NORWALK, CT - Actor Charles Grodin and piano virtuoso Eric Genuis will join a group of area performers in a concert Oct. 30 at Norwalk Concert Hall to benefit Malta House, a home for unwed mothers and their children.
The second annual The Time Is Now concert will feature Grodin as master of ceremonies and Genuis, who has composed a work in honor of Bishop William Lori of the Bridgeport Diocese.
Lori will receive the first John Swanhaus Award for his support of Malta House of Norwalk.
Also performing will be Fairfield soprano Lia Carter, the Bridgeport Prayer Tabernacle Choir, Will and Anthony Nunziata of New York City, and the Yale Symphony Orchestra, accompanied by Liesl Schoenberger on violin and Shannon Hayden on cello.
Actor Charles Grodin
The concert will benefit Malta House and Catholic Charities’ Room to Grow program, which are based in Norwalk.
The first annual John Swanhaus Award is given in memory of Mr. Swanhaus, a former executive of PepsiCo who served on many community boards and was dedicated to helping the sick and poor through the Order of Malta, a Catholic fraternal organization.
Mr. Swanhaus, who lived in New Canaan, was involved with Malta House since its inception and served on its board and executive committee.
Since 1998, Malta House has offered food, shelter and a community living environment to single pregnant mothers of all denominations and their children.
Malta House helps young homeless mothers by providing educational opportunities and job training, along with parenting skills classes so that after their 12- to 18-month stays they can find work and housing.
Room to Grow is a state-licensed day care facility for preschoolers.
Since Lori became bishop of Bridgeport in 2001, he has launched initiatives to revitalize and expand Catholic Charities, the largest private social services provider in the region.
Bishop William Lori
“Malta House and Room to Grow truly are works of love in our midst in Fairfield County,” Lori said. “Putting the Gospel of Life into concrete action, these two initiatives day in and day out extend a hand of love and friendship to women and children in challenging circumstances. Not only do they make a difference, indeed they can and do change the course of young lives.”
The Knights of Columbus, headquartered in New Haven, is the lead sponsor of the event. To become a sponsor or for ticket information, call Ginny Casey at (203) 857-0088, ext. 14.
