2015.16 Annual Report - Stamford Museum & Nature Center

Support the Extraordinary

ANNUAL REPORT 2015.16

Stamford Museum & Nature Center

A rendering of the Stamford Museum & Nature Center General Development Plan, which has been approved by the Planning and Zoning Boards of the City of Stamford.

Mission

Board of Directors 2015.16

The Stamford Museum & Nature Center is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of art and popular culture, the natural and agricultural sciences, and history. The Museum is a vital cultural and educational resource for the community and a focal point for multi-generational family activity and interaction, seeking to inspire creativity, foster self-discovery, promote environmental stewardship, and nurture an appreciation for lifelong learning through exhibitions, educational programs, and special events that enhance the visitor’s experience of our unique site.

Officers

Board of Directors

William M. Aron* President

Jason A. Bonadio Lynn Villency Cohen Carole Dell’Aquila William DeMeo Gerald M. Fox, III Connie Hubbard Michael Jacopino Ann Kraft Dana Montanez Sonja S. Narcisse Robert M. Phillips Pauline Rauh Arthur Selkowitz Roberto Vannucchi

We are grateful to Purdue Pharma L.P. for their generous pro bono printing of our 2015.16 Annual Report. On the cover: Willow, our barred owl; Heckscher Barn, photo by Dan Taul; Wardwell Crock, from the SM&NC Permanent Collections. 2 _

Harry Day* Vice President Karen M. Kelly* Vice President Daniel L. Schwartz* Secretary Gerard M. Hopkins* Treasurer

Melissa H. Mulrooney Executive Director & CEO * Executive Committee

Lynn Villency Cohen Advisory Council Chair

Annual Report 2015.16

Diligence & Vision – Now & For Future Generations We are pleased to report that the Stamford Museum & Nature Center marked its 80th Anniversary with a year of significant accomplishment, solid financial performance, and exciting plans for the future. From humble beginnings in 1936 in a three-room office in downtown Stamford, we have grown to be Stamford’s premier nature-based destination, offering a rich canvas of educational programs, exhibitions, and special events, both as Stamford’s fine art Museum and as Stamford’s beloved Nature Center. This year we have connected with our local communities and the surrounding region by focusing on our primary institutional goals; guided by our Mission and our Strategic and Master Plan. We are pleased to note a significant accomplishment for 2015.16 was the approval of our General Development Plan by the Planning and Zoning Boards of the City of Stamford. We are grateful to Thomas Lombardo, Rick Redniss, Patrick Sasser, and Doug York, new President of the North Stamford Association, for their generous guidance and support of our efforts. We continue to be guided by the exceptional vision of our Master Plan, which touches all aspects of our institution and challenges us to scale new heights of service. We are committed to these five key aspects of that vision: 1. Our aspiration to be THE regional resource for environmental and natural science education, and to teach our children well from a diverse palette of offerings. 2. To be an innovative and challenging teacher through our art and exhibitions program. In the coming year we will be focused on a new signature series of Adult Programs to engage our lifelong learning audience. 3. To get children out-of-doors and engaged in the natural world around them. We are deeply committed to Richard Louv’s “no child left inside” movement. 4. To explore and develop our unique position as one of the largest and most diverse naturebased organizations in the region. 5. To engage a committed audience of funders — Premier Partners, Business Affiliates, major donors, and our devoted Members.

William M. Aron, President of the Board of Directors, and Melissa H. Mulrooney, Executive Director & CEO.

We are grateful to our membership, donors, and community for their continued support of our mission. We are also pleased to know that our efforts have earned the SM&NC an ever-growing number of Members and visitors. Our thanks go to the SM&NC staff for all of the excellent work they have done to bring us through another winning year of program success. Special appreciation is due to Melissa H. Mulrooney, who this year enjoyed her 10th anniversary as our Executive Director & CEO. Her commitment to excellence and best practices is held as a model for all of us. We are grateful to Mayor David Martin and the City of Stamford for their continued public-private partnership with us — assisting us with capital and operating support with the clear understanding of our value and economic development impact. In the following pages, you will see terrific outcomes from our work together in 2015.16. Melissa and I hope all of you will join with us for another year of enrichment and engagement. You and your families are vital to our success. With warmest thanks for your continued support and delight in the Stamford Museum &Nature Center!

William M. Aron President of the Board of Directors

Melissa H. Mulrooney Executive Director & CEO

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Volunteers & Community Support During 2015.16, nearly 800 generous volunteers donated 8,800 hours of their time to the Stamford Museum & Nature Center. On any given day, volunteers aged 10 to 80 could be found: • Feeding and caring for our animals; • Welcoming visitors and staffing our festivals and special events; • Assisting in our Membership, Media & Marketing, and Finance departments; • Planning and implementing our annual Food & Wine Celebration, the largest fundraiser of the year; • Assisting our environmental educators with summer camp and educational programs; • Tackling all manner of landscaping and gardening projects; • Staffing our Observatory for Friday Astronomy Nights; • And so much more! Volunteer groups from corporations such as Aquarion, Ernst & Young, GE, RSM US, and Surgical Care Affiliates demonstrated their commitment to supporting the community

where they work and live by spending a day painting the Otter Pond bridge, landscaping our spacious grounds, or stacking firewood for the Maple Sugar House. In many cases, these groups also provided financial support to purchase the necessary supplies for their project. In addition to the many students who volunteered on an individual basis, we welcomed volunteer groups from local schools such as Westhill, Stamford High, AITE, Rogers International, Brunswick, EF Academy, and the Stanwich School. These industrious students helped with a variety of tasks such as spreading wood chips, garden clean-up, trail maintenance, and staffing our festivals. Volunteer groups from community organizations such as Future Five, The Arc, Boy Scouts of America, Junior Achievement, and Abilis were also an important part of our volunteer program, providing valuable support in several key areas. We extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all of the youth and adult volunteers, from both Stamford and the surrounding communities, whose involvement was vital to the growth and success of the SM&NC this year.

