Danbury Area Refugee Assistance held its second benefit event in April, and now that the confetti is swept up and the accounting finished, we have a little time to breathe. And with that breath, DARA would like to say thank you to everyone who helped make our 2017 Spring Benefit a success.
Michael’s At The Grove hosted our event, providing a beautiful venue, superb food and drink, and a welcoming and fun atmosphere for our guests.
The Rising Tide Band donated their time, music, and voices to help DARA support refugees, playing and singing well into the night with a danceable mix that got everyone moving.
We’d like to offer a special thank-you to our guest speakers: Greg Marino, Cosponsorship Manager of Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS), for speaking about the world refugee crisis and his work with resettlement groups;
Heba Gowayed, for her narrative of working with refugees and her studies on resettlement;
and Maher Mahmood, for sharing his experiences as a refugee.
Both Maher and photographer Jamie Kaplan took some wonderful photos, which you can view in our gallery.
So many people both local and regional donated items and services to DARA’s silent auction to help us raise money in support of refugees: businesses large and small, artists and artisans, private donors, and many others.
Our community is welcoming and supportive of refugees in the true tradition of America, and DARA is both proud and humbled to be able to play a part in this wonderful endeavor.
Thank you once again to everyone!
Badger Balm BASH! Bigelow Tea Byrd’s Books Caraluzzi’s Market Daisy Chestnut Dance for Every Child Darm’s Designs Dolr Bills Bowling Elizabeth Arden FaDana Studios Harney and Sons Tea Jamie Kaplan Photography Kramer Portraits La Zingara Linda Macpherson Photography Liz Davis Designs Lost and Found Vintage Maher Vision Photography Marlene Tendler Yoga Michaels at The Grove Mid-Century Mutt Molten Java Monroe Fish Market Nonni Studios Paint Draw and More Rainy Day Paperback Exchange Redding Roasters Coffee Company Ridgewood Country Club Salon Darin Tambascio’s Restaurant The Rising Tide Band Twitch and Whiskers Weston Woods/Scholastic YawningDog Editing Yoga Space Ziya Blooms And our many private donors