Immaculate High School will honor Denis Bouffard posthumously with the Lifetime Achievement Award and Carl ‘71 and Lauren Bailey of Brookfield with the Distinguished Service Award at its 14th Annual Spring Gala on March 23 at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury.
The public is invited to celebrate this year’s honorees at the 14th Annual Spring Gala, Springtime in Paris, at the Amber Room Colonnade on Saturday, March 23. The night includes dinner, cocktails, silent and live auctions and dancing. All proceeds benefit the students and programs of Immaculate. Sponsorships are also available. Purchase tickets and sponsorships by going to www.immaculatehs.org/gala.
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes those individuals who had had the opportunity to directly aid and support Immaculate High School and its young men and women. The award recipients have served in or around the school community in one or more areas and have directly aided Immaculate’s students in striving to be the best they could be. Carl ‘71 and Lauren Bailey are recognized for their dedication to providing many Danbury students with the opportunity to be successful at Immaculate High School and for their commitment to support, educate and care for hundreds of Danbury's youth in the past 12 years.
Their Danbury Grassroots Academy encourages personal responsibility that instills honorable character, values and strong work ethics, and the Baileys provide the mentoring, nurturing and financial support needed to offer students the opportunity to attain a superior education. Grassroots' free, needs-based program has a mandated mission of educational discipline, respect for self and others, health and tennis. Additionally, Carl Bailey, an 1971 alumnus of Immaculate, has helped rebuild two schools and an orphanage in Nicaragua and brough cleft palate surgical and dental mission teams to the country.
The Lifetime achievement award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to the service of others in their community, parish, family and circle of friends as well as recognition and support to Catholic education and its importance in the lives of young men and women. Denis Bouffard, of Danbury, was a beloved teacher and Religion Department head at Immaculate High School for 34 years who truly lived his faith daily through his selfless generosity and kindness. He was a positive role model and pillar of faith, leading by example and actively volunteering at the local soup kitchen and homeless shelters. Mr. Bouffard’s commitment to the service of others has left an indelible mark on so many lives at Immaculate as well as in his community, parish, family and circle of friends. As an active member of St. Gregory the Great parish, Mr. Bouffard was involved in organizing, facilitating and participating in a men’s spiritual group, Pre-Baptism classes, the Renew team, pre-Cana team and the choir. He is recognized as a lifetime supporter of Catholic education and its importance in the lives of youth.
“It is an honor to recognize these amazing, selfless individuals for their personal dedication, generosity and extraordinary commitment to serving others. The endless opportunities and the immeasurable difference that they have made in the lives of so many is a way of life that should be imitated by all,” said Mary Maloney, President of Immaculate High School.