Norwalk Seaport Association to Honor GE Capital Real Estate at Annual Gala

The Norwalk Seaport Association (NSA) will present its annual Beacon Award to GE Capital Real Estate at the 2015 “Stars Over Sheffield” Gala to benefit the preservation of the historic Sheffield Island Lighthouse.  The event will take place on Saturday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., at the Norwalk Inn and Conference Center, 99 East Avenue in Norwalk.  In addition to the award presentation, attendees will enjoy dinner, dancing, and live and silent auctions.  

GE Capital Real Estate is being honored for its volunteer efforts and dedication to preserving the Sheffield Island Lighthouse and GE’s educational commitment to the children of the surrounding community.  In 2012 and again in 2014, more than 800 GE employees volunteered their time to ready the island and the lighthouse for visitors during the summer season.  

“We’ve enjoyed partnering with the City of Norwalk and with Norwalk Seaport Association on this project,” said GE Spokesman James Luton. “We wanted to help increase the educational and recreational appeal of the island for visitors of all ages.  There’s also something very appealing about this place for children…the lighthouse, the island, the boat ride, the nature preserve – they all conspire to fire up a child’s imagination…and of course ‘Imagination at Work’ is very meaningful for us at GE.”            ‘

On top of Sheffield Island and Lighthouse preparedness, furthering GE’s own focus on education, last year GE Capital Real Estate funded numerous local school trips to Sheffield Island. Additional support has also been committed in 2015 to sustain ongoing educational tours of the island, including local elementary schools and after-school programs for underserved students in the area.

The ‘Stars over Sheffield’ theme shines an appreciative light on the GE Capital Real Estate volunteers as the ‘stars”’who spent hours of their time helping to make Sheffield Island and lighthouse a beautiful place to visit,” said Vinny Scicchitano, NSA president. 

The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, education and public awareness of Norwalk’s maritime environment and heritage.  The NSA has owned, restored and maintained Sheffield Island Lighthouse since 1986 and is the official U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Friends group for the Norwalk Islands.

For tickets and information on the 2015 “Stars Over Sheffield” Gala, visit www.seaport.org or call (203) 838-9444.