New Members Inducted Into Newtown Lions Club

The Newtown Lions recently inducted Glenn Nanavaty and Bruce Walczak into the club.

Mr Nanavaty is a longtime resident of Newtown. He is a graduate of NHS and Western Connecticut State University with a degree in accounting. He practices accounting with Nanavaty, Nanavaty and Davenport in Newtown.

Mr Nanavaty has served in various capacities with Family Counseling Center and is currently serving on the board of Newtown Scholarship Association. He enjoys golf, hiking, basketball and travel.

Mr Walczak and his wife have lived in Newtown for 22 years. They have three children. He was elected police commissioner in Newtown and ran for first selectman a few years ago. He is currently party chairman for the Independent Party Newtown.

Jerome Mayer sponsored both new members.

Sharing The Wealth

Newtown Lions Club has a long history of running fundraising activities so that the club can then offer donations to numerous local, national, and international charities and nonprofit organizations.

Two such donations were recently made by the club.

Newtown Lions Club member Jim Wallace presented a check to C.H. Booth Library Director Janet Woycik. The donation, according to Ms Woycik, will be used to purchase additional large print books for the town library’s collection. They also provide books on tape, and music for people with visual difficulties. One of the missions of Lions Club International is to aid those with low vision.

More recently, Alan Jacobs presented a check on behalf of the club to Nicole Arsenault of the American Red Cross.

The American Red Cross is ready when emergencies arise. Although most people associate the Red Cross with their blood drives, they also provide food and shelter to the victims of natural disasters as well as refreshments to first responders. Its training programs cover CPR and other health and safety areas. The Newtown Lions Club supports the work of the local Red Cross Unit and its national organization.

The Child & Family Institute of Fairfield County, located in Brookfield, provides the skills for children and adolescents to reach their academic and social potential, to develop their sense of personal worth, and to affirm their ability to be contributing members of society while being lifelong learners. Newtown Lion Jason Hsu recently presented a donation to Pamela Samaha, executive director of CFI, who founded the organization over 18 years ago.

Most recently, Lions Club member Kevin Corey drove to New Milford to meet with members of Healing the Children Northeast. Mr Corey met with Robert Ryan, president of Healing the Children; Cheyrisse Boone, vice president; and Dana Buffin, executive director, and presented them with a check on behalf of  Newtown Lions Club.

Healing the Children Northeast, Inc. was founded in 1985 to address the medical needs of children throughout the world. Its Domestic Kids Program arranges medical treatment and assistance to children in need in the local communities in the northeastern part of the United States.

The Medical Teams Abroad Program consists of volunteer teams of medical professionals who provide health screenings and on-site surgeries to children in less developed countries. The International Inbound Program brings children to the USA for specialized medical and surgical treatment.

Healing the Children services approximately 2,600 children each year.

In addition to financial donations, Newtown Lions Club also serves Newtown and the greater Danbury area through hands-on projects such as maintenance of the Orchard Hill Nature Preserve and Al’s Trail, Lose the Litter Day, Newtown Health Day, and AmeriCares. The Lions Club also sends care packages to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The club meets at the Stony Hill Inn, Bethel, on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month (except July and August) at 7 pm.

For more information, visit www.NewtownLions.com or contact current club president Ray Keegan at 203-426-3670.