Volunteer Recognition
The Annual Volunteer Recognition Awards is New Canaan’s opportunity to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary individuals and groups that are the backbone of our local nonprofit community.
Awards are given out to volunteers who live in New Canaan or who do their volunteer service in the town of New Canaan. Awards are given in the following categories:
Youth - MVP
Youth - Hall of Fame
Hands-On Rookie of the Year
Hands-On MVP
Hands-On Hall of Fame
Outstanding Volunteer Group
Nomination Process
Can you think of an outstanding volunteer that fits into one of the
above listed categories?
Please note that nominees must either be residents of New Canaan or volunteer in New Canaan.
The Volunteer Recognition nomination period is now closed. We look forward to celebrating our 2026 honorees, who will be notified in mid-February. Please join us for the Volunteer Recognition Awards on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at Town Hall, as we honor the outstanding contributions of our community volunteers.
Please email Brendan McMorrow at bmcmorrow@newcanaancf.org if you have any questions.
Congratulations to our 2026 Volunteer Recognition Award Honorees
Youth Rookie of the Year – Will Taylor, Open Doors
Board Leadership MVP – Tom Reynolds, New Canaan Land Trust
Hands-On Hall of Fame – Terri Leopold, Person to Person
Hands-On MVP – Susan Freedgood, New Canaan Museum & Historical Society
Community Initiative – Scott Hobbs, New Canaan Housing Authority
Hands-On MVP – Michael Canoro, New Canaan Library
Hands-On Hall of Fame – Martha Porretta, Waveny LifeCare Network
Hands-On Rookie of the Year – Marshall Pask, Staying Put in New Canaan
Youth MVP – Jordan Alexander, Building One Community
Outstanding Group – Jill Robey, Flower Again Connecticut
Outstanding Youth Group – Dante Marsili & Graysen Handler, Feeding 500 New Canaan
Youth Rookie of the Year – Cassie Arevalo, Waveny Lifecare Network
New Canaan Community Foundation’s "Small Business, Big Impact" – Sean Brennan, C & H Automotive
New Canaan Community Foundation’s "Impact" – Ali Luddy
Thank You To Our Partners
We are grateful for the support of local organizations that help us celebrate our volunteers.
