The Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce will hold its 25th Annual Awards Gala Jan. 25, 2025, from 6 to 11 p.m.
The black-tie optional dinner-dance will take place at the Amber Room Colonnade at 1 Stacey Road, Danbury.
This year’s theme is “25 Years of Resilience,” as this is the 25th gala.
A highlight of the dinner-dance will be the presentation of two awards, one to an outstanding business and another to an individual in the community. Recipients were nominated by Chamber members.
Agriventures Agway, which has been in business for nearly 25 years and is also known as New Milford Agway, will be presented the Distinguished Chamber Member of the Year for 2024.
Owners Dave O’Leary, Brian Leonard, and Andy Straiton are committed to serving the local community. With over 30 years in the Agway business, Leonard, who is at the New Milford location, has promoted exceptional store growth and been a shining star when it comes to community support and involvement, Chamber officials related.
He employs high school students for their first jobs; holds several roles for sports programs in town; and always makes sure Agway is represented at local events, providing giveaways and fun, family-friendly events free of charge.
Ivan Shiffman, who is a lifelong resident of New Milford, will be recognized with the Distinguished Community Member of the Year for 2024.
Shiffman has worked tirelessly to be one of the great advocates of the community, according to Chamber officials. Whether it is supporting local events and organizations, or establishing relationships with nonprofits and businesses in the area, he is a friend to all.
He has been an integral part of the Alzheimer’s Association and brought the Walk to End Alzheimer’s to town. He can be seen at key events in the area, not to promote his own business, but to support others.
He operates his own Edward Jones office.
In addition, the Chamber will recognize volunteer first responders with a special 25th gala award, the Silver Resilience Award.
Chamber Executive Director Bob Reiling said the past 25 years have been laden with key events such as 9/11, the 2007-08 economic crisis and the Covid pandemic, among others. The Chamber and the majority of local businesses are still standing through all of those trying times.
One group of individuals that has been affected by many of those key events, specifically 9/11 and the Covid pandemic, are first responders.
“We cannot express enough how invaluable our community’s volunteer emergency responders are,” Reiling said. “They are there every minute of the day for us. They exude courage and demonstrate resilience.”
Other gala offerings will include the introduction of the 2025 Chamber officers, a cocktail hour, dinner, dessert, a bourbon pull, a wine pull, a silent auction, a raffle, a balloon pop, music and dancing.
Tickets are $125 through Jan. 10. After that, tickets are $135.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://newmilford-chamber.com/25th-annnual-awards-gala…/.
For questions, email [email protected] or call 860-354-6080.