Press Release

April 5, 2017
Lou Perno, Co-Executive Director; 203-562-9194; lperno@farnamcommunity.org

John Courtmanche and New Haven Fire Fighters Local 825 to be Honored by Farnam House

On Tuesday, May 9th, 2017, from 6-10 pm, Farnam Neighborhood House will be hosting its 17th Annual
Awards Gathering at Anthonys Ocean View, 450 Lighthouse Road, New Haven, CT. This major
fundraiser is an evening dedicated to honoring fellow community members whose good works and
positive contributions have supported the mission of Farnam and enhanced the quality of life for the
youth and families in the New Haven area.

Farnam is pleased to announce that John Courtmanche will receive the Community Service Award.
This award recognizes the contributions of time, talent, and dedication that John has given to public
education in New Haven for over 34 years and his goodwill which he so generously has given, and
continues to give to Farnam and many other New Haven organizations and charities. John is a life-long
resident of New Haven who attended Hillhouse High School, SCSU, Fairfield University and University
of Bridgeport. He taught at Troup Middle School, West Haven High School and Richard C. Lee High
School. He was Assistant Principal at Lee High School and principal at Nathan Hale K-8 School,
Sheridan Middle School and Wilbur Cross High School.

John has served as president of the Board of Directors for the New Haven Labor Day Race from 1999 to
the present which has generated more than $200,000 in contributions to New Haven organizations and
charities. He also serves on the Development Board for Life Haven, member of the education sub-
committee of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, a member of the New Haven
Scholarship Fund Board of Directors and one of the founders of the Wilbur Cross High School athletes
Hall of Fame.

The Community Spirit Award will be presented to the New Haven Fire Fighters Local 825. New
Haven Fire Fighters represent the men and women of the New Haven Fire Department. The department
is made up of ten neighborhood fire stations with several special operation assets that serve the City of
New Haven. The New Haven Fire Department is the busiest fire department in the state.

The services the department provides go way beyond responding to fires. The department is in all
hazards department and the only major city that provides advanced life support at a street level though
the great work of our paramedics. The New Haven Fire Department is a Class 1 department as rated by
ISO. This is the highest rating possible that is achieved by the insurance industry evaluating the
departments communications, water supply, training, facilities, staffing, equipment and response time.
This rating lowers insurance rates for businesses and residential property owners.

New Haven Fire Fighters believe in being a community partner interacting with the residents of the City
of New Haven on many levels. Its union sponsors a basketball team at the Farnam House each year,
two baseball teams in the Cove and Dixwell area of new Haven. They have helped send a youth football
team from Brookside to Florida and sponsor a light display for the Easter Seals and a Scholarship for a
youth each year pursuing an education in public safety. The New Haven Fire Fighters union has been
partners with the Farnam House for years helping with their toy drive for Christmas and members
volunteer their time in a citywide reading program. They are currently working on a yearly Preparing
for the Interview Class with the Farnam house and the Chiefs Office to be delivered in May for High
School students.

Farnams 17th Annual Awards Gathering is a very special evening honoring outstanding leaders in the
community. Farnam is currently seeking sponsors for this important fundraiser which ranges from
$1,000 to $10,000. Business leaders, organizations and Friends of Farnam are asked to be a sponsor for
the event, purchase an ad for its program booklet and attend the event for $60/ticket. All proceeds
support Farnam programs which provide a continuum of prevention programs that nurture and educate
young children, promote positive youth development, and strengthen families and our community. The
organization impacts over 3,000 children, teens and families who participate in the Pre-School Program,
Afterschool Group Work and Enrichment Program, evening and weekend programs such as its Youth
Leadership Program, Pre-season High School Basketball League, Biddy Basketball and Camp Farnam.
This year, more than ever, funding is needed to support critical positive prevention programs for the
youth of New Haven which have received funding cuts on the local and state level.

For more information about the Farnam 17th Annual Awards Gathering please contact Tina Paolillo at
(203) 562-9194 or email: tpaolillo@farnamcommunity.org or Lou Perno at
lperno@farnamcommunity.org