Dream Come True Gala Honored Recipients, Two Volunteers

By Shannon Hicks

DANBURY — Howard Lasher of Newtown was one of two honorees during Dream Come True’s 13th Annual Gala Event, held at The Amber Room on Saturday, February 28.

Between an opening cocktail hour with bidding on silent auction items and the closing hours of live music by Anthony Radice & Street Life, a formal event slowed down to thank two people who have helped make a difference in the lives of seriously, chronically, and terminally ill children in Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties.

Time was also made during the formal dinner dance for attendees to recognize the evening’s special guest, Jeremy Villanueva. A junior at Central High School in Bridgeport, 17-year-old Jeremy and his family were the biggest guests of honor Saturday night.

Jeremy has Duchesse Muscular Dystrophy, has undergone numerous surgeries including most recently the placement of a rod in his back due to the onset of scoliosis, yet he continues to be warm and full of laughter.

Mr Lasher, a broker on the American Stock Exchange, is owner of The Lasher Group, Inc. He has worked on Wall Street for years, and has enlisted many of his friends to help Dream Come True through donations of money and time.

A trustee of Dream Come True, Mr Lasher has been involved with Dream Come True since early 2002.

“He is a man with one forward speed,” Dream Come True president Susan Tedesco said in presenting his award. “He pulls off seemingly impossible things for children. He and his friends on Wall Street have come through with tickets to The MTV Video Awards and meetings with sports stars, and always when it seems like time is running out.”

The plaque presented to Mr Lasher included a quote by Margaret Mead that has become a mantra for DCT: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Mr Lasher addressed the attendees, telling them Saturday’s event was something he had been looking forward to. DCT is a group that has become very dear to him.

“Children’s charities have always been close to my heart,” Mr Lasher said at the podium. “I lost my father at a very young age, and my mother taught me that it’s always important to give. I am living proof that dreams can come true for any child.

“We cannot think of any higher calling than that of a child who is deserving. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a child’s eyes light up when they see their dreams come true,” Mr Lasher added. “I’m so happy to see so many familiar faces this evening.”

Mr Lasher thanked his friends of the Wall Street community who were at the event, and also made a point of mentioning his best friend, “my wife, Jeanette Hubley Lasher.”

The evening’s second honoree was Richard Jabara, who was unable to attend the gala.

Mr Jabara is president and CEO of Meyer Jabara Hotels, based in Danbury and which operates 24 hotels under licenses from Marriott, Hilton, Sheraton, Holiday Inns, and Hampton Inns. He is a second generation Holiday Inn franchisee and has been active for 25 years in the development and management of hotels.

Mr Jabara, said Ms Tedesco, donates much of his time to Dream Come True. He also allows many of the organization’s events, including its Christmas party for children who have benefited from DCT efforts, to be held at his hotels. (Mr Lasher played Santa at the 2003 DCT Annual Dream Recipients’ Brunch With Santa, held in December at Mr Jabara’s Danbury Holiday Inn.)

Residents of surrounding towns were in attendance at the event. One Newtown resident, Bill Simons, was the winner of an eight-day Caribbean cruise. Fifty tickets were sold for the raffle event, with proceeds benefiting Dream Come True.

Dream Come True of Western Connecticut is a nonprofit volunteer organization, founded in 1984 to benefit seriously, chronically, and terminally ill children in Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties. Founder Kostas Kalogeropoulos dreamed of creating an organization that would not only bring a measure of happiness to seriously ill children, but would also relieve some of the burden borne by the parents.

For information about the organization, how to help DCT financially or as a volunteer, or to learn more about suggesting a child for dream fulfillment, call 790-7333.