For Immediate Release:
March 20, 2025

For more information:
Josue Jorge
jjorge@habitatcfc.org

Let’s Party Like It’s 1985! Habitat CFC to Celebrate 40th Anniversary at Annual Gala at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich in Old Greenwich, CT
Tickets and Sponsorships Still Available!

BRIDGEPORT, CT – Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County (Habitat CFC) and Carolyn Vermont, CEO of Habitat CFC, invite community members to attend its 1980s-themed Gala “Let’s Party Like It’s 1985!” The night of celebration will include cocktails, dinner, dancing, a silent auction, a live auction, and live music by ThePopRocksCT Band at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich in Old Greenwich on April 26, 2025 from 6:00 pm to 10:30pm.

During the program, Chef Roshara Sanders, daughter of Sharon Sanders, a Bridgeport, Connecticut Habitat CFC homeowner, will share her story of growing up in a Habitat CFC home. Roshara will also share stories about her remarkable 15+ year career in the culinary industry, which includes being named a CHOPPED Champion and serving as a professor at The Culinary Institute of America, where she made history in 2020 as the first African American woman to join the faculty in Culinary Arts.

Carolyn Vermont stated, “This is going to be a wonderful 40th Anniversary celebration with long-time friends and new supporters. In addition to celebrating 40 incredible years, the evening is an opportunity to fund the future of our work. Through your investment of time, talent, and treasure, we will continue partnering with volunteers and future homeowners to construct Habitat homes with donated and purchased building materials. These brand-new homes will then be sold to local low-income, working families below cost with zero-interest mortgages and no down payment.”

Habitat CFC will also present three special awards during the night.

Corporate Citizenship Award to Cindi Bigelow: Cindi is the 3rd generation President and CEO of family-owned Bigelow Tea, the US market leader of specialty teas. Before assuming this key role, she spent over 20 years in all areas of the company that her grandmother founded in 1945. Bigelow Tea has been the national leader in the Specialty teas category since 2002, and in 2020 achieved the #1 overall tea brand in the U.S.A. Bigelow remains a 100% family-owned business and employs 450 people producing over 2 billion tea bags annually.

Second Mile Award to Oliver North: Oliver is a former Habitat CFC Board member and now currently volunteers as a Core volunteer working with Habitat CFC’s construction staff to build affordable homes. Oliver started with Habitat CFC as a construction volunteer after 9/11 and then was Treasurer of the Board before retiring in 2021.

Volunteer of The Year to JoAnne Fabry: JoAnne has been involved with Habitat CFC since 2000 when she joined the Women Build Committee. During her years of volunteering, she co-chaired fundraising events for two Habitat builds, most recently the Pope Francis Home. JoAnne also provides a handmade quilt for each new Habitat homeowner family at their home dedication ceremony and additional quilts for Habitat’s annual Family Picnic, which are given to Habitat homeowners.

All proceeds from the sale of tickets, sponsorships, and auction items will support the Habitat CFC mission to build decent, affordable homes and bright futures for deserving low-income Coastal Fairfield County families. Attendees are invited to dress in their favorite 80s attire.

The public is welcome to attend; advance ticket purchase is required. For ticket information and online registration, to donate, or bid on the online silent auction, please visit habitatcfc.org/gala or call Development Manager, Jay Helmer, at 203-333-2642, ext 126.

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