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Circle of Friends Celebration 18
EVENING OF RECOGNITION
honoring our volunteers & benefiting Circle of Friends
Sunday May 4, 2025 - Iyar 6, 5785
The Inn at Longshore 260 Compo Road South, Westport
Cocktails & Buffet Dinner 5:30 PM - Award Ceremony 6:45 PM
followed by Viennese Desserts
Every ticket helps Circle of Friends empower individuals with special needs and the volunteers who make it all happen.
Be there. Bring your friends. Change a life.
Guests of Honor
Larissa Kirschner & Michael Chaney - Elena & Marco Caggiano
Larissa is a born and raised New Yorker who started her advertising career right out of College. She’s had a celebrated career as a Creative Director and Copywriter and is now freelancing in both Advertising and her not-so-secret love as a Floral Designer.
Michael is a southern-born, New York City transplant who also began his career in the advertising world, first as an Account guy (also known as a “suit”) and later to starting one of the first internet and digital agencies. He parlayed that entrepreneurial spirit into several successful startups, including building a blended cognac from his dining room table. It’s no surprise the two met at work and continue to work on their most challenging projects: two teenage boys, many home renovations and advocating for special needs education. Although they have been in Westport for a little over two years, they still they are getting to used to clean air, quiet neighbors, and drive-through Starbucks. |
Marco and Elena Caggiano are proud to support Circle of Friends. They became involved with COF through their children, Caroline and John, who have both been active COF volunteers throughout their high school years. As a family, they share a strong dedication to community service, education, and making a positive impact in the lives of others.
Marco grew up in Westport, graduated from Staples and was thrilled to return to Westport to raise his own family. Marco is Vice Chairman of Mergers & Acquisitions at Morgan Stanley, focusing on media, entertainment, and communications transactions. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and the George Washington University School of Law. Elena, originally from Long Beach, California, is a former executive in the fashion industry and currently focuses on raising their family and supporting local educational and nonprofit initiatives. Elena has held leadership roles within the Westport school community, including serving as president of the PTA Council, the Staples High School PTA, and the Greens Farms Elementary School PTA. She has also served on the boards of A Better Chance (ABC) Westport and Horizons at Sacred Heart University, contributing her experience and commitment to expanding educational opportunities for young people in underserved communities. She is a graduate of the University of California Santa Barbara and the George Washington University School of Law. |
HOST COMMITTEE
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Corporate Giving Chair
Amy Falkenstein, Past Honoree Corporate Giving Chair Esther & Zalman Abend Danit Almog Penny Almog Jen & Eric Berniker Caryn & Andrew Blatt Celia Bobrowsky Ali & Michael Cammeyer Sara & Yitzchak Capland Rachel & Fausto Carusone Larissa Kirschner & Michael Chaney Carrie & Dr. Stanley Cooper, Past Honorees Joslyn & Stephen Crowe Beth & Raphael Davison, Past Honorees Mushka & Meir Deitsch Lauren & Steven Field Marjorie Freeman |
Linda & Michael Gordon
Monique Lions & Dr. Phil Greenspan Freida & Rabbi Yehoshua Hecht Rivka & Yaacov Hecht Rochel Hecht Gabriela & Dr. Ron Hornfeld Rivka & Dr. David Kasle Donna & Steve Katz Cindy & Michael Kaufman Nina Shaer King Adrienne & Jeff Klein Hillary & Ira Koyner Dana Czuczka & Justin Lapatine Arielle & Jeremy Luksberg Dr. Debbie & Dr. Scott Mogelof Megan & Greg Rutstein Shoshana & Yossi Ostfeld Margaret Sapir & Mitch Rapoport |
Shaina & Eli Schochet
Maribeth Cross & Stephen Schwartz, Past Honoree Namrita & Dr. JD Sidana Danielle Dobin & Christopher Smith Chanie & Rabbi Levi Stone Beth Sugerman Caren & Marc Tishfield Joelle & Mordechai Wilshinsky Diane & Ken Yormark PAST HONOREES Ilana & Victor Escandon Ellen Lautenberg & Doug Hendel Laura Kassen PJ & Jonathan Ross Quincy Stein |
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OUR HEROES
HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS FELLOWSHIP AWARDEES Dylan Atsumi, Co-President Weston High School Jacob Ceisler, President Hopkins Zoe Ingber, President Brien McMahon High School Reese Aliberti Maya Zwilling ADULT VOLUNTEERS Robert Bolton Gabriella Giuffre Lindsay Houlihan Arielle Luksberg Maria Petti Dr. Nicole Salib BAR/BAT MITZVAH VOLUNTEERS Fiona Cohen Charlie Jacobs Sydney Olefson Remi Rutstein Hudson Silver Cierra Wolfson |
DEDICATED TEEN VOLUNTEERS
Elijah Falkenstein, Co-President Staples HIgh School Chloe Gross, Co-President Weston High School Juliet Jannes, Co-President Weston High School Rebecca King, Co-President Fairfield Warde High School Charlotte Levi, Co-President Fairfield Warde High School Shane Power, SLOBS Staples High School Jonny Dobin-Smith, Co-President Staples High School Sam Tishfield, President Greens Farms Academy Chaya Mushka Wilshinsky, President Beth Chana High School Owen Anderson Kasper Barinow Delilah Berniker Hannah Bitsky Mila Bivolarski Jayden Blatt John Caggiano Chase Cammeyer Isa Carusone Benny Coleman Nolan Childers Adam Crowe Sienna Crowe Sloane Dearborn Avery Decore Mia Decore Samantha Dreizen Gabriella Demasi Cari Gordon Karen Duarte Kristel Duarte Hayley Epstein Leela Farzam Alexandra Fetner Lucy Field Estrella Gonzalez |
Maya Gordon
Eliza Greenspan Jonny Greenspan Sutton Gyselen Kevin Hilton Gabby Kaufman Gemma Kirt Lucas Klein Tyler Klein Lily Lacugna Aidan Lapatine Sienna LeDuc Cami Mansdorf Maddie Minsky Sadie Minsky Kiara Miranda Dylan Mogelof Taylor Mogelof Lily Murphy Reese Murphy Leo Murstein Harper Nisenson Lila Palmer Olivia Perlen Alessa Pilarte Kylie Russo Joshua Sanders Samantha Sandrew Alexandra Saon Brooke Saporta Noah Schacher Perri Schleef Avery Schnider Dylan Schramm Skylar Shapiro Sophia Simon Nathaniel Vadai Henry Veissid |
