Maggie Shaw & Faith Mangiafico—

Two Residents Honored With United Way Woman Of Impact Awards

Newtown residents Maggie Shaw and Faith Mangiafico are two women who have incredible drive and dedication as volunteers. The United Way salutes these amazing role models for their commitment to their causes and has announced each will be honored with a Woman of Impact Award.

“Maggie and Faith are exactly the types of volunteers the United Way wants to recognize,” said Kim Morgan, vice president of communications at United Way of Western Connecticut. “Our first annual Women of Impact Award spotlights volunteers in the community who although they are living busy lives, still make time to reach out and help others. We hope that everyone will be inspired by their volunteerism.”

A decade ago Maggie Shaw’s entire family was struck with Lyme disease. Since that time Mrs Shaw has made it her crusade to inform the public about the disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

First she started the Newtown Lyme Disease Task Force to inform the public about the disease. She now educates thousands of children throughout the region, and holds a series of educational seminars to make Lyme disease, its symptoms, and prevention methods much more widely known.

Newtown High School sophomore Faith Mangiafico is more than an honor roll student and a member of the school’s track team. She has made a commitment to helping young girls in her community.

Faith is dedicated to the Girl Scouts and plans and supervises many events and workshops for girls. In June 2007 she assisted with a Flag Day program for Brownie Girl Scouts and taught them about life in 1777 through Colonial period games and activities, including making corn husk dolls. Currently she is working toward her Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouts.