‘Celebrity Waiter’ Dinner Benefits Manes & Motions

More than 200 guests were served by 22 “celebrity waiters” at the 11th annual Manes & Motions dinner at the Crowne Plaza in Cromwell. The event raised $55,000 to support Manes & Motions Therapeutic Riding Center located at Daniels Farm in Middletown. The center provides cognitive and physical benefits to children and adults with a wide range of conditions including brain injury, autism, cerebral palsy and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Manes & Motions is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Hospital for Special Care, which has campuses in New Britain and Hartford. Major sponsors of the dinner were Pratt & Whitney and Webster Bank. Pictured are, from left, “Celebrity Waiters” Al Santostefano, deputy fire marshal, City of Middletown; Bob Maxon, meteorologist, NBC Connecticut; Phil Pessina, councilman, City of Middletown; Art Schaller, Jr., president, New Britain-Berlin Rotary Club; Lynn Ricci, senior vice president of administration, HSC; Steve Villanti, assistant athletic director, Central Connecticut State University; Janet Connolly, sports and community program manager, HSC; Stan Jankowski, vice president and chief information officer, HSC; Don Cyr, vice president, facilities and hospitality services, HSC; and Paul Chant, volunteer.