It's fairly well known that many local business owners keep a pad of gift certificates in the top drawer to peel off and hand over to virtually any school group/team/charity that asks for help. Yet even within this generous community there are standouts. Here, we give thanks to five who go well beyond routine donations to make the world a better place.
Norman Dahl III, DDS, Branford
"I'm a giving junkie," says family dentist Dr. Norman Dahl. He's referring to the rush of joy, fueled by dopamine, which happens when acts of kindness are bestowed on others. He knows it well: In addition to a full schedule of fundraisers (Dancing With the Stars, Men of Branford calendar, lobster bake, etc.), he operates Dr. Dahl's Community Give-Back Program, offering free dental care to one Branford family each month small business attorney.
These are people without dental coverage; they apply via a form available at the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce. Along with wife, Janet, and his staff, Dahl says, "I kind of adopt a family and give them what they need — cleanings, fillings, maintenance." It's a relatively new program, and the good doc hopes that other professionals and businesses will follow.
Lucian Addario, Lucian's Florist, Hamden
"Lucian's Plants Clean the Air." It's not just a slogan; it's a promise, according to Lucian Addario, a florist with decades of horticultural history. Scenesters of the '70s might remember his work at Fitzwilly's and Chart House restaurants in New Haven, both of which he loaded with lush greenery, while newbies might know his "living wall" at Leon's in North Haven.
"Interior plantscaping is catching on again because people are realizing that plants filter out toxins," says Addario. In his 46 years in business, he has also cultivated goodwill; from digging a well in Haiti to supporting groups like Music Haven and Elm Shakespeare Co., Addario lives by the belief that "America's greatest natural resource is its children."
Chris Walsh, Duffy's Tavern, West Haven
It is possible that West Haven would shatter into pieces if it weren't for the centralizing presence of Duffy's Tavern. Much more than a cozy spot with yummy pub fare, Duffy's hosts and supports a steady stream of community groups and nonprofits, from school bands to the Special Olympics.
"I was born and raised in West Haven and I had an amazing childhood here," says publican Chris Walsh, who started at Duffy's at age 13 at the feet of his father, John. "It's important to me to give back to a city that gave me so much." Out of the 25-plus charities that Walsh names off the top of his head, one nearest to his heart is Toys for Tots. Says the father of two wee ones: "I know how happy those simple gifts make children who are less fortunate."
Attorney Debra Marino, Orange
If Debra Marino could be described in one word, it would be: dynamic. An attorney who practices family law, she deals with divorce and custody litigation, and fights for victims of domestic violence. Also, she serves on the Orange board of finance, sponsors Little League teams and charity golf tournaments, directs a charity she co-founded with her husband (attorney Vincent Marino) called Saving Orange Residents in Need, and more.
This summer, she launched the Orange Hot Moms Softball League. "It started out as fun, with moms from three elementary schools, kind of like a rumble," says the mother of two. "Then we decided, let's raise funds for breast cancer!" They passed a bra at the game and came back with $1,800; now the Hot Moms will play a charity game every August.
Matthew Bailey, B.C. Bailey Funeral Home, Wallingford
This summer, in a tragic act of filicide, siblings Daaron and Aleisha Moore of East Haven lost their lives. The news reports were horrible, yet, in all the darkness, there was a ray of light: From the far side of the county, a funeral director named Matt Bailey came forward and took care of the children's final arrangements at no charge.
It was a natural response on Bailey's part, a young father himself whose family business has provided light in the darkness for 136 years. Beyond the 24/7 demands of his job, Bailey's everyday life is dedicated to community service: He's an enthusiastic member of the Rotary Club — "The world would be a better place with more Rotarians!" — and supports United Way, the Elks, the Wallingford Foundation, veterans groups and more.
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