“Thanks for the warm welcome and great morning we spent volunteering at the Museum today. Everyone had a good time and enjoyed working on the grounds and visiting the park, etc. I enjoyed working with you and hope to do it again!” — Ed Greenberg, who organized a Hotchkiss Day of Service for Hotchkiss School alumni in May 2016

Student volunteers from the Brunswick School stack firewood at the Maple Sugar House in March.

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Our Educational Footprint Our signature education program, SM&NC AlignedWith-The-Schools, had another wonderful year of growth. With more than 43,000 area students from 144 different schools participating in our school programs, 2015.16 was one our busiest. The education team taught 1,651 total programs in 2015.16. This was an increase of 9 percent over the prior fiscal year. Our Environmental Educators also delivered more in-school programs over the past year, 875 in all, to 17,278 students, a 10 percent increase. Our educational programming continues to serve area communities, allowing students the opportunity to explore, learn, and discover. Through the generous support of local foundations, the SM&NC provided bus transportation to more than 1,200 students who otherwise would not have had the opportunity to visit and explore an entire new world. Opened in March 2015, Heckscher WILD! is a vibrant, hands-on, educational exhibit and classroom that has quickly become a favorite destination for many school groups and visitors of all ages. In 2015.16 Heckscher WILD! welcomed over 37,000 visitors to this exhibit space. Our expert Environmental Educators provide visitors a chance to interact with live animals across the globe through feedings, demonstrations, and special events. The SM&NC has teamed up with Norwalk Community College to help bring hands-on experience to students in NCC’s new Vet Tech program. Farm staff lead students through a livestock handling program in the fall and teach them to administer vaccines and medical care in the spring. Our Art, Nature & Me Preschool continues to serve as the area’s premier nature- and play-based educational center for PreK children. Over the past year, enrollment has remained at near capacity, with some 130 three- and four-year olds attending two, three and five days a week, both morning and afternoon sessions.

A young visitor to Heckscher WILD! provides a handy perch for Nigel, a Fischer’s Chameleon native to the mountain regions of Kenya and Tanzania.

“We’ve been going to the SM&NC for years as a school, and Lisa and Will give an outstanding program every time. The Maple Sugaring and Animal Adaptations programs are a great match to our curriculum. Lisa really knows how to speak to a group of 6 and 7 year olds and can keep them captivated. We love the programs and the affordability for our Title 1 students. And thank you for the grant money for the bus. It’s always a great experience with the SM&NC!” — Heidi Brown Stein, first-grade teacher at the Julian Curtiss School in Greenwich

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Art & Material Culture Exhibitions Our annual schedule of family-oriented exhibitions continues to follow the successful seasonal rhythm of installations that feature art, natural history, and American pop culture. Dozens of objects from the natural history section of the Permanent Collections of the Stamford Museum were featured in Nature’s Numbers, our summer exhibition that explored patterns found in nature. The galleries were transformed into a fun, tactile environment that allowed for hands-on discovery of the nature of math. September brought ReDress: Upcycled Style by Nancy Judd, a sculpture exhibition of elegant and glamorous garments, made from objects we usually discard. Each unique outfit conveyed the value of consumer consciousness on the future of our planet. As the featured guest at our Fall Farm to Table Supper, the artist, Nancy Judd made a compelling case for the importance of preserving our natural resources. We tapped into the Star Wars movie mania with A BILLION BRICKS 3: Galactic Travels, a celebration of the 15th anniversary of the LEGO® Star Wars® sets, complete with authentic LEGO Star Wars space ships, original set boxes, and over 500 “minifigs”— every single Star Wars mini-figure ever produced! The gallery walls featured the outstanding photographs of Star Wars minifigs by renowned artist Dale May, compliments of the Samuel Owen Gallery in Greenwich. The galleries were filled with works from our own Permanent Collections for a one-month “pop-up” exhibition, EXTREME ART: Massive & Miniature, which featured oversized canvases of abstract art by noted artists including Jimmy Ernst, Edward Avedisian, Nicholas Krushenick, and Peter Bradley, the latter our featured artist at the Winter Farm to Table Supper. Their work was exhibited in contrast to our extraordinary Spitz Collection of miniatures; tiny hand-painted portraits created in the mid-18th Century in Germany, Austria, and France.

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Spring brought us Art on a String: Asian Kites in Flight, a survey of the traditions of kite making in Asia. Dominated by a Chinese dragon kite, the galleries were filled with the artistry of master kite makers from China, Japan, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. A kite-flying festival was held at the Mill River Park on April 24. Total gallery visitation for 2015.16 was 33,134 guests.

SM&NC Permanent Collections Objects added to the Permanent Collections in 2015.16 included “Orbis a Deux,” a two-piece sculpture by Lila Katzen, donated by her son. Mary Elizabeth Reeve, daughter of former Astronomy staff members Davis & Marguerite Mitchell, donated a collection of SM&NC astronomy-related items that had been collected by her parents. Former SM&NC Curator, Rosa Portell, donated a collection of 11 Native American baskets from the Northeast, a significant addition to our collection. Young paleontologist Chase Brownstein donated two collections of fossils from field expeditions in Colorado and in New Jersey with the NY Paleontological Society, sponsored by the New Jersey State Museum. The Stamford Museum’s “Portrait of J.P. Wolff” by John Singer Sargent was the focus of a Curator’s Talk by Kirsten R. Brophy at the winter portrait exhibition opening by the Loft Artists Association. Objects relating to the 80th anniversary of the SM&NC were displayed in the Main Lobby, and a toy horse, two mechanical banks, and two pedal cars from the Collections were loaned for display in the holiday exhibition at the Lockwood Mathews Museum.


“The Museum has interesting exhibits, particularly the LEGO exhibit spanning through New Year’s and other good exhibits throughout the year. Staff engages you (particularly kids) and appreciates your interest.” — Heffalumpkin on TripAdvisor

(Clockwise from top): Our Nature’s Numbers exhibition was designed to stimulate numerical thinking and reinforce the math skills of visitors in an engaging and interactive way; EXTREME ART: Massive & Miniature featured oversized canvases of abstract art as well as our extraordinary Spitz Collection of miniatures, tiny hand-painted portraits. And our Permanent Collections were augmented by a collection of 11 Native American baskets from the Northeast, donated by former SM&NC Curator, Rosa Portell. _ 7


Heckscher Farm Hecksher Farm continues to be a place of time-honored industry and productivity. Maple season in March produced 70 gallons of pure maple syrup. A new shed was built in our Middle Bachelor field, and the rabbit hutches were expanded, thanks to a gift from SM&NC member Jennifer Meth and her daughters Ilana and Madeline. Sheep fields and Cheshire field were both reseeded, and our Organic Vegetable Garden produced bumper crops all season long, pollinated by bees from our growing number of brightly painted bee hives. New offspring this year included 54 keets, 30 chicks, 16 kids, 12 lambs, and 6 piglets. This past summer the Farm Staff welcomed another new arrival: Sadie, a young female river otter originally from Louisiana who came to us from Ohio. Sadie is making herself at home in our Otter Pond. She loves playing with buckets and cans and is becoming fast friends with Bert, our resident otter. The SM&NC Sunday Farm Market once again hosted a variety of returning and new vendors selling products grown or produced locally. We also sold our own Heckscher Farm eggs, maple syrup, and wool. Our education team provided family-focused farm activities during the Farm Market hours to teach children about where our food comes from.

Llama trekking is a popular attraction at our Harvest Festival on Heckscher Farm.

“I’m really impressed with this place. The animals are so well cared for — I went to pet a horse and realized not one piece of fur came off on my hand because he was brushed so regularly. I went there once in the winter and was happy to see such loved animals and I just went back today (7/30/16) and things haven’t changed. The people who work there seem to really have a bond with nature and the creatures they have inherited. The trails in the woods are beautiful also. So is the playground which is built right into the natural woodland setting. Even the people who work in the booth when you pull in the driveway are pleasant. Everyone there seems to know they are doing an important service educating us and the next generation about nature and they are happy to do so.” – Lesley Borrelli, on the SM&NC’s Facebook page

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Capital Improvements Housing a renowned Museum Collection and Administrative offices in a onetime private mansion that dates from the 1920s presents ongoing operational challenges, which the SM&NC successfully addressed over the past year with two capital projects. Director of Operations Jared Durrse supervised the removal of the existing boiler, replacing it with two new Peerless Boilers with state-ofthe-art Texmar lead lag controls. In an effort to maintain adequate climate controls in the Museum Galleries and in the Collections storage areas, two Liebert Challenger Series HVAC units were installed. This Environmental Control System allows us to use energy more efficiently and reduce the impact on the environment. To further improve energy efficiency, we also updated much of our lighting to LED and/or automatic switching.

Other improvements throughout the property in 2015.16 included installing a new landing area of compacted stone dust in the Meadow to improve safety and functionality for special events, especially those held under tents. Operations staff replaced 70 feet of chain link fencing around Nature’s Playground and the Heckscher Farm Road. Volunteer groups were also involved throughout the year with various painting projects, landscaping, enhancements to the Wheels in the Woods picnic area, and maintenance of our network of hiking trails. We are deeply thankful to Purdue Pharma for supporting the Neighborhood Assistance Act program to help fund these vital capital projects.

“This is a wonderful venue to host an outdoor event! I visited for the first time for a school-hosted BBQ this past weekend and loved it! There are multiple picnic areas that are all separate from each other. They are very obviously serious about the upkeep and monitoring of the park. I don’t remember seeing any litter on the parking lot or the paths, not even in the picnic area, which was spotless!” – Sherry L., Yelp review

Staff and volunteers pitch in to upgrade the steps leading to Nature’s Playground.

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Facility Rentals & Private Events We continued to see positive growth in the area of Facility Rentals and Private Event use. Over the past fiscal year we hosted 65 private events, including weddings, corporate retreats, family gatherings, and holiday celebrations, attracting 4,950 attendees to the SM&NC’s unique site. The 11 percent increase in the number of private events resulted in a corresponding rise of 11 percent in revenues. What’s more, we continue to be a popular location for children’s birthday parties, hosting more than 100 parties in 2015.16. Investing in new technology and furnishings and creatively using many locations on the site has made the Stamford Museum & Nature Center a highly desirable venue for corporate groups and private events. In August 2015, we hosted more than 800 employees from Indeed, a Stamford-based online job-recruitment company. We welcomed them again this past August for their second annual summer picnic on our newly refurbished Meadow tent area. Another area that received upgrades to accommodate larger groups was the Wheels in the Woods area, where new tents help create a more event-friendly rental space. Over the past fiscal year, the SM&NC also improved the work spaces for caterers and purchased additional furniture, which has more appeal to potential clients and lowers costs on internal events. We also secured exclusive arrangements with top vendors to reduce use impact on the space, minimize security risk and secure better pricing on internal events. With bookings well into next year and beyond, we look forward to continued growth in revenue income in this business area.

“I attended a wedding here. The location is gorgeous and dreamy. Well organized, very clean, tons of stuff for the kids to look at, and beautiful trails to walk on. It was absolutely beautiful and engaging. I will visit again to properly explore it.” — Five-star Facebook review by Sarah A. Malik

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The SM&NC offers a wealth of settings and spaces in which to create memories that will last a lifetime.


Adult-Focused Programs & Events Launched in late 2014, our Farm to Table Supper series continues to earn accolades and devotees. In September 2015, the SM&NC hosted more than 100 guests in the intimate setting of the Bendel Mansion for a marvelous meal prepared by Chef Joe Jenkins of Apogee Events. In February, our Winter Farm to Table Supper featured the cuisine of Chef Scott Miller of Max Restaurant Group. The evening began with a tour of the Extreme Art: Massive & Miniature exhibition led by featured artist Peter Bradley Our goal — to create a series of unique adult programming experiences that bring together friends, ideas, speakers, and just plain fun — was realized in May when we hosted David Sibley, renowned author of The Sibley Guide to Birds, for a discussion, Q&A, and book signing of his latest volume, Sibley Birds East. More than 120 avid birders and book lovers flocked to this event; its success has led to the scheduling of more “SM&NC Salon Series” programs through the coming year, including a book discussion in November 2016 with actress and wildlife activist Jane Alexander, author of the recently published Wild Things, Wild Places. Our fourth annual Oktoberfest grew in attendance with another sold-out event on the Meadow. Along with the success of our most recent Farm to Table Supper in October 2016, which attracted a stellar guest list of more than 130 people, we are well on our way to achieving our goal of serving as a unique and vibrant resource for adult cultural conversations and lifelong learning.

The Bendel Mansion is an elegant, convivial setting for Farm to Table Suppers.

“Our Farm to Table Suppers are a natural extension of the work we do daily on Heckscher Farm, our mission of promoting environmental stewardship, and now, engaging visitors with our exhibitions, lifting off our vision for more adult programming and social events that inspire cultural conversations and lifelong learning.” — Melissa H. Mulrooney, Executive Director & CEO

Artist Peter Bradley discusses his art with Farm to Table Supper guests. __ 11


Stand with Great Leaders Business Affiliates members of the Stamford Museum & Nature Center are an influential, committed, and engaged group of business leaders, both global and local, who have dedicated themselves to the success of our community as a whole. They understand the value of an educated and culturally aware community, and demonstrate this by generously supporting our education programs and mission. Our Benefactors and Patrons renewed their support this past year with generous contributions, sponsorships, and in-kind participation to help us meet the rewarding challenge of our continued growth. More corporate members pitched in this year by participating in volunteer days to plant trees, maintain trails, stack firewood, and mend fences. They also helped refresh our facilities by painting many buildings on our property. Our team-building programs for Business Affiliates Members allow employees to “get unplugged” and enjoy the camaraderie of working together outdoors. Corporate Member employees enjoyed inclusive Stamford Museum & Nature Center benefits for themselves and their families that include corporate family memberships, educational program participation, and special events. The partnership between the non-profit world and the business community is crucial to the health of our communities. Community business partners, add immense substance to the programming offered by Stamford Museum & Nature Center and subsequently add immense value to the community as a whole.

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Colleagues from Reckson, a Division of SL Green Realty Corp. enjoy Oktoberfest on the Meadow, a fun fall event that their company generously sponsors.

Stamford Museum & Nature Center is proud of our Business Affiliates program and the exemplary business leaders who are aligned with our success. We applaud their commitment to giving back to the community, and are grateful for their support of our work and our mission. We look forward to adding additional local business leaders to this influential group in the coming year. We thank the following SM&NC Business Affiliates members for their generous support over the past year. PREMIER PARTNERS

BUSINESS PARTNERS

First County Bank Purdue Pharma

Eastern Land Management F.D. Rich Company Frontier Communications Nestle Waters O’Connor Davies LLC Pitney Bowes

BUSINESS BENEFACTORS Aquarion Water Company GE Asset Management Ernst & Young Reckson, a Division of SL Green Realty Corp. UBS

BUSINESS PATRONS Day Pitney LLP Eversource Energy

BUSINESS SUPPORTERS BevMax Bridgewater General Reinsurance Corp. Mathnasium of Darien

BUSINESS FRIENDS Frank Mercede & Sons Toyota of Stamford


Director’s Circle Members 2015.16

Our Director’s Circle is a passionate group of individuals who are committed to the continued development of our community. Their commitment to the Stamford Museum & Nature Center supports our holistic mission to bring the wonders of art and culture, nature and astronomy, and early childhood education to our community and the public. We thank all of our Director’s Circle members for their enduring support. For more information about becoming a member of Director’s Circle, contact the Development Office at 203.977.6548.

