IEA STARS Fundraiser Earns Top Dollars

The Intensive Education Academy, Inc., located at 840 North Main Street, West Hartford, announced this week that their annual ‘STARS, An Evening of Celebration’ charity event held November 9 at Tumble Brook Country Club raised over $50,000 to support the programs and services offered at the school.  IEA, founded in 1971 and known as “the school built on love”, offers programs and services to students with disabilities to help them reach their potential and become all they are meant to be - responsible and productive members of society. 

Co-Chairs for the event were Dr. Dena Hoberman, IEA Board Member, and Ms. Melissa Wiezalis, IEA Art Teacher. Al Rosenfield, a long time West Hartford resident and supporter of IEA, served as the 2013 Sponsorship Chairman.  Serving on the event committee were

Helen E. Dowd, CSJ, Lauren Fine, Samantha Forbes, Diane Giansanti, Corey Glider, Julie Krug, Michael Lepore, Sally McClure, Stefanie Melanson, Chip Monzeglio, Liz Moriarty, Jill O’Donnell, John Paindiris, and Cyndy Verdi.

The STARS Committee and the IEA Board of Directors greatly appreciate the countless businesses and individuals who donated so generously to the Silent and Live Auctions and Raffle Baskets. “Special Thanks” to the event emcees Brad Davis of WDRC and Scot Haney of WFSB, to Carol Albert of ‘Buds in Bloom’ for donating the balloons and helium for the centerpieces, to acoustic guitarist Bob Tomassone who provided the music, and to photographer Steven Laschever.  

Sponsors for the 2013 STARS event were Atlantic Excavation, Inc.; CFM Construction Corporation; Cooney, Scully and Dowling; DeSimone’s Modern Autoservice of West Hartford; Dr. Alexander and Mrs. Christine Gaudio; Elise Rosen and Michael Lepore; Elm Tree Funding;

Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home; Gerald A. Rosiman; Goldberg, Yolles and Lepore Consulting Group of Wells Fargo Advisors; Jaimie and Alan Wein; Joyce and Richard Leibert; Knights of Pythias; John Hay Lodge #61; Marjorie Luke; McBride Wayside Carpet Company; Pinnacle Investment Management, Inc.; Pullman and Comley, LLC; Reverend William Mulcair, M.S.; RisCassi and Davis, P.C.; ShopRite Joseph Family Markets; Signal Service, Inc.; Sinatro Agency One, LLC; the Dowd Family; the Pribyson and Steinbach Family; the Scully Family; Viola, Chrabascz, Reynolds and Company; Webster Bank, N.A.; and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC.