Event highlights the bank’s commitment to philanthropy and employee volunteerism
STAMFORD, Conn. — United Way of Western Connecticut hosted its 23rd Annual Heart of Gold Dinner which took place on Thursday, May 18th at the Stamford Marriott. More than 250 people attended the event that honored Webster Bank President John Ciulla.
Michael Pollard, Chief of Staff to City of Stamford Mayor David Martin, served as the emcee for the evening. Tracie Wilson, Senior Vice President, Programming & Development at NBCUniversal and last year’s Heart of Gold recipient, presented the award to John Ciulla.
John was selected as this year’s Heart of Gold Award recipient because as President of Webster Financial Corporation and Webster Bank, he leads a company that embraces employee volunteerism at every level of the bank. Employees are given 16 hours of paid time off to encourage volunteer participation throughout the year. John is an active member of several nonprofit boards, currently serving as Chairman of the Board of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association and as a member of the board of the Business Council of Fairfield County.
“We were so pleased to honor John and his leadership at our Heart of Gold Award Dinner this year,” said Kimberly Morgan, CEO of United Way of Western Connecticut. “The nonprofit community relies on corporate partners like Webster Bank that promote employee volunteer engagement in local social service agencies and are committed to contributing financially to the success of local community organizations. Webster Bank, under John’s leadership, is one of Stamford’s great philanthropic businesses and we are honored to recognize their contributions to the City.”
The Heart of Gold Award was established in 1995 to honor business leaders who distinguish themselves through philanthropy and build volunteerism into their strategic business plans. United Way of Western Connecticut celebrates the importance of business leadership in building healthy communities through philanthropy and employee volunteerism.
Roberta K. Eichler Heart of Gold Scholarship
United Way of Western Connecticut awarded its 2017 Roberta K. Eichler Heart of Gold Scholarship to Ariadna Lopez, a senior at Stamford High School. The $5,000 scholarship is awarded annually to support the continuing education of an outstanding local student volunteer and is named in honor of the Stamford Volunteer Center’s former executive director.
Ariadna distinguished herself as our 2017 scholarship recipient through her commitment to volunteerism and making a difference in the lives of others. “It is a commitment not just to my community and myself, but to the communities I hope to help,” she wrote in her scholarship application. She has been a long-time volunteer with CT Quest for Peace and Project Appalachia, and believes her volunteer experiences have shaped her life and informed her decision to attend college.
Image1 – United Way of Western Connecticut honored Webster Bank President John Ciulla at its Annual Heart of Gold Dinner. Pictured from left, Kimberly Morgan, CEO of United Way of Western Connecticut; 2017 Heart of Gold Honoree John Ciulla, President of Webster Bank; and 2016 Heart of Gold Honoree Tracie Wilson, Senior Vice President, Programming & Development at NBCUniversal.