The Riverbrook Regional YMCA has announced that Patrick Russo will be the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Citizen Award. These Awards are presented annually at the YMCA Community Celebration, being held this year at Shore & Country Club in Norwalk. Sponsored by Fairfield County Bank, this year’s Celebration is a Sea to Table event on Sunday, June 2.
The Distinguished Citizen Award has been made to over 85 individuals, businesses and organizations since the Community Celebration began in 1986. It honors outstanding volunteers who have been serving the community through volunteerism on a long-term basis and making a positive difference that benefits Wilton, Norwalk and Redding and their residents.
Robert McDowell, CEO of the Riverbrook Regional YMCA, said, “We had several nominations for the Distinguished Citizen Awards this year, and it was a difficult choice for the committee to select the winner. Pat Russo has made significant contributions to improving the quality of life in Wilton and is eminently deserving of this honor.”
Through the years, Wilton resident Patrick Russo has generously offered his time and talents to serve others in Wilton. A native of Garden City, NY, Pat moved to Fairfield County in 1970 while attending Fairfield University. He and his wife Mary moved to Old Highway, Wilton in 1996 and has since been engrained in the Wilton community through numerous volunteer activities.
Since 2004, Pat has served as a driver volunteer for Our Lady of Fatima Food Kitchen where he delivers food from Village Market twice a month to the Manna House of Hospitality Soup Kitchen at Open Doors and the Person-to-Person food pantry . He has also been a Home Front volunteer through Our Lady of Fatima and the Rotary Club of Wilton which provides free repairs to low-income homeowners, thus enabling them to remain in their homes with an improved quality of life. Pat has been an active member of the Rotary Club of Wilton since 2004 where he has served as Past President, current member of the Board of Directors, Community Service Chair and President of the Carnival Committee since 2012, spearheading the club’s major fundraising event. Pat was instrumental in expanding the Rotary Senior Fire Protection program with Town of Wilton and Red Cross with the installation of more than 500+ Smoke Detectors for live-at -home seniors over 13 years. Pat has also received multiple Rotary awards for his “service above self” – the Paul Harris Fellow, Rotarian of the Year 2010-11, District Governor Citation for Service-2014, Norman King Parsells Memorial Award for Service -2015.
been influential in this recognition. He currently serves on Wilton CERT’s Board of Directors and has successfully lead public/private fundraising campaigns to purchase two emergency vehicles and mobile command trailer for CERT and Wilton Emergency Services. Pat, as well as Wilton CERT, was Awarded the Public Safety Award by AAA of CT for service to community in 2018. Additionally, Pat is a current and past member of the Board of Directors for the Wilton Chamber of Commerce and served a leadership position at the Chamber as a Past President.
Pat has spent his time in Wilton giving back to others and has made a significance difference in the Wilton community. It’s people like Pat whose dedication and commitment to volunteerism has made Wilton a better place for all.
The Riverbrook Regional YMCA and Fairfield County Bank will present The Distinguished Citizen Award at the annual YMCA Community Celebration held on Sunday, June 2, 2019 at Shore and Country Club. For ticket information, visit seatotable.givesmart.com or contact the YMCA’s Development Office at 203-762-8384 x 273.
About Riverbrook Regional YMCA
Serving the coastal city of Norwalk as well as the towns of Georgetown, Redding and Wilton, the Riverbrook Regional YMCA provides services to 134,000 residents across diverse communities. The YMCA is a member-supported charitable organization dedicated to promoting youth development, healthy living and social responsibility by offering a broad range of health enhancing, recreational, educational and social programs that are affordable and accessible to all people in the communities we serve. Our vision is to use all available resources to maximize the personal potential of every person in the community who is affiliated with or takes advantage of our exceptional Y programs and facilities.