Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County Benefit

About Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County

Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County is a leader in developing and implementing high quality and affordable early childhood education and care programs for nearly 1,000 babies and children ages 6 months to 5 years, helping them learn in a safe, fun environment in 8 different locations in Stamford, CT., every day. All of the nonprofit agency's eight locations are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or approved by Federal Head Start.

Event Details

The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. with cocktails and music by the popular DJ April Larken.

V.I.P. ticket holders will be welcomed into an exclusive V.I.P. Lounge where they can take professional photos to post with Ms. Gaynor.

Following cocktails, guests are invited into the Hyatt Regency's Ballroom to be seated for dinner, welcoming, some very special CLC preschool singers, two Honoree Awards and a live auction. Gloria Gaynor and her six piece band will perform directly after dinner.

CLC will recognize The Honorable Mary Sommer for her commitment to CLC and the community at the event. Judge Sommer, a Stamford resident, recently retired from the Connecticut Superior Court. CLC will also recognize Rebecca Wilson, a Stamford resident, as its newest Alumni Hall of Fame member. Wilson attended CLC's Head Start program and has since built a 20 year career in education and human services.

GLORIA GAYNOR

This year Gloria Gaynor won her second Grammy Award and headlined the 2020 Grammy Celebration Afterparty in Los Angeles, Jan. 26. Gaynor won her first Grammy 40 years ago with the hit single, "I Will Survive!" She is currently touring the world with her band and made recent appearances on CBS Sunday Morning, Today Show on NBC with Hoda and Jenna.

Gloria will be singing her Disco hits with some of Donna Summer's hits and other songs you know and love. Get ready to get out of your seats, join us on the Dance Floor and boogie-oogie-oogie!

DJ APRIL LARKEN

The popular DJ April Larken plays for high-profile launches, parties and glamorous galas. Her client list includes Porsche, Condé Nast,  Dylan Lauren, Saks Fifth Avenue, Chopard, and Oscar de la Renta to name a few. She opened for Flo Ridea at the Greenwich International Film Festival and for the  egendary Ms. Lauryn Hill in 2018 and April was the opening act for Kesha at the Film Festival's Epic Anniversary Party in 2019.

Honoring The Honorable Mary Sommer, Corporate Honoree

As a long standing supporter of CLC, Mary Sommer is committed to children, families and building more resilient societies. She was appointed a judge of the superior court for the state of Connecticut in 2008. She has presided over civil, criminal, family and juvenile matters and has served on the Public Service and Trust Commission of the Judicial Branch, juvenile court collaborative and judicial continuing education program committees.

During her thirty-year legal career, Judge Sommer specialized in civil litigation, and was a founding partner of the Stamford law firm of Sandak Hennessey & Greco. She served as corporation counsel for the city of Stamford and was involved in several educational, housing and expanded social service initiatives, including the establishment of UCONN at its current location in downtown Stamford.

Mary currently serves as President of the Ferguson Library Foundation Board, a past president of the Fairfield County Bar Association and a founding member of the Fairfield County Bar Foundation. She serves on the boards of Building One Community, CT Appleseed Foundation for Law and Justice, Hope for Haiti, Inc., the Herbert & Nell Singer Foundation and is a James W. Cooper Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation. For over twenty years she served on the board of the Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut, including several terms as board chair. She has taught business law and ethics in the UConn Stamford MBA program and at the College of New Rochelle. She served as a director of First County Bank until her appointment to the bench.

Mary is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School and resides in Stamford.

Honoring Rebecca J. Wilson, Hall of Fame Inductee
 

Rebecca Wilson and her family are no strangers to CLC. Ms. Wilson and her siblings are alums of our Head Start program, her daughter is an alumni of CLC and Ms. Wilson is a past employee. A dedicated humanist, Ms. Wilson is committed to developing individuals and the community through her former and current leadership positions. She has built a 20-year career in education and human services in various roles. At the Stamford Public Schools, Rebecca is the Coordinator for College and Career Readiness/School Counselor Services. Prior to this, she was the K-12 Curriculum Associate for Data Monitoring and Intervention Programs, a high school counselor and Research Associate with the Stamford Public Schools. She is also currently an adjunct professor at Norwalk Community College and previously at Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service, where she got her Master's Degree.

Ms. Wilson has served as Board President for Person-to-Person,Inc., and board member for the Women's Mentoring Network, Inc. She is Co-Chair with Stamford Cradle to Career, on the Advisory Board for the Rowan Center and Board Emeritus with Person to Person, Inc. 

Ms. Wilson resides in Stamford, CT.

Event Auctioneer: Tom Cassone

Tom Cassone is a partner at the law firm of Meister Seeling & Fein and manages its Connecticut office. He served as the Director of Legal Affairs for the city of Stamford from 1995 to 2009. 

Tom has a long history with The Ferguson Library, serving on its Board of Trustees since 1997, twice as chair. He is also a trustee of The Ferguson Library Foundation. In addition to his involvement with the Library, Tom is a member of the State Street Debating Society and a past member of the Board of Directors of St. Luke's Lifeworks and the Stamford Museum and Nature Center. Tom is also very active in Stamford's Citizen of the Year award and scholarship dinner, as auctioneer, writer and video producer.