Wooster School Junior Recognized by United Way:   Outstanding Youth Volunteer

Fairfield — Hallie Fuchs of Fairfield was recognized by the Volunteer Action Center of United Way of Coastal Fairfield County in a ceremony held in late April. The event recognizes volunteers who give their time and talents to serve nonprofit organizations in the region served by the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County. Hallie, one of several outstanding youth volunteers, was recognized for her leadership and compassion in the service of others.

Hallie is co-chair of the Wooster School Catwalk for a Cure, a benefit for the Norma Pfriem Breast Center (NPBCC). Through the event, a fashion show, Hallie, her co-chair Alexandra Ambrosio, and their peers successfully raised over $9,000 for the Center’s healthcare and education programs. The girls plan to do another Catwalk next year and hope to get more kids involved.

The Norma Pfriem Breast Care Center provides comprehensive breast care services to all patients regardless of their insurance status. Over one thousand women each year receive financial assistance for services they would not be able to afford on their own. In addition, the Center holds breast health education programs for over 3,000 women and students throughout Fairfield County.

Each Catwalk for a Cure is a huge undertaking. Hallie put together a team of students and motivated them to work hard. She recruited local stores to donate clothing for the models and other items for a silent and live auction.

Hallie worked closely with adult volunteers as well as Robin Righter, Event Coordinator at the NPBCC. “Philanthropy is important to Hallie,” Righter says. “With her busy schedule, she still found time to make the event a success. She is a great role model to her peers. She went well above my expectations of a student her age.”

Part of Bridgeport Hospital and the Yale New Haven Health System, the Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center has served more than 20,000 women and their families since it was established in 1999. ;A member of the prestigious National Consortium of Breast Care Centers, the Center provides a wide range of diagnostic care and treatment at its Bridgeport Hospital and Fairfield locations, including medical oncology, surgical and chemotherapy services, plastic surgery, mammography and radiation therapy, and genetic risk assessment as well as opportunities to participate in clinical trials. The Breast Care Center office at 111 Beach Road in Fairfield also provides comprehensive women’s wellness services, including nutrition counseling, massage and Reiki therapy, wig and prosthesis fitting, counseling, yoga, Pilates, naturopathic medicine, and other patient support activities. The Center has a satellite office on Park Avenue in Trumbull. For more information call 203.255.5300 or visit the Center on the web.  

Bridgeport Hospital, part of Yale New Haven Health, is a non-profit 501-bed acute care hospital with two campuses (plus 42 beds licensed to Yale New Haven Children's Hospital). Its Bridgeport and Milford Campuses serve patients from across the region. The hospital admits more than 23,000 patients and provides nearly 350,000 outpatient treatments annually. The Connecticut Burn Center at Bridgeport Hospital is the only burn center in the state and one of only 64 verified burn centers in the United States. Bridgeport Hospital is committed to providing safe, compassionate and cost efficient care to its patients and the community. www.bridgeporthospital.org