On Saturday, June 5, in Lakeville, CMHA’s Northwest Center for Family Services hosted its annual “Evening Under the Stars.”
(story continued below...)

Chasing the Tiger star Ed Herrmann with CMHA President & CEO Ray Gorman	Author Gail Sheehy signs copies of her book, Passages in Caregiving
CMHA Chief Program Officer Dr. Steven Moore and actor Sam Waterston. Waterston was the winning bidder on two bottles of vintage wine donated by Moore to the evening’s auction.	The cast of Chasing the Tiger. Bottom row from left: Author Gail Sheehy, actors Jill Clayburgh and Edward Herrmann, and Director Gretchen Cryer. Top row from left: Actors Rick Trabucco and Star Herrmann
From left: Pat Best, Mimi Estes, and Northwest Center Advisory Council Member and Event Committee Member Sue Friedman	Jack Limpert and Ann Perse
Northwest Center Advisory Council member and Gala Event Committee member Michael Lynch and Aleta Elting	From left: CMHA Director of Residential Services Kathy McCarthy, CMHA VP of Community Support Services Linda Filipetti, CMHA VP of Child & Family Services Debora Kustron, Actors Sam Waterston and Jill Clayburgh, and Cindy Moore, wife of CMHA Chief Program Officer Dr. Steven Moore
Gala Sponsors Peter and Helen Haje with Rob Fish	Northwest Center Development Manager Priscilla McCord, Bill Suter, Author Gail Sheehy, and Tom and Barbara Murphy
Auctioneer and Northwest Center Advisory Committee and Gala Event Committee member Jack O'Connell donned a new hat for each auction item.	Gisela Piccolo and Event Committee member Angela Engle
Northwest Center Advisory Council and Gala Event Committee member Helen Degener with husband Michael	Kathleen Young of Cigna, one of the event's sponsors, Bernie Zahren, CMHA Chief Program Officer Dr. Steve Moore, and Cindy Moore
From left: CMHA VP of Residential Services Victor Incerti, CMHA VP of Community Support Services Linda Filipetti, CMHA VP of Child & Family Services Debora Kustron, Claire Evans, and CMHA Board Member Stan Klukowski	Dr. Diane D'Isidori and Dr. Evan Hack of Candlewood Valley Pediatrics of New Milford with CMHA President & CEO Ray Gorman
Actor Sam Waterston and Ann Perse discuss as CMHA President & CEO Ray Gorman looks on	Actor Ed Herrmann and Author Gail Sheehy
Swamp Yankee gets everyone moving.	Wilhelmina Eakin, Jack O’Connell, Daphne Hurford, and Sandy Padwe
Lea Davies cuts a rug.	Northwest Center Development Manager Priscilla McCord and Gala Event Committee member Linda Michaels

The evening began at Lakeville United Methodist Church with a performance of Chasing the Tiger, author Gail Sheehy's witty and poignant page-to-stage adaptation of her new book, Passages in Caregiving, which chronicles Sheehy’s experience caring for her husband as they battled with his illnesses over his last 17 years. Sheehy narrated the play as nationally-renowned actors Jill Clayburgh, Ed and Star Herrmann, and Rick Trabucco brought the characters to life.

Guests then moved next door for the Gala under an elegant tent outside the Northwest Center. One-hundred and eighty attendees enjoyed dinner by caterer Doreen Sepe, dancing to live music by the band Swamp Yankee, and a “Summer of Fun” auction, with items including a week at a villa in the South of France and driving lessons from Skip Barber Racing School.

The event raised $60,800, and all proceeds from “An Evening Under the Stars” will support vital counseling and behavioral health services provided by CMHA’s Northwest Center for Family Services.

For more on the event, read the feature article on RuralIntelligence.com.