Connecting Generations will host Jazz in January 2009 on Jan. 31, from 6-11 p.m. at the DuPont Country Club, a celebration that will include recognition of Selbyville resident and student mentor Victor Murray, among others.
January is National Mentoring Month, and this annual event celebrates mentoring and raises funds for its mentoring and education programs.
Connecting Generations will honor former state legislator Jane Maroney, Edward F. "Mike" Eaton, and James Patton, Sr. with Connecting Generations’ 10th Annual Robert A. Kasey, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award for their outstanding commitment to the mission of the organization and for being mentoring champions.
Connecting Generations will also honor Exemplary Mentors Ray Dotts (of Camden), Victor Murray (of Selbyville), and Dirk Goverts (of Bear) and Exemplary Mentoring Program Coordinators Barbara Derby (from BlackRock Investment Management Corporation, Wilmington), Jo Anne Rosenfeld (from North Dover Elementary School, Dover), Jennifer DeHoff (from Mt. Pleasant Elementary School, Wilmington), and Barbara Jo German (from Delaware School for the Deaf, Newark) for their exceptional commitment to mentoring.
The three Lifetime Achievement Awardees are longtime Board members and have been involved with Connecting Generations since its founder, Robert A. Kasey, Jr. started the “Creative Grandparenting” program in 1990. Together these three vision champions and former Board Chairs have led the organization through substantial growth and change and the recent transition of leadership to a new Executive Director and Board. They are being honored for their long volunteer service to the organization and for their combined leadership during the transition to today’s Connecting Generations. Richard Kapolka, Executive Director, says: “Jane, Jim and Mike are three great representatives of all of the volunteer board members who have helped keep Bob Kasey’s dream of intergenerational learning and support alive and flourishing since the start of Creative Grandparenting. They have helped keep our belief that the cornerstone of a healthy society is the presence of caring adults in the lives of young people constantly in mind as the board has moved Bob’s dream forward with the addition of our Seasons of Respect and Creative Transitions programs and the hiring of a professional staff.”
Jazz in January is a fundraising and celebration event that supports Connecting Generations’ programs Creative Mentoring, Seasons of Respect, and Creative Transitions. Jazz in January will include an exciting silent auction, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and dancing to the Tim Laushey Jazz and Swing Band, which is back by popular demand.
