December 3: Irwin Lebish, DVM, Rotarian  and Pianist 

December 10: Dr. Susan Schnitzer, President and CEO of the Connecticut Institute for Immigrants and Refugees (CIRI)

Susan Schnitzer President & CEO – Susan has over thirty years of diverse professional experience including financial and project management, program development and evaluation and strategic planning. Susan joined the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI) in November 2016 as the Director, Grant Management and Compliance and was promoted to her current role in January 2020. Under her leadership, CIRI has revised its approach to financial and programmatic management and sustainability, with three years of budget surpluses. During the same period Susan has led and collaborated with her team in navigating the impact to CIRI’s work caused by external crises, including COVID-19, Afghan, Ukrainian and Haitian crises, more than doubling the agencies budget and building impactful and trauma informed programming. Over the course of her 18 years in nonprofit management, she has secured and managed over $45 million of public funding, including a $7 million rental assistance program for the Ct Department of Housing helping immigrants maintain housing security throughout COVID and a $2.6 state bond to purchase and retrofit a new headquarters in Bridgeport.

Ms. Schnitzer holds a BS in Economics and Public Policy, with a concentration in International Political Economy from Syracuse University.

Deogratias “Deo” Byakisaka Director, Refugee Services, has been with CIRI for over eight years, starting as a Case Manager and working his way through the ranks of CIRI’s Refugee Services to Senior Case Manager, Resettlement Supervisor, Program Manager and he was recently promoted to Assistant Director of Refugee Services.

As Director, Deo manages the delivery and coordination of refugee services and provides ongoing training, supervision, and support to direct service staff. Deo ensures compliance with requirements and performance standards for refugee programming beginning with initial resettlement and for the five years of comprehensive services offered to our new neighbors.

Deo holds a Master of Art in Global Development from University of Bridgeport, a Bachelor of Art in Social Work and Social Administration from Bugema University, a Diploma in Social Work from Makerere Institute for Social Development and a Diploma in Social Youth Work from Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation.

December 17: Staples Orphenians

The Staples High School Orphenians is an auditioned, elite choral ensemble open to all SHS students, grades 9-12, who are currently enrolled in a curricular music ensemble. Rehearsals are Tuesdays, 3:00-5:00pm, and typically one Saturday afternoon per month. Auditions take place in June for the following school year and all members must re-audition each year. This ensemble performs throughout the Westport community at the holidays and participates in state-wide and national choral festivals.   

The Orphenians pre-holiday recital are a rotary tradition.

January 14 Stephen Panus: Walk On

January 21 Jen Tooker, First Selectwomen of Westport

Thank you to all sponsors, volunteers, and

guests for another SUCCESSFUL LobsterFest !!

BECOME A SPONSOR

All funds raised at LobsterFest are donated to local and international charities. Giving to the Westport Rotary Club is “one-stop shopping”. Donations support a wide range of both local nonprofit organizations and many international humanitarian projects. The Westport Rotary Club Charitable and International Giving Committees vet each grant application determining suitability and the greatest levels of need.

Interested in becoming a LobsterFest sponsor?

Please contact one of our Co-Chairs of Fundraising:

Kenny Epstein – [email protected]

Leslie Roberts – [email protected]

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