Family Counseling Center To Honor Three Community Leaders

Final plans are underway for the Family Counseling Center’s third annual Friends of the Family Recognition Dinner on April 28 paying tribute to three outstanding Newtown community leaders. A major fundraiser for the nonprofit mental health agency, The Friends of The Family dinner will be held at Three Oaks at Capellaro’s Grove in Bethel.

This year the center is honoring Elaine McClure, chairman of the Newtown Board of Education, Z. Michael Taweh, MD, founder and medical director of Kevin’s Community Center, and Donna Ramey, executive vice president, Savings Bank of Danbury.

Elaine McClure has provided steady leadership and years of dedicated service to the children of Newtown, devoting countless hours to ensuring that Newtown continues to provide a quality education to its students. She is a former member of the Family Counseling Center’s board of directors, having served on its strategic planning and finance committees.

Ms McClure serves on the board of directors of the Children’s Hope Fund Board, is a past president of the Newtown PTA Council, and was elected to the Newtown Legislative Council for three terms. She has served on the board of directors of the International School of Geneva and continues to serve as a trustee of its Ecolint American Foundation. She is a member of the Circle of Grace at Newtown Congregational Church and is well known in bridge circles having earned Bronze Life Master status from the American Contract Bridge League.

Dr Z. Michael Taweh is an internist/primary care physician who has his own medical practice in Danbury. He is also founder and director of Kevin’s Community Center, a free clinic in Newtown for the uninsured and underinsured. Dr Taweh, his family, and friends turned a tragedy into positive action when they opened the center following the accidental death of his son, Kevin, for whom the facility is named. There are currently 55 specialists in the greater Danbury area who have joined Dr Taweh in providing care to clients of Kevin’s Community Center. Ninety percent of all funds and resources raised go to direct patient services, 90 percent of prescription medicines are available as free samples, with the balance offered at cost by the Drug Center Pharmacy of Newtown

Donna M. Ramey is executive vice president and chief lending officer of the Savings Bank of Danbury. She is also the bank’s compliance and CRA Officer. She has a long history of community service and currently serves on the board of directors for the Housing Development Fund and the United Way of Northern Fairfield County. She is an advisory board member of the Catholic Family Services and is past chairman of the board of directors of the United Way, president of the board of Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, a member of the board of directors of the Danbury Health Systems, and the Rotary Club of Danbury.

For ticket information to the tax-deductible Friends of the Family Recognition Dinner, call the Family Counseling Center at 426-8103.

The Family Counseling Center is a licensed nonprofit agency dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve their highest potential. It provides counseling, support groups, education, and referral services throughout the greater Danbury and Southbury area regardless of ability to pay.