Former New Canaan Family Honored
The Maritime Aquarium's annual fund-raising gala, Cirque de la Mer, on April 23rd included the presentations of our 2015 Red Apple Awards. Among the recipients was the family of Michael & Nancy Herde, who recently moved from New Canaan to the Boston area.
The annual fund-raising gala, raised a record $800,000 to support the Aquarium’s environmental education programming. Michael and Nancy Herde and their children were among the recipients of the Aquarium’s 16th annual Red Apple Awards, which honor companies, organizations and individuals who share The Maritime Aquarium’s concern for the natural world and environmental education.
The awards were presented during the annual Cirque de la Mer gala. This popular event supports The Maritime Aquarium’s Red Apple Fund for Student Enrichment, which helps to make the Aquarium’s unique marine-science and environmental-education programs available to schools in the tri-state area regardless of their ability to pay.
Of the $800,000 raised, $120,000 is earmarked specifically to help schools meet the costs of busing for field trips to the Aquarium.
This year’s Cirque de la Mer was themed “The Circle of Life.” The 400 guests enjoyed cocktails in the Aquarium galleries, an elegant sit-down dinner, and silent and live auctions.
Michael Herde, head of compliance for Fidelity Investments, is a former member of The Maritime Aquarium’s Board of Trustees. Nancy Jumper Herde was a member of the Junior League of Stamford-Norwalk (one of the original founding organizations of The Maritime Aquarium).
In 2010, the Herdes sponsored an element of The Maritime Aquarium’s new exhibit, “Go Fish! Long Island Sound & Beyond.” The exhibit’s Jumper Herde Café is a mock café that demonstrates how we – as seafood consumers – can make good choices in markets and restaurants to help support healthy fish populations and smart fishing methods.
One of Michael and Nancy’s four children, Hannah, while in high school, volunteered and interned at the Aquarium and served as co-chair of The Maritime Youth Advisors.
“We miss all of the Herdes, for their devotion to the Fairfield County community, for their influence on the Aquarium’s story and for simply being a collection of tremendous individuals all together in one admirable family,” said Aquarium President Dr. Brian Davis.
Other 2015 Red Apple Awards recipients are the family of Rob & Kit Rohn of Darien and the Norwalk law firm of Shipman & Goodwin, LLP, of Norwalk, most notably senior partner Michael Widland.
Chairing the 2015 event were Morten Arntzen, a Maritime Aquarium trustee, and his wife, Carolyn, of New Canaan.
For more information about Cirque de la Mer or the Red Apple Fund for Student Enrichment, call The Maritime Aquarium at (203) 852-0700, ext. 2277.
Photo credit: Kristen Jensen. From left - Maritime Aquarium President Dr. Brian Davis, presents a 2015 Red Apple Award to Hannah, Nancy, Michael and Sarah Herde during The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk’s Cirque de la Mer fund-raising gala on April 23rd.