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Lauren Gardner was raised in Farmington, Connecticut in the same house her father grew up in, graduating from Farmington High School in 2011. She pursued her Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in psychology at Southern Connecticut State University, graduating magna cum laude in 2015.
At the age of sixteen, after being encouraged to strengthen her resume for prospective colleges, Lauren began volunteering a few days after school at FOCUS Center for Autism. What she once viewed as an easy way to enhance her resume, rapidly turned into a passion that she followed into a career. Lauren quickly fell in love with the FOCUS clientele, adoring their individuality, honesty and unique perspectives. She also fell in love with the FOCUS organization, its approach and how it transformed lives, including her own.
Yvonne Swanson Gardner grew up in Southington, Connecticut. Her parents still reside in the house where she was raised and have been very involved in the soccer community by volunteering their time and skills in town for over forty years. Yvonne is proud to say they are both in the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame.After Yvonne married, she moved to Farmington. She and her husband Greg raised their two daughters in the same house that he grew up in and will be celebrating their thirtieth wedding anniversary on September 9th. Yvonne has worked at FOCUS Center for Autism for seventeen years and says that it is by far the most rewarding job she has ever had. Her older daughter Lauren, “one of the lights of my life” has worked with her in some capacity at FOCUS since she was a young girl. For the last few years Lauren has been a full time employee. She is also a Rotarian. Her younger daughter Kara is “the other light in my life”. She recently graduated from CCSU with a degree in Elementary Education. Yvonne is also a graduate of CCSU. Her degree was in Psychology and Interpersonal Communication.
Mike Mezheritskiy, aka, Misha, was born and raised in Kiev, Ukraine. In 1994, at the age of seventeen his family moved to Boston, Massachusetts. Mike recalls skipping all his English lessons in school, thinking, “Why in the world would I want to learn English? It’s not like I am ever going to use it!” His first job was as a dishwasher at McDonald’s. Within a year he was promoted to Shift Manager - a very big deal for him at the time. Next he went to work at the Doubletree Hotel in Waltham, Massachusetts which was frequented by a number of local and visiting sports figures. During his time there he met Larry Bird, Dominique Wilkins, Rick Pitino, and Bobby Orr. He even helped Kenny Anderson jump-start his Cadillac.
The members of the Rotary of Avon-Canton are proud to announce the they have made the first installment payment of $90,000, to begin the outfitting of the Favarh Life Enrichment Building located at 100 Commerce Drive in Canton. The remaining $60,000 of the $150,000 pledge will be paid in 2021 to complete the facility.
This project will help the nonprofit organization provide even greater support for its clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The 7,836 square-foot building, located on Commerce Drive in Canton, will enhance Favarh’s day programs for adults who can’t work because of disability and medical complexities or who have retired from work.
The new facility will be named the Rotary of Avon-Canton Building.
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Rotary of Avon-Canton
Attention: Michael Mezheritskiy, President
P.O. Box 11, Avon, CT 06001
Board of Directors
meets 3rd Tuesday at 4:30 PM
at the Avon Public Library
Community Service Committee
meets 1st Friday at 8:45 AM
Avon Old Farms Hotel
International Service Committee
meets 2nd Friday at 8:45 AM
Avon Old Farms Hotel
Rotary Initiative/FAVARH Committee
meets last Friday at 8:45 AM
Avon Old Farms Hotel
Rotory Means Business - Areas 7 & 9
meets 3rd Wednesday at 5:00 PM
Location set by RMB Newsletter
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