Sustainer Society Members of the Stamford Museum & Nature Center’s new Sustainer Society are forging the future one month at a time. Sustaining gifts are an unrestricted annual gift that supporters can pay in a convenient, ongoing way. Sustaining gifts ensure a steady, reliable source of support that helps the SM&NC make long-term commitments to important projects and priorities. For more information, please call Development Associate Marina DeLuca at 203.977.6533.

Karen and David Alexander William M. and Katherine Aron Leslie Tamarkin and Marc Becker Scottie and Jason Bonadio Erin and Jim Bria Lisa Tannebaum and Donald Brownstein Kathleen Brady and John Campos Marilyn Clements Lynn and Stephen Cohen Carol Collins Stephen Corman Harry Day Nicola and Denise Doria James Duffy Sara and Michael Elkin Carol and Michael Fedele Naomi and Joel Freedman Jennifer and Edward Gannon Emily and Scott Giordano Mary and Michael Green Monika and Peter Greenleaf Connie and Silas Hoffman Dale and Stephen Hoffman Mary Jo and Gerard Hopkins Connie and Bruce Hubbard Mary and Martin Jacobson Karen Kelly Stephanie and William Kies III Susan and John Kirby Audrey and William Knobloch

Jennifer and Mark Lapine Diana and Steven Lenkowsky Celeste Frye and Tom Lintern Jessie Lotstein Eleanor and Mort Lowenthal Margaret and Garrit Lydecker Isabel and Peter Malkin Barbara Malloy Melissa H. Mulrooney Sonja and Von Narcisse Deborah and Bob Neiman Patricia and Robert Phillips Ruth and Gerald Rasmussen Pauline Rauh Guenter Rohrmann June and Rolf Rosenthal Lyndsay and Mead Rust Katherine and Peter Sachs Lolita and Frank Savage Betsey and Arthur Selkowitz Marsha Shendell Claudia and Keith Silver Merle Spiegel Shelley Taylor and David Swerdloff Eunice Thomas Karen and Warren Tom Patricia and Paul Travaglino Lisa and Paul Welch

“Like other nonprofits, the Stamford Museum & Nature Center must have reliable and continuous annual support in order to provide the high-quality programs and experiences that we all enjoy. By becoming a sustainer and making a monthly contribution, I am eliminating all reminders and saving resources — plus it’s convenient and I can make additional contributions to special events or projects when they become available. It is a win-win for both of us.” — Sustaining Member Christine Owens

Director’s Circle Members Stephen Cohen and Lynn Villency Cohen with daughter, Rachel. __ 13


80th Anniversary Food & Wine Celebration Honoring Patricia & Robert Phillips and the Stamford Police Department

80th Anniversary Honorees and Special Guests: (Left to Right, Back Row) Sen. Carlo Leone, Harry Day, Melissa H. Mulrooney, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Mayor David Martin, Bill Aron (Left to Right, Front Row) Gov. Dannel Malloy, Captain Susan Bretthauer, Robert Phillips, Patricia Phillips, Rep. Caroline Simmons

On Friday, June 3, 2016, the Stamford Museum & Nature Center welcomed more than 300 guests to the 19th annual Food & Wine Celebration. The event marked the 80th Anniversary of the organization. The fundraising celebration and silent auction is held annually to benefit the SM&NC’s programs that serve thousands of children and families every year.

“Throughout Robert Phillips’ seven years of Board leadership and service on our Finance Committee and Collections & Exhibitions Committee, he has helped shape the SM&NC ‘s aspirational vision with his wisdom and strategic guidance. We commend the Phillips’ for their longtime service to the greater Stamford area.” — Melissa H. Mulrooney, Executive Director & CEO

Guests enjoyed the delights of the outdoors as this year’s event was a tented affair held on the SM&NC’s Meadow on Bendel Pond. It was a festive atmosphere where guests tasted topflight wines from excellent vintners and sampled a variety of delicious food courtesy of area restaurants and caterers. Guests enjoyed a soundtrack provided by Scratch Entertainment and bid on items at one of the best silent auctions of the season. The event also held a special tribute for celebration honorees. The 2016 honorees included Stamford community leaders Patricia & Robert 14 __

Phillips and, as our inaugural Community Partner, the Stamford Police Department. The tribute recognized the Phillipses for their enduring commitment to the SM&NC mission and their personal generosity. Captain Susan Bretthauer accepted the honor on behalf of the SPD, which was commended for its commitment to a collaborative community policing philosophy and its contribution to the FBI’s ranking of Stamford as one of the safest cities in the nation for nine consecutive years. We are grateful to a devoted 80th Anniversary Food & Wine Celebration Committee who went above and beyond the call of duty, and we recognize with deep appreciation the Committee Chairs, Connie Hubbard and Carole Dell’Aquila; Lynn Villency Cohen, Diamond Reception Chair; Committee Members Leslie Bruzik, Lisa Bender, Erica Brown Ghiloni, Holly Hyman. Rasheema Forbes, Carl Funch, Carrie Kaplan, Suzanne Kozlowski, Cynthia Mammone, Laura Martino, Lee Morgan, Darlene Negbenebor, Scott O’Conner, Lauren Ruberg, Sara Sherlock, Terri Daly Shank, Nicole Shanahan, Catherine Strycharz, Alicia Teitelbaum, Sylwia Thornton. Honorary Committee: Scottie & Jason Bonadio, Lynn Villency Cohen & Stephen Cohen, Roxana & Andrew Davidoff, Harry Day, Carol & Michael Fedele, Jevera & Bill Hennessey, Eleanor & Mort Lowenthal, Bruce T. Morre, Sr., Patricia & Robert Phillips, Betsy & Arthur Selkowitz


