News & Events - scroll down for photos and more news & events
Keystone’s Annual Fundraiser 'Steppin' Out! - MOST SUCCESSFUL EVENT TO DATE!!
“Steppin Out and Steppin Up for Keystone” on Friday, April 26th at The Norwalk Inn was the most successful event to date for Keystone House. The event featured an open bar, dinner, dancing to the well known band Deja Vu, a live and silent auction and the premiere of the new video "I Am Keystone", produced and directed by Palace Production Center of Norwalk, CT. To view this amazing video, click here.
Over 200 guests enjoyed a fun filled evening that brought a new understanding of who and what Keystone House is to an audience that consisted of over 50% new attendees. The celebrity host of the evening was David Smith, who worked the crowd to bring about an exciting and lively Live Auction and a first time ever paddle raise. The paddle raise was to bring in much needed funds to replace their "Big Blue" - the van used to transport clients to and from appointments, programs and events.
Comedy Night Full of Laughs and Introduced Keystone to a New Audience
Laughter filled the Norwalk Concert Hall during the Comedy Night featuring stage and screen star Tommy Davidson and Friends to benefit Keystone House, Inc. on Saturday, November 3, 2012.
 The purpose of the event was to bring awareness of Keystone and the services they provide to the community. Audience members came from all over Fairfield County and New York.
The evening included an Exclusive VIP Reception with a pre-show meet & greet and photo opp with Tommy Davidson.
 Bill Durham of Entourage Events introduced the first two comedians, Mark Demayo and Damon Rozier, and then the lead comic, Tommy Davidson. Davidson is best known as one of the original stars of the hit television show “In Living Color”. Part of Davidson’s monologue’s was a hilarious impression of President Barack Obama. The audience roared with laughter throughout the evening.
“This event was successful in so many ways for Keystone House. We were able to share the important work that Keystone House does with a whole new group of people; we raised awareness about mental illness: we raised much needed funds and everyone left smiling! We never could have had this event without the great support we received from the community and especially our loyal volunteers. It was a great way to get people together to relax and laugh while dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.” Valerie Williams, Keystone’s Executive Director.
 “He (Davidson) was great! Entertaining, enlighting, fantastic!” said Bonnie Monteiro of Fairfield, CT after the event. Yaria Zoe of Bridgeport, CT added “It was a fun way to help the community.”
Sponsors for the event included Media Sponsor Power 105.1 FM; V.I.P. Sponsor TFI Envision, Inc. of Norwalk, CT; Refreshment Sponsor Ripka's Bulls Head Market.
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Candidate Forum at Norwalk City Hall Spoke to the Challenges
Keystone House, Inc. and Southwest Regional Mental Health Board, Inc. (SWRMHB) hosted a Free Candidate Forum on Wednesday, September 19, 2012, 8:00 am - 10:00 am at Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT.
 The issues the candidates focused on included Housing; Age appropriate services for Young Adult, ages 18 - 26; Wrap-around services to support high utilizers of mental health services; Legislative support for CT not for profits; Retaining Grant Funding.
Local residents including local business leaders and some Keystone clients attended the Forum to learn more about the challenges faced by Keystone and other not for profits that address the needs of residents who struggle with hear how candidates will make decisions regarding programs for those who are mentally ill.
"I was very excited to help in planning Keystone's third candidate forum. I was also touched by the candidate's willingness to share some of their own stories as they commented on the issues and responded to questions." said Lee Fallet, Secretary, Board of Directors, Keystone House, Inc, Clinical Auditor for the Department of Psychiatry at Norwalk Hospital and a Fairfield Resident.
“The candidates were very open and the fact that it was one topic - Mental Health - made it all the more interesting and viable.” said Carol Frank, Owner/President of Travel Trends of Connecticut.
Karen Lyons, Republican Registrar for the City of Norwalk, was there to provide the paperwork needed to register voters.
The candidates included State Senator Toni Boucher, State Senator Bob Duff, Jonathan Steinberg, Kate Tepper, Chris Perone, Joanne Romano, Larry Cafero, Ted Hoffstaffer, Gail Lavielle, and Rob Werner. Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia spoke briefly prior to the Forum.
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Sensational Success for the Sunset Cruise to Benefit Keystone
On August 22, 2012, over 40 people enjoyed a sunset cruise to benefit Norwalk based Keystone House. Aboard the new 45 ft. Norwalk Seaport Association’s ferry, the guests enjoyed a narrated tour of the Norwalk Islands as well as learning more about Keystone, a Norwalk based not for profit, which provides residential and psychosocial services for adults with psychiatric disabilities.
"It was a beautiful night to enjoy a cruise around the Norwalk Islands with so many Keystone supporters. I enjoyed talking with, and meeting, so many people who want to help others in their own community who face the challenges of a mental illness. I am very grateful for our many supporters." said Valerie Williams, Executive Director of Keystone House.
The event raised funds for the many programs that Keystone provides, including their Transitional Residential Services which consists of two group home facilities that offer a safe and supportive environment where residents are assisted in the development of the skills they will need to make their transition to independent living successful; and their Community Living Center, a psychosocial program designed to provide a friendly and supportive environment where individuals with a psychiatric disability can engage in social interaction with peers and find new ways to access natural community supports.
“It was an absolutely beautiful evening to be on a sunset cruise. We had a wonderful time mingling with staff and friends of Keystone and learning more about Keystone's residential services, rehabilitation programs and mission to help persons with disabilities remain in the community. To be able to support such a great cause, along with some very insightful Norwalk background including local island history and various wildlife, made for a perfect night.” said Norwalk resident and Keystone supporter Catherine Smith.
