Host Families

A Home Away from Home

Our host families are the cornerstone of our program and essential members of our ABC family. Upon their arrival as freshmen, each ABC scholar is matched with a caring local host family who provide a home away from home for all four years of their ABC experience. During the school year, the boys spend every Sunday afternoon and evening and one weekend a month with their host families.

By opening their homes and hearts to our scholars, ABC host families offer a warm, personal connection to the community. Our host families universally agree that the experience is as wonderful for them as it is for our scholars, building relationships that last a lifetime.

Current Host Families

Nadine and Mike Finnerty
Scholar: Yanfer Martinez

Shannon and John Goetz
Scholar: Kian Ragaza

Kimberly and TJ Jetnil
Scholar: Daniel Ortiz

Mimi and Pat Leahy
Scholar: Christopher Feliz

Megan and José Morales
Scholar: Henyerson Tolentino

Nancy and Mike Shullman
Scholar: John Baluyut

When John joined our family, no one expected the impact he would soon have on us all. The energy he brings into our house is transformative, and we are thankful to have him in our lives. He has immersed himself into the communities we are a part of and his own. We are beyond grateful to have the opportunity to love John and watch him grow into his full potential.

Nancy and Mike Shullman

Become a Host Family

During the school year, our scholars live in the ABC House on Locust Avenue under the care of our Resident Director and two resident tutors. Every Sunday afternoon, the scholars head off for what many say is their favorite part of the week: staying with their host families. Whether it’s raking leaves, finishing homework, or going to a movie, the boys participate in whatever the host family does. Each month, they spend an entire weekend with their host family.

We have a wonderful host family community at ABC New Canaan. Our host families support each other by filling in if a host family needs to be away for a weekend, plan dinners for all the boys throughout the year, and participate in quarterly meetings for planning and information and idea sharing.

ABC New Canaan takes extraordinary care in matching host families to incoming scholars in order to ensure a smooth transition for everyone. Each host family situation is different. Some host families prefer to host a scholar who is the same age or grade as one of their own children, enabling their child and the scholar to go through the high school process simultaneously. Others find that not having a ‘matched’ child works better for their family, allowing for a more balanced and focused experience for both students and ensuring that milestone events, like graduations, don’t happen simultaneously.

HOST FAMILY REQUIREMENTS

HOST FAMILY STRUCTURE

Have at least one child attending New Canaan High School (NCHS) when the ABC student begins.

TIME REQUIREMENTS

Available to host the ABC scholar for all four years during high school. This commitment includes hosting the scholar every Sunday at 11 a.m. through Monday morning and one full weekend a month during the calendar school year. Note that scholars return to their homes during school vacations and three-day weekends.
Attend the host family orientation prior to the start of school, as well as ABC social events during the year, including the ABC holiday party and graduation party.
Support their host son by periodically attending his games, concerts, or other activities that he is involved in.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Two recommendations from New Canaan families who have known the host family for at least two years.
One recommendation from a teacher, school administrator, or local volunteer coordinator.

Please note that host families are not required or expected to support scholars financially. ABC covers all expenses for its scholars. By creating a loving and warm environment in their homes, host families are helping our scholars thrive and experience the best of our community. This is priceless.

In accordance with the policy of the National ABC organization, ABC of New Canaan will conduct a background check of any adults living in the host parent’s home. Interested in becoming a Host Family? Please contact Jamie Boris at jboris@abchousenc.org. We would be happy to discuss the opportunity in detail and answer any questions you might have. Give an ABC scholar and your family the gift of a lifetime!