As always, the Food & Wine Celebration, our major fundraiser, celebrates the generous support of many distinguished people and businesses. Our heartfelt thanks to the following sponsors and contributors: Event Sponsors:

Journal Sponsors:

Platinum

Abate and Abate, LLC Aquarion Water Company Barbara Aronica-Buck & Peter Buck Nicole J Bates The Children’s School David’s Soundview Catering Day Pitney, LLP Eastern Land Management Harbor Point Person to Person Picture That Art Consultants Rudy’s Limousine Service, Inc. Saint Bath Naturals Soule, Blake & Wechsler, Inc. Silver Golub & Teitell, LLP

Don Brownstein & Lisa Tannebaum Ernst & Young Barbara B. Malloy Patricia & Robert Phillips RECKSON, SL Green

Gold GE Asset Management

Silver Eastern Land Management First County Bank Pitney Bowes F.D. Rich

Melissa H. Mulrooney, Dannel P. Malloy, William M. Aron, Harry Day

Carol and Michael Fedele

Tina and Joe Bartels

Bud Grebey, Sonja and Von Narcisse

Amber Bonadio and Jason Bonadio __ 15


Financials Stamford Museum & Nature Center Projected Statement of Financial Activities 2015.16 Operating Year Ending June 30, 2016 The Stamford Museum & Nature Center has finished the 2015.16 fiscal year on sound footing, recording a 10th consecutive year of balanced budgets. Annually, we must raise nearly two-thirds of our funds from corporate, foundation, and individual supporters to operate this remarkable 118-acre property. We thank all of our supporters, members, and participants for your generous, ongoing contributions.

Sources of Support Contributions Membership Preschool Program

$440,000 261,000 590,000

Camp, School Group & Education Programs Admission, Events & Facility Use City of Stamford Total Revenues

387,000 430,000 1,143,000 3,251,000

Expenses Compensation & Benefits Professional Services Equipment & Supplies

2,045,000 335,000 211,000

Exhibitions, Education Programs & Site Operations Net Reserve Total Expenses

637,000 23,000 3,251,000

Sources of Support Preschool Programs 18%

City of Stamford 35%

Admission, Events & Facility Use 13%

Camp, School Group & Education Programs 12%

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Membership 8%

Contributions 14%


Donor Lists

The Stamford Museum & Nature Center is eternally grateful to those individuals and organizations that support our mission through the Annual Appeal and that make it possible for us to provide a fun-filled educational and cultural resource throughout the year.

Legacy Fidelity Foundation Audrey and William R. Knobloch Oaklawn Foundation Purdue Pharma June Rosenthal

Diamond Aquarion Water Company Lisa Tannebaum and Donald Brownstein The Day Family Foundation Ernst and Young First County Bank Naomi and Joel E. Freedman GE Asset Management Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe Barbara G. Malloy Patricia and Robert M. Phillips Reckson, a Division of SL Green Management, LLC Aureo Sales UBS AG Xerox Foundation

Platinum Margaret and Frank Agostino Diana Barnett BevMax Scottie and Jason Bonadio Bridgewater Marilyn T. Clements Lynn Villency Cohen and Stephen A. Cohen Connecticut Arts Endowment Fund Stephen Corman Roxana and Andrew Davidoff Harry Day Day Pitney Eastern Land Management Inc. Jane Jackson Edgerton Eversource Energy Fairfield County Community Foundation Carol and Michael Fedele Nancy and Richard K. Freedman Frontier Communications Carl Funch Dominique Gallego General Reinsurance Corporation Julie and Robin Graham Jr. Padmini and Sanjeev Gupta Christiane and Axel Hansing Jevera and Bill Hennessey Christina and John Horner Kriftcher Family Charitable Fund

Leon N. Lapine Charitable Residuary Trust Eleanor and Morton Lowenthal Mabel Burchard Fischer Grant Foundation Mathnasium of Fairfield MA-YI Theater Company Valerie and Richard Mead Sonja and Von Narcisse Nestle Waters North America, Inc. New Canaan Community Foundation O’Connor, Davies LLP The Parsons Family Foundation Pitney Bowes The Rich Foundation F. D. Rich Company Guenter Rohrmann, LLC Kathy and Peter G. Sachs Betsey and Arthur Selkowitz Marsha J. Shendell Sidney Stern Memorial Trust Richard Silver Memorial Fund TLC Beatrice, LLC The Whittingham Family Foundation Wofsey, Rosen, Kweskin & Kuriansky

Gold Charlotte and Craig Addison Shahara Ahmad-Llewellyn Ingrid E. Akerblom Karen and David Alexander Karen and James Alexander Juliet H. Forrester and Gilbert Alexandre Madeline and Stephen Anbinder Jeri and Mark Appel Jim L. Arata William M. and Katherine Aron Elizabeth and Gerald Baruno Carol and George E. Bello Elizabeth Ball and Frank Bellochhio Ann Rice and Phillip Bergman Claudia Anne and Joseph Bilotti Virginia F. Boorom Scott Bounty Barbara Aronica-Buck and Peter Buck Kamala and Tom Buckner Caruso Plumbing & Heating Inc. Amanda and Sean W. Cassidy Mary Elizabeth Cataldi The Children’s School Alicia and Mike Chuba Martha and Jeffrey G. Cokin Stephen H. Cole Carol H. Collins

