Fairfield County Bank Honored Today for Supporting Arts and Culture at ACE Awards Breakfast

Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County (CAFC)  its Sixth Annual Daniel E. Offutt III Arts & Culture Empowerment (ACE) Awards at The Shore and Country Club in Norwalk today celebrating the creative changemakers of Fairfield County who have made a difference in their communities through Arts & Culture.

Among the awardees was Fairfield County Bank and President Dan Berta. Over the past five years, the Bank has donated $700,000 in corporate contributions to 55 arts and cultural organizations across the County and provided over 675 volunteer hours! Accepting the award today was Ridgefield resident and Fairfield County Bank Executive Vice President, Stephen Wooters.

CAFC stated, “They are dedicated to making arts and culture available to everyone in the community through the organizations that make it possible. This commitment was especially helpful during the pandemic.”

David Green, Executive Director of Cultural Alliance said, “Creatives are thought leaders and changemakers who see challenges as opportunities. They are naturally gifted to identify solutions and vision for the future. They steered us through a challenging time by offering hope, connection, energy, and a sense of pride to their communities, and they will continue to help rebuild the future through their work. Their stories are inspiring!”

Lorie Lewis, Communications and Marketing Director for the Cultural Alliance said, “Communities are investing in the Arts & Culture because the sector creates jobs, improves the economy, attracts tourism, and helps communities thrive. As Americans for the Arts says ‘the arts mean business’ and I believe the road to post-pandemic recovery will be paved by creative leaders and changemakers.”

Today’s Keynote speaker was David Lehman, Commissioner for Connecticut’s Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). The Master of Ceremonies was Tony Award-winning actor, James Naughton.

Also awarded this morning:

Alicia Cobb (ACE Artist Awardee) is a Bridgeport-based artist and muralist who is dedicated to helping others process their world through art. Her art has inspired tourism, positive mental health, and well-being. Alicia brings public spaces to life through murals and performance art, and as a teaching artist, Alicia connects with students through arts integration residencies, and curricular enhancement programs designed to foster creativity, curiosity, and self-awareness.

William (Bill) D. Felton (ACE Civic Awardee), is an inspirational leader among leaders who has been instrumental in creating MoCA Westport which offered the community world class shows and performances through the pandemic, and continues to provide notable exhibits, concerts, programs and opportunities that unite us through the arts. ​​His unwavering commitment to the arts, his leadership, guidance, passion and philanthropy continues to inspire others.

Pam Lewis (ACE Educator Awardee), creator of Bridgeport-based nonprofit Connect -Us, brings together suburban and urban neighbors by offering a performance-based approach to youth and community change that will impact the community for generations to come. Through a suite of free after-school programs, Pam is dedicated to creating meaningful partnerships with local schools, nonprofits, businesses, and residents across Fairfield County which help young people develop the skills they need to be successful in life.

Suzanne Kachmar and City Lights & Co. (ACE Nonprofit Awardee) helped to make Bridgeport a destination through arts initiatives and open studio events, breathing life, color, and vitality into downtown when it was most needed. City Lights continues to bolster tourism through its Bridgeport Art Trail (BAT), the largest celebration of the arts in Fairfield County, with visitors streaming through city-wide open studios and attending gallery shows, music, and poetry slams. City Lights has tirelessly promoted the artists of Bridgeport, giving them their first art exhibitions, training artists as educators, assisting them to write grants to provide culturally enriching programming, and championing public arts projects.

Alexandra Davern Korry (ACE President's Awardee), honored posthumously, was a trailblazing lawyer whose vision was to connect underserved students and underrepresented artists, offering a welcoming space, mentorship, and empowerment to them. As the spirit behind the transformation of a 1935 former Norwalk church, she was instrumental in preserving history by creating The Norwalk Art Space, a combination gallery, cafe, studio and classroom space.

 To learn more, visit culturalalliancefc.org.