“This event was part of a new initiative for Keystone to bring more opportunities for engagement with the community to bring greater awareness of the services they provide.” said Elizabeth P. Ball, Board Member and Chairperson of the Keystone Fundraising Committee. “We have a November 3rd “Comedy Night with Tommy Davidson and Friends” planned at Norwalk City Hall, and other events coming up as well.”
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Team Keystone Cares walks for NAMI
On May 19, 2012, 7 clients and 4 staff participated in the CT National Alliance on Mental Illness NAMI walk in Hartford to raise awareness and funds for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI is a nonprofit mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
18th Annual Silent Auction & Dinner a SUCCESS!!
Keystone celebrated GROWTH TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE at our 18th Annual Silent Auction & Dinner to benefit Keystone House, Inc. on May 10, 2012 at 5:30pm at Continental Manor, 112 Main Street, Norwalk, CT. There was a Buffet dinner, Wine donation table, Cash bar and a Silent auction.
A big THANK YOU to our sponsors, including:
VIP SPONSORS
• Elizabeth P. Ball
• Fairfield County Bank
• George Holley
• The Perrett Family
EVENT SPONSORS
• Commonwealth Bank of Australia
• Mark Fitzgerald • John Henshaw
• Gary Lorusso
• Norwalk Real Estate Associates LLC
• F. Jared Sprole
• Stanley M. Seligson Properties
FRIEND SPONSORS
• Frank & Linda Ball
• eBenefits Group and Advanced Benefit Strategies
There were seven special 'guests' in attendance. They are lifesize cutouts of sample Keystone clients with their stories, designed to help engage people about the struggles of those with psychiatric disabilities.
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Keystone House shows off new space on Main Street
Contributed photo Keystone House Chairman Art Scialabba, Keystone House Director Valerie Williams, and Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia cut the ribbon to welcome the nonprofit agency into its new home at 147 Main St. during a gathering Wednesday evening.
NORWALK -- Staff and board members of Keystone House beamed as they showed visitors their new location during a grand opening event held Wednesday evening that drew several local politicians and business leaders. "We're very happy with it. It's been great for clients and so much better for us," Valerie Williams, Keystone House director, said. "We've been able to see more clients, which is very important. The former location was great, but it didn't suit our needs any longer." Keystone is now located at 147 Main St, having moved recently from two locations near City Hall. The new space is better suited to meeting the needs of Keystone's clients, Williams said. Keystone House also maintains three residential houses in Norwalk -- one long-term housing and two transitional houses. Keystone House is a nonprofit organization that provides residential and psychosocial services for adults with psychiatric disabilities. It employs 43 full- and part-time employees. "This almost doubles the amount of space we had before," Art Scialabba, board chairman for Keystone House, said. "The additional space allowed us to expand our programs. We needed this space to expand our programs down the road. We've grown quite a bit since I became a board member (seven years ago.)" The new space features rooms for services on the first floor and office space on the second floor. It also includes a community living center that offers social skills building, group activities, peer support, computer training and other services.
Elizabeth Ball, a Keystone House board member, called the new location "a brighter, cheerier space with more room for everyone."Ball is also the president of TFI Envision, a branding and communications company in Norwalk. Her company sponsored one of the meeting rooms in the new location. Individuals or companies may sponsor a meeting room at Keystone House for a 10-year period. "I know how important creative expression is and how much it can help people," Ball said. "So for the next 10 years, one of the rooms will be known as the 'TFI Envision Creative Arts & Meeting Room.'"
Williams thanked new landlord Stanley Seligson for helping to make the move seamless. "Stanley has been great. They've given us a lot and really extended themselves," she said. "It's worked out well. A lot of work went into the fit up."
Seligson added at the grand opening: "We're delighted to have them -- they are an excellent tenant and very well run. We're proud to have them as a tenant."
Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia said Seligson does a lot for the community and this is just another example. "Keystone provides services that are invaluable to the city," Moccia added. Scialabba, also the Norwalk Republican Town Committee Chairman, said he has remained supportive of Keystone House because "I believe in its mission. We do great work here. We do things that are necessary that the state can't do."
The mission of Keystone House is to help clients "adjust to and remain in the community environments of their choice with personal success and satisfaction with as much independence as individually possible." The organization is supported by government funding and private donations.
For more information, call (203) 866-2521 or go to http://www.thehour.com/story/513135/keystone-house-shows-off-new-space-on-main-street
You are invited to join us on Wednesday October 19th 2011 4 – 7 pm
We moved into our new facility and are ready to share it with you. This is an opportunity to enjoy some refreshements, learn more about what Keystone does for the community it serves, and see where we are. We welcome you to bring family and friends.
Open House Wed Oct 19, 2011 4 -7 pm
147 Main Street, Norwalk 06851
RSVP 203-855-7920 ext. 7818
Keystone receives 2011 Small Business Award from the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce presented Keystone House, Inc. with their Small Business Award for a Not-for-Profit Business at their June 2, 2011 luncheon. The event was hosted by Connecticut Light & Power and People’s United Bank and was held at the Norwalk Inn & Conference Center and attended by many area business leaders.
Established in 1889, the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce has long been committed to the economic vitality of Norwalk, Darien, New Canaan, Weston, Westport, and Wilton. The Greater Norwalk Chamber continually works to grow and enhance local business, providing beneficial programs, services and opportunities to its members, so that they in turn can enhance and grow their business.
For more information, call (203) 866-2521 or go to http://norwalkchamberofcommerce.com/greater-norwalk/city-of-norwalk
As of May 18, 2011…
Keystone House, Inc. has moved to
147 Main Street, Norwalk CT 06851
Wheels Bus Line #3
All programs and staff from our two locations-Administration, Supported Apartment Services-SAS, and the Community Living Center-CLC, originally at 141 East Ave and 137 East Ave are now located in our new facility at 147 Main Street.
Stay tuned for Open House Invitation
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