Jennifer Malloy Combs Holly and Tyler Cruger Nancy and Thomas R. Cuddeback Maryly and Daniel M. Culpepper Emily and Alan Curry Candace W. Cushing Malette and Mikael Dahl Chelsea and Asher M. Danburg David’s Catering, Inc. Joseph J. DeBartolo Neil & Sandra DeFeo Family Foundation Julie and Brian Dentel Georgiana Donase-White James J. Duffy Rosemary C. Durkin Arlene and Irwin Ettinger Joan and Robert S. Fields Laura and Blake Franchi Jennifer and Robert Gallois Cathy and Craig Giventer Wendy M. Dittrich and Edward L. Gomez Jessica and Griffin Handley Harbor Point Holding Company, LLC Ellen and Paul B. Harvey Constance and David B. Harvey Donna and Glenn H. Hascher Lee and Duane E. Hill Earline and Kenneth Hiller Gail Grosso Hofmann and Richard Hofmann Hollander Foundation Jeanne and Peter M. Hosinski Connie and Bruce Hubbard Eileen and Tom Hynes Margery B. Irish Mary and Martin D. Jacobson Arnold Y. Kapiloff Anne and Mitchell Katcher Randie S. Katz and Larry R. Cryer Amy Hertzberg Keane Karen M. Kelly Susan Johnson and Randy Kinder Bonnie and Henry J. Klaassens Cathy and Peter Klein Nancy L. Klein Ann Kraft Patricia and Larry Kravetz Becky and Nick Lai Jessica and Jim E. Lawler Cindy Turcott and Mark D. Ledermann Joseph Lenszycki Jr. Mary Ellen and Edward F. Leonard Eva and Robert Levine Enid and Steven P. Lieberman __ 17


Lone Pine Capital Nina and Norman M. Lotstein Justine and John Macurdy Audrey and William H. Magruder Catherine Malloy Fulvia and Robert McCrie Susan and Michael V. McKay Elaine and Christopher K. McLeod Ellen and Joel P. Mellis Shelley and Oliver Mendell Jennifer and Harris Meth Gail Bradney and Lowell G. Miller Freda Mindlin Lisa and Sam Molinaro Jane and Philip Molstre Dana and Johnny Montanez Mary and Garry H. Morton Melissa H. Mulrooney Alghashiyah and Sadiq Murray Deborah and Robert A. Neiman Harley and Steve Osman Sarah and Jon Packer Penn & Associates Person To Person, Inc. Picture That Art Consultants Donna and A. Barry Rand Pauline S. Rauh Joyce and Jay Riemer Carol and Erwin Riven River Oaks Home Owner Association Tami M. Amiri and Richard L. Rosenfeld Linda and Joe V. Rothman Rudy’s Limousine Service, Inc. Saint Bath Naturels LLC Elizabeth and Austin Saypol S. G. Schimenti Christina E. Schoen Myrna Anover and Richard Schuster Zoe and Daniel L. Schwartz Rick Shaefer Frieda and Eugene Shapiro M. Catherine Lynch and Douglas R. Sharp Claudia and Keith Silver Silver Golub & Teitell, LLP Jane Silverman The Simmons Family Foundation Kerry Smith Soule Blake & Wechsler, Inc. Stamford Automotive Partners, LLC Stamford Garden Club Louise B. Stern Ulli and Tyler Stevens Marlene and Shepard B. Stone Bala Sundaram and P. R. Sundaresan Dana Endicott and Dennis Sweeney Shelley A. Taylor and David A. Swerdloff 18 __

Erna M. Szekeres Richard E. Taber Alicia and Brian Teitelbaum Temple Sinai Thiemann-Wicker Family Foundation Tresa and Daniell Toscano Toyota of Stamford Patty and Paul Travaglino Joanne and Joseph Vasta Greg M. Walker Bai Ding and Kongming Wang Rosa Portell and Louis Weinstock Beth and Steven Weiss Lisa and Paul Welch Ronnie and Michael E. Wiederlight William Raveis Juanita T. James and Dudley N. Williams Georgia and Peter V. Young Dorothy and Steven M. Zeide

Silver Gail and Jack M. Abrams Natalie and Jeffrey Alexander Colleen and David Alfano Anonymous Beverly Araman Linda Zohman Avellar and Joseph Avellar Theresa and Jason Baker Patricia and Joseph R. Baranowski Bess and John Barnes Kim and Nicole Bastoni Paula Kurasch and Terry Blank Alfreda Blazey Cindy and David Block Mary Asquino and Theodorea Borsen Gitta and Joe Brunner Chantal Pregent and Jack R. Buchmiller Karen and Seth H. Burston Mary B. and Peter J. Buscemi Jessica Calagione and James Lederer Cards for Causes Hope Anderson and Robert A. Carr Claudia and William James Carthaus Dorothy A. Coffey Judy and Arthur M. Copeland Linda and R. Cremin Kendall and Gavin C. Daly Mario DeCarlo Carole and Joseph Dell’Aquila Robert “Gabe” DeLuca Anthony M. Devito III Directions in Research Marion and Milton Drexler Debbie and Eric Fayer Maria and Philip A. Fecher Pamela Bennett and Margaret K. Feltz Christie and James Fountain Sr.

