UNICO Farmington and Hill-Stead Museum Partner in Fundraising and Celebration

UNICO  (Unity, Neighborliness, Integrity, Charity and Opportunity) Farmington Chapter, truly demonstrated support of its mission, “Service Above Self” this weekend.

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the State of Italy, a spring social, Serata Primaverile, co-sponsored by Hill-Stead Museum and the Farmington Chapter of UNICO, was held in the museum’s Makeshift Theater Saturday night. Proceeds from the event support Hill-Stead and Farmington UNICO's scholarships and community grants.

The evening included a museum tour, wine tasting of wines from four regions of Italy, with wines provided by M & R Liquors and food donated by Angelos on Main, Apricots, George’s Pizza, Grist Mill, Matthew’s, Mozzicatos, Naples Pizza and Highland Park Market, and a silent auction.

Local artist Dawn Lombardi, wearing a gown from the Hill-Stead collection, set up an easel and beautifully captured the evening in a watercolor painting, which was then auctioned.

Dr. Sue Sturtevant, Executive Director and CEO of   welcomed the crowd “on this auspicious occasion,  the 150th anniversary of the founding of the State of Italy” asking “how many of you have never been to the museum before?” When a few dozen hands went up, she said “since your tour only covered the first floor, you’ll have to come back to see more of our treasures!”

Susan and Don Kreutzer of Avon are already planning to do just that. “We’ve lived in the area since 1975 and this is our first time at Hill-Stead” Susan said. “Friends invited us to this event. We were amazed at the beauty of the house, the collection and the setting. The guides were so knowledgeable and excited about the house. We are definitely coming back soon.”

Don Kreutzer added “the house showed a lifestyle I’d love to become accustomed to, as long as I had servants. It was very interesting to see how ahead of its time the house was.”

This was the second year the event has been held, and UNICO Chairman of the Board Ralph Acari “hopes it will be an annual event. Hill-Stead is the perfect setting and I’m very glad they welcomed the idea to do this event when we first inquired last year. All fundraising proceeds to providing financial assistance to community services. We award four scholarships of $2,000 each.”

In addition to scholarships, the organization provides funds to support Chem Free nights at the high school, Farmington Valley VNA, Wheeler Clinic, Farmington Youth Baseball, Farmington Library, Farmington Ecumenical Elderly Housing, Winding Trails and the Klingberg Family Center. Funding is also provided for the DeDominicis Fellowship and a Chair in Italian Studies at the University of Connecticut, and UNICO Farmington has been at the cutting edge of two programs that have received national recognition: funding of major research in Cooley’s anemia and mental health and the nationally supported Jimmy Valvano Foundation for cancer research.

The next UNICO Farmington fundraiser will be a golf tournament, June 11, at Stanley Golf Course, New Britain. Email Paul Pedemonti at golf@farmington-unico.org for more information.