Youth & Family Services Presents

Gail Smith, HD Bassett Awards

Recently awards were presented to members of the community by the newly merged Newtown Youth and Family Services agency. The first award was named in honor of Gail Smith, a founding member of Newtown Youth Services. The Gail Smith Award is presented each year to an adult, a youth, and a business or organization recognizing the recipient’s outstanding community contribution and leadership.

Ms Smith spent much of her life as a teacher, volunteer, and parent and was dedicated to enabling children to realize their full potential and in turn use their gifts and talents for the well-being of their peers and the community.

This year’s adult recipient was Jeffrey Tolson, who for the last seven years has been a guidance counselor at Newtown High School. He sees each student as an individual, and has the intuitive ability to direct them each toward the program, teacher, or college that will allow them to grow in the direction of their dreams.

He qualified for the honor by reaching out to every individual and offering paths for positive involvement in the community. In doing this, Mr Tolson provides Newtown teenagers with the tools and motivation to make healthy decisions.

Alexandra Clement received the Gail Smith Youth Award. She is an officer in Newtown Youth Creating AIDS Awareness for Peers (NYCAAP), secretary of both the Student Government and Newtown High School’s American Field Service Club, a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SAAD), and maintains the high school’s Nighthawk Nation website. She is also a religious education teacher at her church and a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.

What most impressed the award selection panel was the commitment, organization, and leadership she brings to each service activity.

Cullens Youth Association was this year’s organization recipient. Cullins President Eugene Cox was on hand to receive the award.

Cullens owns 20 acres of land on Taunton Lake Road, including two acres of activity field, four acres of wooded camping sites, and a seven-acre lake suitable for canoeing and fishing. The property also has a 2,400-square-foot lodge complete with kitchen and restrooms.

The facility is made available to all organized youth groups in Newtown. Emphasis is given to leadership, outdoor, environment, conservation skills, and the development of youth under the leadership of adults and young adults.

Cullens provides more than 150,000 youth activity hours per year and is funded entirely by private donations from citizens.

The HD Bassett award named in honor of this former Board Member from FCC, recognizes the impact of volunteer commitment. The 2007 HD Award was presented to Laura Miller as the volunteer recipient.

Ms Miller has been a volunteer fundraiser, board member, board chair, and a major force behind the merger of The Family Counseling Center and Newtown Youth Services. She came to the cause with a firsthand knowledge of the challenges of mental health issues that stems from the understanding and energy that she has devoted to the special needs of one of her three children. Working with charitable organizations, Ms Miller has also brought other children into her home who need specialized medical attention.

The selection panel felt Ms Miller embodied the highest qualities of volunteerism.

The entire staff of Family Counseling Center was also recognized. Staff Appreciation Recipients included: Joan Bird, Elise Trock, Cher Shannon, Kathy Li, Rebecca Cohen, Ludi Pappas, Paul Hamlin, Erica Raycob, Cathy Roche, Karen Amoroso, Patricia Becker, Laura Miller, Amy Singer, Marc Woolfolk, Lynn Tridgewell, and Brian Place.