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Community Corner

Five High School Seniors Honored for Volunteer Work

Attorney General Richard Bumenthal Helps Recognize 'Circle of Friends' in its Sixth Year of Community Service

Five Westport high school seniors were honored Wednesday night during The Circle of Friends Evening of Recognition Dinner at Beth Israel of Westport/Norwalk synagogue.

The teens – Kayla Berman, Matthew Greenberg, Rachel Schwartz, Amanda Shepard and Sam Zorfas – received High School Senior Fellowship Awards. As a group, the Fellowship Award recipients have donated a combined 2,000 "friendship hours."

Also during the event, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal made an appearance to applaud the program and recognize the more than 100 teen volunteers who are part of the Circle of Friends (www.circleoffriends.org).

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Yachad - Circle of Friends is  a nondenominational program sponsored by Beth Israel of Westport/Norwalk. Volunteers in the program establish friendships with children who have special needs, which include autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, learning disabilities and physical handicaps.

"This is a program that changes lives," stated Freida Hecht , who implemented Yachad - Circle of Friends locally in 2004. She initiated the program to relieve the feelings of loneliness that are common with special needs children and their families.

"Children with special needs often have very few friends. They experience feelings of isolation," explained Hecht . "In this program, special needs children receive weekly one-hour visits from their teen-age companions. After just a couple of visits, the younger children begin to look forward to seeing their new friends. They wait by the window in anticipation."

The program, which began with a handful of participants, has been embraced by families and volunteers alike. Concluding its sixth year of service to the community, the Circle of Friends program now has more than 100 volunteers who assist more than 80 families in the Mid-Fairfield County area.

 "It's an extremely rewarding and fulfilling program for everyone," said Hecht . "For the teens, it brings out maturity, compassion and kindness. For the families, its adds a human element to their lives and lessens feelings of loneliness."

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In addition to the weekly visits, Yachad - Circle of Friends offers monthly Friendship Circles, which are two-hour interactive events held at the synagogue.

"The volunteers and their friends attend the Friendship Circles and we have events that include music therapy, sports, games, cooking and crafts," said Hecht .

 Also during the dinner, five adult volunteers were recognized: Susan Robison, volunteer coordinator; Roberta Dick, RN; Francene Jarvis Ilisa Nussbaum and Chanie Stone.

Programs offered by Circle of Friends also include Adult Social Circles, Sibling Support Groups, Hospital Visits, Teen Scene and Volunteer Training Seminars.

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