Mary and James French Susan Baldwin and Gary L. Gepner Harriet and Robert B. Gilmer Janet and Robert D. Gold Ellen and Bruce Gordon Mary Flounders Green Pam and Eric Greenhut Karen Hall Jack Halpert Barbara Hardvall Amy Lilien-Harper and Glenn Harper Laura and David E. Harrington Alison and Edward Heitin Wendi and David A. Hoak Elizabeth and Bruce W. Huffine Dorothy R. Jaiven Elizabeth and Matthew Janiga Julie and Scott Johnston Charles C. Judd Jane and Dean I. Kaplan Sara Sherlock and Jason Karbel Gwen and Raymond Ketchum William King Karin and Andrew Kovacic Amanda and John R. Laudwein Carol Levine Sanja and Mark Lezaja Ruth Marshall Rolf Maurer Bette and Edward E. McCormick Joseph Melfi Lisa Monachelli Liz and Jeff Moore Paul Moverley Maureen Murphy Maria and Paul Nakian Geraldine A. Nuzzo Galina and Jason Orlosky Christine K. Owens Stacey and Todd Palker Mary Lee Santoro and Dennis Palumbo Eunjin Park and Sopong Kim Monica C. Pastore Ellen Krinick-Porto and Myron F. Porto Lauren and Michael Pote Risa and Steven Raich Hilde and Arthur T. Ratzel Sumana Ray Robin and Richard W. Redniss Beth Richman and Mr. Isaac Barrocas Patricia Rosenberg Wendy S. Rosenblum Sally and Allan G. Sacks Cindy Potter and David B. Schmier Elizabeth Ortiz and Clifford Schwartz Farzeen Sharif-Merchant and Aqeel Merchant


Elaine and Lester H. Sharlach Jami Sherwood Amy Sierpina and Diane Sierpina Evelyn and Colin Simpson Teresa and Vinod T. Sinha Sally and Robert H. Sluga Alan Sosnowitz Sandy and Morris Speter Lesya and Andriy Stetsko Judy Stewart Susie and Larry Stoogenke Belle Horwitz and Jonathon Weiner Lynn and Charles H. Weiner Helga and Zeno H. Woody Debra Yacenda Eileen and Craig M. Yarnell Stephanie and Daniel Zelazny

The SM&NC would like to thank those people and businesses who made meaningful in-kind contributions to the site and organization. 95.9 THE FOX/STAR 99.9 A&S Fine Food Alice and Frederick William Reinhardt, Jr All Glass Company, Inc Alladin Painting Allan Klumac Alpenhaus Amy Merli Aquarion Water Company Art Nature & Me “Parent Helpers Group” Audrey and William Knobloch Best in Gourmet BevMax Bill Probert Boy Scouts - Alex Knorr Bruce Museum California Pizza Kitchen Cask Republic Chase Brownstein ChenDesign Christel Truglia Cobbs Bread Colleen B. Murdoch Complete Landscape Service Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County Danielle Milagro Lynch David’s Soundview Catering Day Pitney LLP

Donut Delight Dr. Henry Rascoff Eagle Hill School, Greenwich Emilio Caruso Plumbing EOS Greek Cuisine/Bank Street Erica Tuminski Ernie Antonucci Eventi Café Festivities Great Performances Grove Street Veterinary Hospital Half Full Brewery High Ridge Animal Hospital High Ridge Nursery ILUGNY Janel Grant and Brian Goncalves Jennifer O’Connell Juliska K.P. Events Group KooberzStudios Lockwood Mathews Museum Loft Artists Association Michael Quick Mid Hudson Veterinary Mill River Park Collaborative Moffly Media NASA Nielsen’s Florist North East School OmNomCT PAWS Norwalk Penny Tuminski Person to Person, Norwalk Peter Bradley Planet Barbecue Purdue Pharma L.P. RecycleRunway.com Redniss & Meade Saint Bath Naturels Samuel Owen Gallery Savage Holdings Savory Gourmet Scratch Entertainment Seasonal Sweets & Catering Shake Shack Sign-A-Rama Smithsonian Institution Some Things Fishy Stamford Downtown Special Services District Stamford Garden Club Stamford Historical Society Summer Rain Sprinkler Systems, Inc. Susan Kane Catering Susanne and JJ Sendelbach

Tap My Trees Temple Sinai The Fez Bar & Restaurant The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County The Foundation for Filipino Artists, Inc. Thomas Chimblo Trader Joe’s, Stamford Trashion Fashion V&M Partners Washington Carpet Wolf Conservation Center Yale Peabody Museum Yama Ki Bonsai Society

The Stamford Museum & Nature Center expresses its enduring gratitude to the following foundations for the generosity they have shown in supporting our mission. CT Dept. of Economic and Community Development Day Family Foundation Fidelity Foundation Glenn Howatt Foundation Knobloch Family Foundation Lone Pine Foundation Mabel Burchard Fischer Grant Charitable Foundation Marjorie and Mabel Fund Neil and Sandra DeFeo Family Foundation New Canaan Community Foundation Oaklawn Foundation Rich Foundation Rust Foundation Selkowitz Family Foundation Wheels in the Woods Foundation Xerox Foundation

This list reflects contributions made between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. Every effort is made to ensure the accurate recognition of our donors. If you find that your name appears incorrectly or if you were omitted from this year’s list, please call Development Office at 203.977.6533. __ 19

Our Great Cultural & Environmental Work Continues

ANNUAL REPORT 2015.16