Gala Raises $200K To Help Premature Babies In Norwalk

DARIEN, Conn. -- The Tiny Miracles Foundation held its eighth annual spring gala at the Wee Burn Country Club in Darien, raising more than $200,000 to support programs for parents and premature babies in Fairfield County, according to a press release.

Linda Queenan and her "tiny miracle" daughter, Lilah, of Ridgefield enjoy the Tiny Miracles Foundation gala in Darien.
Photo Credit: *Courtesy of The Tiny Miracles Foundation*

Grace Linhard, vice president and executive director of the Western Connecticut Health System Foundation, is recognized at the Tiny Miracles Foundation Gala.
Photo Credit: *Courtesy of The Tiny Miracles Foundation*

Gala Event Chair PJ Marcella and board members Kerry Hanson of New Canaan and Ariane Triay of Stamford enjoy the Tiny Miracles Foundation gala.
Photo Credit: *Courtesy of The Tiny Miracles Foundation*

Michael and Coren Moore of Darien, at left, post with Dr. Edward James, a neonatologist at Danbury Hospital, and his wife Michelle James.
Photo Credit: *Courtesy of The Tiny Miracles Foundation*

Jennifer Lau of Westport meets up with Sarah Kleinman and Lisa Broder of Fairfield at the Darien event.

by Eric Gendron

06/12/2013 4:30 a.m.

Attendees dressed up in the style of Old Hollywood Chic to complement the red carpet glamour and swanky tunes of this year's theme, "A Star is Born."

Foundation President Leelee Klein of Darien and Executive Director Gwen Noto spoke to the crowd of 230 guests about The Tiny Miracles Foundation's new initiatives. They also presented a video detailing the journey of local preemie parents and the support that The Tiny Miracles Foundation brings to these parents.

The emotional highlight of evening was the story of “tiny miracles” from Christopher Wilson of Wilton, Lola Triay of Stamford and Lilah Queenan of Ridgefield, who told their birth stories and thanked their medical care providers and Tiny Miracles for helping their families recover from their very early beginnings.

Auction items were donated by local businesses such as New England School of Dance, Karen Green Baby Nurses, Juliska, Kempo Academy, Flywheel in Stamford, Ben Larrabee Photography, Pilates by Julie, Maria Livesay Salon, Dance with Me, Frank & Lu, Weed and Duryea, Williams and Company, Jay Ackerman Photography, Alix Martinez Photography and more.

Many local families and private foundations also supported the event.

Proceeds from the event will support the programs and services of The Tiny Miracles Foundation, a nonprofit organization that’s dedicated to helping families with premature babies in the greater Fairfield County area.

Today, The Tiny Miracles Foundation reaches more than 1,200 families in Fairfield County. Its services and programs are provided in the neonatal units of Stamford Hospital, Norwalk Hospital, Bridgeport Hospital and Danbury Hospital.

For more information about the group's support services, call 203-202-9714 or visit the website at www.ttmf.org.

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