During Acts 4 Ministry’s annual fundraising reception, “Inspiration: Inspiring acts of love”, May 15th at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, the global Osterman Community Foundation (OCF) in Cheshire will be honored as a community partner, and Dave and Ellen Rogers of Cheshire will be honored as volunteer partners.

The non-denominational non-profit Acts 4 Ministry will honor the Osterman Community Foundation (OCF) of Cheshire as a community partner, and David and Ellen Rogers of Cheshire as volunteer partners during their annual “Inspiration: Inspiring acts of love” fundraiser on Wednesday, May 15, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Palace Theater in Waterbury. The fundraiser will feature the acclaimed classic folk, rock, and pop duo, The Kennedys.
 

“This reception,” explained Acts 4 Ministry Executive Director Sarah Elizabeth Carabetta, “is an annual celebration of the many ways our organization impacts positive changes in the Greater Waterbury community. We support the daily needs of families and individuals who are in dire financial distress because they have lost their possessions to fire, flood, or other devastating life events.

“In 2019, we are excited to introduce a new celebration at our annual event, the honoring of generous contributors to our organization’s continuous ambitions and goals. The Osterman Community Foundation has helped Act 4 Ministry buy beds, pay rent for low-income families or individuals, plus donate clothing and used furniture.”

Darlene Stickney, Osterman & Company, Inc. Controller, commented, “This past fall, 20 OCF employees volunteered on 9/11 to work at the Acts 4 retail store and help deliver furniture to people-in-need.”

The Osterman Community Foundation (OCF) began in 2005 by employees of the global Osterman & Company, Inc., a leading supplier of prime, commodity and engineering resins worldwide and based in Cheshire. The OCF helps people in communities where their employees live and work across the United States. Ms. Stickney explained, “We provide financial relief to people in a time of need, such as job loss, illness, homelessness, and other situations. We pay for such basic needs as rent, utilities, car repairs, clothing, and food, and pay those needs directly. We also provide hope. People turn to us when they have exhausted all other sources and we have saved many people from eviction and homelessness.

“Most of OCF’s funding comes from donations and fundraising efforts. Every year we host a golf tournament and a Caring Cocktails party. To date, we have given $960,000 to 575 families and individuals. The experience of giving back is wonderful. It unites our coworkers internally, and externally with each community.”

Honorees Dave and Ellen Rogers, 30 years residents of Cheshire, will receive the Acts 4 Ministry 2019 Volunteer Award due to their tireless dedication to the organization’s vast commitments. The Rogers have been involved in Acts 4 for numerous years and capacities. Ellen first began volunteering at Acts 4’s former East Aurora location in 2008 by sorting houseware items and shopping with clients, then doing home visits. In 2009 she became home visit coordinator, and was elected to the Board of Directors and served as Board Secretary for six years. In 2015, Ellen was elected Board Chair for two years while volunteering in several roles. No longer on the board, today she volunteers, and serves generously as furniture ministry coordinator, arranging furniture pickups and deliveries to clients.

In the spring of 2012, Acts 4 began moving to its present location at 1713 Thomaston Avenue as Dave Rogers was retiring after 39 years with IBM. He became involved in building the new space, and by the end of 2012, he joined the Board. In 2013 he was elected Board Chair. When the former executive director retired, he chaired the search committee, which selected the current executive director, Sarah Elizabeth Carabetta, from nine candidates. After his term was up, he volunteered in the furniture ministry, where he helps to pick up and deliver furniture and handle Acts 4 Ministry’s three warehouses.

Entertainers during the May 15 “Inspiration” fundraiser are the Kennedys. In a career of more than 20 years, the guitarists and vocalists Maura and Pete Kennedy have traversed a broad musical landscape, including power pop, acoustic songwriting, organic rock rooted in their early days in Austin, Texas. Early in their career, they joined the Nanci Griffith’s Blue Moon Orchestra for a few years before setting out on their own. Their musical influences include Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, The Byrds, and The Beatles. The duo has released numerous CDs including “safe until tomorrow’ released in 2018.

Top-level sponsors of Acts 4 Ministry’s May 15, 2019 “Inspiration” fundraiser are Tomasso Group TBI Construction and Bourassa Catering & Events. Thomaston Savings Bank is a Motivational Sponsor. Influential sponsors are Halsey Associates, the Harold Leever Cancer Center, and Jim and Jackie Zoldy. Silent auction matching funds sponsor is the Connecticut Community Foundation. Beneficial sponsors are Branagan Communications Consultants LLC, DaVita Greater Waterbury & Mattatuck Heights, and i95 Signs. Friend sponsor is CM Property Management.

“Acts 4 Ministry is a collaborative group of a volunteer board of directors, staff members and volunteers who desire to share God’s love by meeting the comforting physical needs of others. We achieve this goal daily,” explained Carabetta, “by collecting and distributing, free-of-charge to recipients, clothing, and housewares. Each year we distribute clothing to nearly 4,000 people and over 1,000 pieces of furniture and housewares to people of varying income levels throughout the area.”

Tickets for the “Inspiration” fundraiser are $45/ person and can be secured by clicking “Click to Give” at the top right corner of https://www.Acts4.org home page, or clicking “Purchase Tickets” under “Inspiration” on the Events page.

Event tickets can also be purchased by check or money order made payable to Acts 4 Ministry, Inc. and US Mailed to PO Box 4524, Waterbury, CT 06704 or at the Acts 4 Ministry retail store at 1713 Thomaston Avenue in Waterbury Mondays through Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., or by calling 203-574-2287.