The First Waltz: Wilton Rocks For Food is a Hit
Event Raises More than $26,000 for Hunger Relief
WILTON, CONN., December 30, 2015 – Funds raised at a community concert in Wilton will benefit two hunger relief organizations. More than $26,000 was raised at The First Waltz, held at the Trackside Teen Center of Wilton on December 5.
The creative force behind the event, Wilton resident Andy Schlesinger, presented checks of $13,200 each to the Connecticut Food Bank and the Wilton Interfaith Food Pantry on December 23 at the Wilton Interfaith Food Pantry.
The funds were raised at a concert conceived of and produced by Schlesinger with help from a host of Wilton residents and businesses. The event included a concert, food, drinks and silent auction. Thanks to the hard work of Schlesinger and other volunteers, 100% of the proceeds from the event were donated to the two organizations.
Schlesinger said the concert was called The First Waltz as an homage to the famous concert film, “The Last Waltz,” and followed a similar format of performers joining a “house band” on stage for special appearances. He said all the performers were Wilton-based and played a variety of rock and pop over three hours to a packed house of 200 people. Schlesinger said the response was strong and he intends to make the event a tradition. “It’s being touted as one of the best events ever in Wilton and The Second Waltz is already scheduled for December 3, 2016.”
“We are grateful to Andy and the Wilton community for the hard work and energy that went into making this first-ever event so successful,” said Connecticut Food Bank Director of Community Engagement Sarah Morocco. “This donation will help the Connecticut Food Bank provide enough food to prepare more than 26,000 meals.”
Catherine Pierce, Director of Wilton Social Services, said the was an “amazing contribution” to the local food pantry. “We are extremely grateful to Andy and his group for putting together the fund raiser and providing financial support to address and help reduce hunger for families and individuals in our town and region.”
About the Wilton Interfaith Food Pantry:
Wilton Social Services operates the Wilton Interfaith Food Pantry at the Comstock Community Center at 180 School Road in Wilton. The Pantry stocks perishable and non-perishable food items, personal care items, paper products, and detergents. For more information and hours of operation, contact Wilton Social Services at (203) 834-6238.
About the Connecticut Food Bank:
The Connecticut Food Bank is the state’s non-profit leader in the fight against hunger and the largest provider of charitable food donations. Some 700 partners and programs depend on the Connecticut Food Bank as a lifeline to nutritious food for the communities they serve. The Connecticut Food Bank partnered last year with retailers, donors, volunteers and growers to provide enough food to prepare more than 18 million meals to more than 300,000 people across 127 cities and towns in six Connecticut counties. Visit us on the web at www.ctfoodbank.org, like us Facebook and follow @CTFoodBank on Twitter.