as the color for brain tumor awareness. 

The 2nd annual event raised more than $2,000 for the CTBTA and began a Katy Wichlac Memorial Continuing Education Fund for Payroll Professionals with additional funds raised from the silent auction.  The CTBTA will use the money to fund research and patient assistant programs to benefit brain tumor patients and their caregivers.

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In thanking everyone who attended, Maria, who joined the CTBTA Board in 2013, noted her dedication in the fight against brain tumors:  “Cancer messed with the wrong girl!” she proclaimed.  Indeed it did.

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