New Canaan
News & Events
February 25, 2010 - Joveto De Carvalho '11 and Jeanne McDonagh, digital photography teacher at New Canaan High School with Joveto's photograph "Great Uncle" for which he won first prize in the Student Category in the Carriage Barn Arts Center 30th Annual Juried Photography Show. Diane Knetzger photo. Click here to read more.
January 18, 2010 - A service to honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was held Monday at the United Methodist Church. Organized by Interfaith of New Canaan, the service brought together parishioners from several area churches to celebrate the life of the civil rights activist. At right, Shanniel Gonzales, a New Canaan High School senior living in the ABC House, read about King's achievements and how they have affected his own life. (Diane Knetzger Photo)
January 28, 2010 - ABC students, in back, Elijah Westbrook, Darryl Cummings, Jelani Alladin, Devaun Bovell, Shamiel Gonzalez, and Joveto De Carvalho meet with, in front, Chase T. Rogers of New Canaan, chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court. Click here to read more.
February 23, 2010 - 60 Minutes contributor and Chief National Correspondent for CBS Evening News, Bryon Pitts, spoke with the ABC boys over dinner on February 23, 2010. Struggling with illiteracy and stuttering in his youth, The Emmy Award winning journalist recently wrote a book, "Step Out on Nothing", Pitts advised the boys to work hard to be as "mentally and physically strong as possible" and encouraged them to go beyond just dreaming of a profession to actually "putting a specific address to that dream." Pitts noted that he wanted to work at 60 Minutes since the age of 18 and has been working all of his life to realize that dream.
Quick Links
P.O. Box 355 | New Canaan, CT 06840 | Director's Phone: 203-972-1152 | info@abchouseofnc.org
May 15, 2010 - A Better Chance of New Canaan students, with a little help from their friends, planned, promoted, organized and ran a car wash at Saxe Middle School to benefit student programs.
April 27, 2010 - A Better Chance of New Canaan past President Melinda W. Fager received the 2010 Volunteer Center of Southwestern Fairfield County's award for Outstanding Board Leader in recognition of her decade of service to our organization, including a four-year term as president. Mrs. Fager is credited with major improvements to student programs, physical plant, fundraising, staff and leadership development, and communications, as well as bringing her deep personal devotion to our students. Pictured above are Roberta Eichler, Executive Director of The Volunteer Center of Southwestern Fairfield County, and Mrs. Fager. The award ceremony was held on April 27 at the New Canaan Library. Photo by Diane Knetzger
More than 240 supporters in the community turned out to support A Better Chance at the organization’s annual fundraiser at the New Canaan Country Club on September 25th. ABC of New Canaan is celebrating its 37th year in New Canaan as a four-year residential program that hosts up to eight boys at a time who live at the ABC house on Locust Avenue, attend New Canaan High School and are involved with local organizations that give back to the New Canaan community. Full story....
To view pictures from our event click here.
August 2010 Community Volunteers Rally to Renovate ABC House.
Click here to read more.
Board member Michael Curran led a house field trip to the Aldrich Museum in Ridgefield, where they viewed contemporary art, including paintings of the area under the Metro-North tracks at 102nd St. They also were inspired by the graffiti work of artist Kaws. Later, they enjoyed a meal together at a 50's style diner in Bethel!
Seniors Elijah Westbrook of Harlem, NY and Joveto De Carvalho of Worcester, MA were invited to speak at the Interfaith Council's service in celebration of the life and work of Martin Luther King. The boys worked hard to write compelling speeches. Starting with content from their college essays, they were coached by Resident Tutor Chad Southerland and Resident Director Nora McCarthy to share personal perspectives of how their own histories relate to Martin Luther King's teachings. Pre-speech jitters were calmed with rehearsals at Polly Perkins-Johnson's house. Congregants enjoyed learning more about how Elijah and Joveto bridge two worlds and hearing their exhortations to themselves and to all of us for the future. The interfaith service is always moving, but this one seemed especially so. Click here for more photos
For the second time in as many years, New Canaan High School Visual Arts students have made their mark at the Connecticut Scholastic Art Awards in Hartford. Our own Joveto De Carvalho won a Gold Key for his photography entry at the Scholastic Arts Awards in Hartford. Above is his work entitled, “Rosa Corner.” More than 140 schools participated this year. Out of more than 1,700 entries, 663 were exhibited, with 212 Gold Key awards. Full story here…..
Joveto De Carvalho, far right, won a Gold Key for his photography entry at the Scholastic Arts Awards in Hartford. Click here for the full story.
ABC students held a very successful car wash at Saxe Middle School on Saturday, May 14, 2011. It was a multi-generational group that washed 80+ cars!!! Thanks to all who supported our event and our hard-working volunteers. A portion of the proceeds will go to support future ABC House activities. Our ABC Scholars will donate the remainder to the Carver Center in Norwalk.
Our four young guys took a special trip on the weekend beginning spring break. They traveled with the Curran family, one of our host families, to Philadelphia. The guys had private tours of St. Joseph’s and Temple, went to a Phillies game, took in art, saw cringe-worthy medical oddities at the Mutter museum, ate cheesesteak, and more. They all agreed it was a great trip!
Please join me in congratulating these boys on their outstanding achievements as well as in thanking them for their contributions to our school and community.
Elijah received the Richard Frisbee Memorial Award. This award is a gift of the Class of 1992 to be awarded each year to "a student who has set out goals for himself and shown outstanding initiative in pursuing those goals without losing sight of his humanity and sincere compassion for others."
Joveto received the Jack Dempsey Award. This award is given by Coach Marinelli to "the student who most exemplifies the qualities of heroism, loyalty and sacrifice in the face adversity." He also received the Gregory Todd Memorial Award for Filmmaking. The award is given to the student artist who has excelled in the area of filmmaking. Finally, Joveto was one of three recipients of a Fritz Eager Memorial Purchase Award. This award recognizes excellence in the visual arts and to inspire young artists.
Also, sophomore Devaun Bovell's performance at FCIAC track competition qualified him to compete in the hurdle event at the CT State meet on Monday night. He placed 12th!
