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Merritt Parkway Conservancy

25th Anniversary

Gala

Life is a Parkway: Preserving the Journey

Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 6 pm

The Guest House
Sacred Heart University, Fairfield

Life is a Parkway:
Preserving the Journey

Join the Merritt Parkway Conservancy for a special celebration and fundraiser commemorating 25 years of stewardship, preservation, and advocacy for one of Connecticut’s most treasured historic landscapes.

Date and Time
Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 6 pm
Location
The Guest House
Sacred Heart University, WEST CAMPUS
3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, CT
(New Exit # 28 off the Merritt Parkway)
Attire
Festive Attire

The evening will honor the founders of the Conservancy: Peter Malkin, Dee Winokur, Emil Frankel, and Peter Szabo. Funds raised will support ongoing protection of the Merritt Parkway, restoration of its iconic bridges, and preservation of the naturalistic landscape designed by visionaries in the 1930s.

The celebration will include cocktails, a seated dinner, musical entertainment by The Galvanized Jazz Band, and remarks by honorees and Connecticut government leaders.

Gala Committee

Kim Alexander, Arianne Kolb, Schuyler H. F. Merritt, Dee Winokur, Marielena Fernandez de Cordoba, Cathy De Graaff, Ann Lydecker, Amy Reid, Wendy Merritt Dixon Fog

Board of Directors

Peter Malkin (Chairman), David Parker (Vice Chairman), Wes Haynes (Secretary), Michael Larobina (Treasurer), Cynthia Blumenthal, Toni Boucher, Nette Compton, Thomas Lombardo, Schuyler H. F. Merritt, Alloe Stokes, Bill Finch, Catherine Sbriglio, Susan Leaming Pollish, Marielena Fernandez de Cordoba, Arianne Kolb (Executive Director)

Advisory Board

Dionna Carlson, Dee Winokur, John Harrington

Thank you to our Gala Sponsors and Patrons

Gold Sponsors

  • Senator Richard and Cynthia M. Blumenthal
  • Peter and Isabel Malkin
  • Dee and Pug Winokur

Silver Patrons

  • Richard and Kim Alexander
  • Christophe Kolb
  • Dee and Pug Winokur

Bronze Sponsors

  • Toni Boucher
  • First County Bank
  • Houlihan Lawrence
  • Synchrony
  • Enovation Brands
  • David Parker

Steel Sponsors

  • Green and Gross
  • Preservation CT
  • Miller Motors
  • Russell Barksdale
  • Jablonski Building Conservation

Granite Sponsors

  • Aquarion
  • AK Design House
  • Architecturallx
  • Bill Finch
  • Greenwich Land Trust
  • SavATree
  • Francos Wine Merchants
  • New Canaan Foreign Car Service

Living Landscape Sponsor

  • Copia Nursery

Media Sponsor

  • Moffly Media

Benefactors

  • Alloe Stokes
  • Shavaun Towers

Ticket purchases may be made online below or by check mailed to:
Merritt Parkway Conservancy
P.O. Box 17072
Stamford, CT 06907

Purchase Gala TicketsBecome a Gala SponsorAsk About Underwriting

Ticket Sales

Golden Parkway Patron

$10,000
$9,000 tax-deductible

  • Option of a prominent table for 10
  • Option to reserve one or two seats for a VIP/CT Government Leader or Honorary Guest
  • Name placement and recognition at the event and in the program
  • Invitation to the VIP Cocktail Reception before the event

Silver Patron

$5,000
$4,000 tax-deductible

  • Option of a prominent table for 10
  • Option to reserve one or two seats for a VIP/CT Government Leader or Honorary Guest
  • Name placement and recognition at the event and in the program
  • Invitation to the VIP Cocktail Reception before the event

Benefactor Individual Ticket

$1,000
$900 tax-deductible

  • Individual admission to the 25th Anniversary Gala
  • Support the preservation of the Merritt Parkway
  • Invitation to the VIP Cocktail Reception before the event

Individual Gala Ticket

$400
$300 tax-deductible

  • Individual admission to the 25th Anniversary Gala
  • Support the preservation of the Merritt Parkway
Purchase Gala Tickets

Corporate Sponsorship Levels

Gold Corporate Sponsor

$10,000
$9,000 tax-deductible

  • Recognition and full-page color ad as Gold Sponsor in the event program, event website, and emails
  • Name placement and recognition at the event and in media
  • Option of a prominent table for 10
  • Option to have one or two seats at the table reserved for a VIP/CT Government Leader or Honorary Guest
  • Invitation to the VIP Patron Cocktail Reception before the event

Silver Sponsor

$5,000
$4,000 tax-deductible

  • Recognition and half-page color ad as Silver Sponsor in the event program, event website, and emails
  • Name placement and recognition in media
  • Option of a prominent table for 10
  • Option to have one or two seats at the table reserved for a VIP/CT Government Leader or Honorary Guest
  • Invitation to the VIP Patron Cocktail Reception before the event

Bronze Sponsor

$2,500
$2,300 tax-deductible

  • Recognition and quarter-page color ad as Bronze Sponsor in the event program, event website, and emails
  • Name placement and recognition in media
  • Option of two Gala tickets
  • Invitation to the VIP Patron Cocktail Reception before the event

Steel Sponsor

$1,000
$900 tax-deductible

  • Recognition and quarter-page black-and-white ad as Steel Sponsor in the event program, event website, and emails
  • Name placement and recognition in media
  • Option of one Gala ticket

Granite Sponsor

$500
$500 tax-deductible

  • Recognition and business-card ad as Granite Sponsor in the event program, event website, and emails
  • Name placement and recognition in media
Become a Gala Sponsor

Underwriting Opportunities

Please email akolb@merrittparkway.org to discuss underwriting opportunities.

  • Underwriting ticket purchases for honorary guests
  • Underwriting musical entertainment or beverages

Unable to Attend?

If you are unable to attend, you can still make a gift in support of the Merritt Parkway Conservancy.

Make a Gift

Purchase Gala Tickets

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