On October 21, 2015, Main Street Waterbury will host a celebration to honor Tina Agati, Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers of Greater Waterbury by presenting to her the Main Street Waterbury Community Partnership Award. This award was originally created, in memoriam, to celebrate the leadership and contributions of the late Stephen R. Sasala II. Steve was the former CEO of the Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce and former President of Main Street Waterbury’s Board of Directors. He continually provided support for addressing local work in ways that ultimately benefitted the more global good while also fostering partnerships and cooperative undertakings.
Since its inception, this award has been presented to acknowledge and honor leadership communitywide. The search for appropriate recipients each year has fostered awareness of the many local leaders whose administrative prowess is enhanced by their high personal qualities and love for the community. It is an honor for Main Street Waterbury to know and work with these leaders and laud those qualities.
This year’s honoree is an advocate for promoting literacy throughout the community. To accomplish this, Tina Agati has promoted volunteerism and personal commitment among individuals who, as literacy volunteers, then work to share the important and enjoyable skills of reading, writing, and language. Tina is passionate about providing free books to children from low-income families. She is accomplishing this by engaging the general public through partnerships built with the Waterbury Police Activity League, Board of Aldermen, and other organizations. As a result, her “Waterbury Reads” initiative has blossomed into a highly successful year-round program that provides the community’s poorest neighborhoods with access to free books throughout the year. Tina is also a member of the Leadership Greater Waterbury Class of 2006, serves on the Naugatuck Valley Community College Regional Advisory Council, and is a former 20 year volunteer with the Junior League of Greater Waterbury.
Awardees of past years include: Dr. William Pizzuto, Director of UConn’s Waterbury and Torrington Campuses; Joe Geary, Chief of Staff, Office of the Mayor, City of Waterbury; Ingrid Manning, former Chief Executive Officer of CT Community Foundation; Michael Gilmore, Re-investment Manager & Fair Housing Officer for Waterbury Development Corporation; and Frank Tavera, Chief Executive Officer, The Palace Theater Group, Inc.
Members of the public are welcome to join the October 21st celebration which is being held at the Palace Theater — 100 East Main Street from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. It will feature a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception with musical entertainment. Tickets at $35 per person go on sale September 1, 2015 at the Palace Theater box office (203/346-2000).