OUR HOST FAMILY ALUMNI

Year	Host Family	Scholar
2023	Liz and Alex Tuff	Dylan Amaswache
2023	Michele and Kevin Salmini	Javier Perez Soto
2022	Dina and James Connelly	Richard Hernandez
2022	Kristen and Arthur Hall	Osasu Uwe-Omede
2021	Melissa and Alan Rwambuya	Axel Boly
2021	Mary and Ned Truslow	Ajamo Carraby-Jones
2021	Margaret and Keith Roscoe	Ivan Tamayo
2020	Jen and Tom Richardson	Adrian Davis
2019	Claire and Dick O'Hare	Ryan Hernandez
2018	Jennifer and Richard Essigs	Kai Clancy
2018	Mary and Peter Freiberg	Josiah Jones
2017	Courtney and Michael Grigsby	Rajon Mitchell
2016	Margaret Pastel and Steve Hoover	Christopher Roman
2016	MaryLou and Michael Salvati	Brian MacCalla
2015	Thea and Robert Ross	Kwaku Gyasi
2015	Julie and Michael Bossidy	Osaze Wilson
2014	Tracey and Steve Karl	Myles Henderson
2014	Susan and Michael Donnelly	Chris Andrews
2013	Candace and Michael Curran	Devaun Bovell
2011	Wendy and Richard Hurst	Elijah Westbrook
2011	Bitsy and Doug Richardson	Joveto De Carvalho
2010	Cindy and Paul Bamatter	Shamiel Gonzalez
2010	Joanne and Jim Slattery	Darryl Cummings
2010	Marianne and Richard Grandin	Jelani Alladin
2009	Melanie and Chuck Berman	Eduardo Padilla
2008	Jeanie and Jeff Shaw	John Puma
2007	Mary Beth and Bill Fessler	Steven Gallego
2007	Paul and Carol McDermott	Eric Ho
2006	Sally and Kim Campbell	Carl Brown
2006	Sarah and Richard Routhier	Marc Pierre
2005	Margy and Bruce Calvert	Rodney Yartey
2005	Melinda and Jeff Fager	David Cox
2004	Beth and Chris Ambler	Henry Morris
2003	Jane and Ken Arestia	Jason Land
2002	Avril Sweeny/Accino	Castel Valere
2001	Jill and Tom Evans	Navil Charles
2000	Lucy and Jack Baney	Manuel Torres
1999	Linda and Jay Twombly	Steve (Glendon) Austin
1999	Thurmans and Scannells	Chris Ellis
1999	Barrie and Ralph Gonzales	David Morales
1999	Pam and Jack Reese	Charles Curtis
1998	Betsey and John Swanhaus	Travis Galloway
1998	Pat and Mike Corey	William Choi
1997	Mary and Rob Henrikson	Kellen (Daniel) Tyler
1997	Maura and Bruce Ritz	Dwayne Thomas
1996	Judith and Dan Drake	David Medina
1995	Anita and Tom Quin	Levi (Emmanuel) Stewart
1995	Lynn and David Troutman	Courtney Lopez
1995	Adam Stevens
1994	Penny and Rob Klatell	Wilfredo (Eugenio) Diaz
1994	Susan and Jerry Reen	Monte Wilson
1993	Diane and Ron Cowi	Brandon King
1993	Jane and Norb Janis	Steven Graciano
1992	Dossy and Bill Schoeler	Will Llorente
1992	Betsy and John Swanhaus	Franklin Pena
1991	Suman and Rajan Govindan	Antonio Hofbauer
1991	Sue and David Scannell	Jaime Moore
1990	Leigh and Pierre Bognon	Jose Vinueza
1989	Suman and Rajan Govindan	Mario Dief
1989	Lynn and Carol Lyttle	Jaime Zapata
1989	Diane and Ron Cowin	Ainsley Crawford
1989	Raya Gibran
1988	Jean and Tom Gnuse	Donat Young
1988	Dixie and Bob Fuller	Kapil Kumar
1988	Rosemary and Roger Enrico	Jason Brown
1987	Kate and Davey Sheahan	Michael Lewis
1987	Jana and John Lapoint	Wendell Martinez
1987	Mary and David Smith	Arnold Principal
1986	Willie and Johnny Potts	Rajesh Mangray
1986	Linda and Gray Castle	Alphonso Johnson
1986	Christopher Clark
1985	Marie and Nick Crisi	Gabriel Aguilera
1985	Luis Dannenfels
1985	Donna and Nick Cretan	Berni (Walter) Haynesworth
1984	Alex Santamaria
1983	Zoe Kirby	Etesh Mangray
1982	Hugh Ryan
1981	Jack and Betsy Farmakis	Enrique Gandarilla
1982	Bob and Evelyn Bergstrom	Derrick Harris
1980	Mike and Mary Ann Shouvlin	Greg (Frank) Abernathy
1980	Shirley and David Kearns	Zachary Harris
1977	Barbara and Richard Gerweck	Jesse Rucker
1977	Phil and Cindy Roses	Darrell Washington
1977	Jean and Ed Frick	Luis Taveras
1977	Bob and Barbara Bunge	Gerald Wills
1977	Catherine and George Ritchie	Brian Watson
1976	Butch and Beverly Watkins	Mike Bivens
1976	Paul and Sara Palmer	Terry Trusty

New Canaan High School’s partnership with A Better Chance has transformed not only the lives of our scholars but also the fabric of our entire school community. The remarkable contributions and achievements of these scholars are a testament to the power of providing opportunities to students from different backgrounds. Together, we are building a brighter future for all. All of our ABC graduates go on to competitive four year colleges.

A Home Away from Home

Current Host Families

Become a Host Family

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