In the Know

Mom of two Staples High School graduates, and the first Executive Director of A Better Chance Westport (ABC), Roni shares that giving back and volunteering was always in her DNA since she was a child. For those who don’t know It, ABC Westport supports up to 8 motivated young men (scholars) who come to live in the ABC House in Westport and attend Staples for their four years of high school. The  scholars are provided with wrap-around academic and social emotional resources to support their success and help them thrive in the Westport community and ultimately life.  Before ABC, Roni spent much of her career in Human Resources and then focused on philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility. When the opportunity to be Executive Director of ABC came to Roni, she knew it was her calling, and was thrilled to move her work into the non-profit sector. In her spare time, Roni enjoys travel of any kind, oatmeal raisin cookies, and spending time with family. Her goal is to help raise increased awareness about all the A Better Chance of Westport is doing to include more host families and to support more scholars. Lucky Westport to have this program, and to have Roni at the helm!

Mom to four here in Westport, and a respected dermatologist, Corrie shares that she loves helping people feel more comfortable in their own skin (pun intended), and getting to work with her hands. Outside of work, she is thrilled to be involved in Peter’s Heart, a non-profit that was started by her father in Uganda, an organization focused on identifying vulnerable children in the slums and providing them with education, health care and mentorship. Peter’s Heart is having their inaugural fundraising event THIS Thursday, 10/30 at Aspetuck Country Club, and all are welcome! In Corrie’s spare time, she loves reading (she grew up in a house with no TV), indulges on experiences for her children, and swears by Alastin Restorative Skin Complex. In another life, she’ll be a talented cook and perhaps an investigative journalist, but for now, she loves the work she is doing – both day to day and helping those further away. Corrie is an inspiration to us all!

If you are a Hamilton fan, you likely know that Renee Goldsberry played Angelica Schuyler on Broadway, and quickly became one of the most iconic and beloved singers and actresses of our time. A Connecticut mom of two, Renee is excited to share Satisfied – her new documentary, which is about the fight to have a family and the miracle of holding onto one while chasing your dreams. For her, that meant balancing the role of a lifetime in Hamilton with the role of a lifetime at home—being a wife and mother. It’s a raw, honest story, scored with original music from her debut album, Who I Really Am. Satisfied will debut in theaters locally September 30th through October 2nd and should not be missed! In addition to acting, writing music, and being a mom, Renee swears by Tostitos (bite sized), is currently binging The Gilded Age, and loves her neighborhood more than anything! Renee has brought so much music and joy to so many, and we are thrilled for her next chapter!