PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY

The Fairfield Rotary Club held its annual Pillars of the Community “Service Above Self” Award ceremony to celebrate those who have gone above and beyond for our community last Friday. Each recipient received the Rotary’s Paul Harris Community Service Award.

The honorees included Becky Bunnell of the Fairfield Sustainable Task Force, Dan Cassette, One Club Founder, Kenneth Dalling, Veteran & Neighbor (posthumously), Al DiGuido of Al’s Angels and Jim Kuczo of Kevin’s Afterglow.

Becky Bunnell has been a resident of Fairfield for over 12 years. As an active member of the Sustainable Fairfield Task Force and Chairwoman of its Food and Waste Committee, she and Committee members are helping to make our community more sustainable by creating a new Food Waste recycling program and a glass recycling program as well as educating residents on how to recycle.

Dan Cassette started the One Club Golf Tournament in 1992 in Stamford with proceeds going to the Fairfield County Food Bank for 15 years. Since 2009, the tournament has been run from Fairchild Wheeler Golf course. Thanks to Dan’s help, compassion and hard work, total proceeds that benefit local veterans groups are estimated to be over $100,000.

I had the honor to accept my dear friend Kenneth Dalling's award on behalf of his family. Ken was a lifelong resident of Fairfield and was best known for his volunteer services to our Town. He was a Fifer and Founder and Chair of the Fife and Drum Corps at the Fairfield Fire Department, a lifelong member of the Ancient Mariners Connecticut Fife and Drum Corps and the Sons of the Whiskey Rebellion Fife and Drum Corps. Ken was a member of the Port 5 National Association of Naval Veterans, the George A. Smith Post 74 of the American Legion and a 50-year member of Fidelity-St. John's Lodge No. 3. He was also a basketball coach for Fairfield’s Police Athletic League and played softball in the Town league for over 30 years. Additionally, Ken was a Fairfield Parks and Recreation Commissioner for 13 years and was the driving force in the construction of the downtown Sherman Green Gazebo and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary on Jennings Beach. 

Al DiGuido is highly respected in our community for his popular charity, Al’s Angels, which he was inspired to create in 2004 when he heard a plea made at a New York Giants game to help a 10-year-old girl dying from cancer whose family was in dire financial straits. Al’s Angels started by helping 30 families in its first year and now provides thousands of children afflicted with cancer and rare blood diseases and who suffer financial hardship with holiday meals and gifts. For nearly 20 years, Al’s Angels has expanded to more than 7,000 volunteers and has helped over 150,000 children and families.

Jim and Kristen Kuczo lost their son, Kevin, who took his life in 2021 at the age of 17. In memory of Kevin, the Kuczos created Kevin's Afterglow, as a way to spread awareness to others. The Kuczos have been speaking at middle and high school sporting events, as well as to local media in honor of Kevin’s plans of helping others and educating and comforting the community. Their strength in talking to others about Kevin is commendable. Their words, actions and support are deeply needed in our society that doesn’t talk enough about mental health issues.

I want to thank the Fairfield Rotary Club for organizing this wonderful event and congratulate those who were awarded for their selfless service.