The Gail Smith Awards Celebrate The Cause Of Youth

Newtown Youth Services held its annual Gail Smith Awards Ceremony at C.H. Booth Library on Monday, May 23.

Gail Smith, a founder of Newtown Youth Services, strongly believed in the youth of the Newtown community. A large part of her life was dedicated to helping others. As a teacher, volunteer and parent, she devoted her life to helping children realize their full potential. She inspired others to use their gifts and talents for the well being of their peers and the community.

Each year Newtown Youth Services presents the Gail Smith Award to an adult, a youth, and a business to recognize the recipient’s outstanding community contributions and leadership for the betterment of services, facilities, and recognition of Newtown’s youth.

The 2005 Gail Smith Award Recipients were Judy Blanchard for the Adult Award, Sarah Hemingway and Lauren Reed for the Youth Award, and Newtown Savings Bank for the Business Award.

Judy Blanchard was selected to receive the Gail Smith Adult Award for her dedication to the health, welfare, and safety of Newtown’s youth. Ms Blanchard is the mother of four, works as the district health coordinator in Newtown, and is the chairperson of Newtown Prevention Council.

Roseanne Loring, the director of program services for Newtown Youth Services, said of Ms Blanchard, “While so much seems to fall under her paid job you only have to know Judy to realize that her job continues often into late evenings. She has been a great friend and supporter of Newtown Youth Services and more recently The Parent Connection.”

Sarah Hemingway and Lauren Reed received the Gail Smith Youth Award. Newtown teacher and resident Aggie Burns wrote a joint recommendation for the girls saying, “I believe that Sarah and Lauren should jointly receive the Gail Smith Award for Youth this year. These role models have faithfully served the youth of Newtown for the past four years through the Newtown Youth Services High School Youth Advisory Board. All you need to do is spend a short time working with them to understand why so many parents have praised their efforts on behalf of the children of Newtown.”

Newtown Savings Bank was the Gail Smith Business Recipient. It was chosen for its many contributions to the positive developments of Newtown families and young people.

Board member Rich Feneroli said, “It is appropriate that Newtown Savings Bank be honored in this, its 150th anniversary year, for its many contributions to the positive developments of our families and our young people. Like Gail Smith, the employees of Newtown Savings Bank are dedicated to helping children and youth realize their full potential by becoming good family members and good citizens.”