News & Events

New Fairfield native, basketball star and coach Jennifer Rizzotti to highlight Danbury Youth Services’ 15th Annual Memorial Basketball Tournament.

April 24 at Danbury High School Union Savings Bank is title sponsor

[Danbury, Conn. April 3, 2009] – Union Savings Bank is pleased to announce their participation as title sponsor for Danbury Youth Services’ (DYS) 15th Annual Benefit Basketball Tournament. Scheduled for April 24 at the Danbury High School Gymnasium, the event will feature lively basketball competition and an appearance by former UCONN women’s basketball star Jennifer Rizzotti. Sponsored teams will compete throughout the evening for the opportunity to hoist the Mayor’s trophy as tournament champions that night. Teams include the Danbury Public School Staff, Danbury Jaycees, Danbury Attorneys, The News-Times and the B.O.E. Custodians/Maintenance Local 35/UE 222.

“I am tremendously pleased that once again Union Savings Bank has agreed to be the title sponsor of our benefit basketball tournament. In my 31 years with DYS, Union Savings Bank has led the region in corporate support for our agency,” said DYS Executive Director Jim Walsh. “Besides the tournament, USB has supported our Butterfly Breakfast, awarded us grants from their Foundation, contributed the time and services of key managers and has held the agency’s mortgage since 2000.”

Doors for the event will open at 4 p.m. with the first game tipping off at 6 p.m. Between 5 and 6 p.m. featured guest Jennifer Rizzotti will receive the key to the city from Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton and will be available for photos for people who bring their own camera. Presentation of awards will take place at 9:30 p.m. Admission for the tournament is $10.

Fundraising for the event will include a 50/50 raffle, a gift raffle, a food stand, $20 half price general admission tickets to the Travelers PGA Championship Golf Tournament in Cromwell from June 22 to June 28 and a 40th anniversary cookbook from DYS, a compilation of recipes from board and staff members that will be on sale at the event for $10 each.

”We’re aiming to raise much more than the $11,000.00 raised last year,” said Walsh. ”DYS services are needed now more than ever. At the same time, funding from public sources is decreasing.”

The event’s featured star, Rizzotti is a New Fairfield native who was selected to two all state basketball teams during her time at New Fairfield High School. She went on to play four years at the University of Connecticut including serving as co-captain for the two undefeated national championship teams. After her college success, Ms. Rizzotti played professionally and is currently in her ninth season as the head women's basketball coach at the University of Hartford, where she has led the Hawks to four America East Conference championships and four trips to the NCAA Tournament.

For more information or to volunteer for DYS’ April 24 Memorial Basketball Tournament, please call (203) 748-2936.

Six Young Authors from Danbury, Bethel and Sherman are Winners Of ‘Famous Women in Connecticut History’ Essay Contest
Union Savings Bank partners with Senator Michael McLachlan to sponsor writing contest during Women’s History Month

[Danbury, Conn., April 17, 2008] — In recognition of March as Women’s History Month, six middle school students in Danbury, Bethel and Sherman are the proud winners of State Senator Michael McLachlan (R-Danbury)’s Famous Women in Connecticut History essay contest.

The contest was sponsored by Union Savings Bank, which provided each winner with a $100 U.S. Savings Bond.

Open to sixth grade boys and girls in Danbury, Bethel, New Fairfield and Sherman, the contest received nearly 200 entries. Students were encouraged write a 300-word essay on the topic “Important Women in Connecticut’s History and How Their Contributions to the State and Nation Affect Me.”

Each essay writer focused on one notable Connecticut woman, detailing her life and accomplishments and what those contributions meant to them. The women profiled by students in their essays included Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Danbury resident Marian Anderson, the first African-American woman to sing at the Metropolitan Opera and Clare Boothe Luce, the first congresswoman from Connecticut and ambassador to Italy, among others.

The participating schools’ administrators, English and history teachers judged students’ essays and recommended winners based on writing form, style, research, grammar and insight.

Pictured left to right in the back row are Senator McLachlan, Michelle Leppla of St. Joseph School in Danbury, Madeline Kroot of Bethel Middle School and John Kline, president and CEO of Union Savings Bank. Pictured left to right in the front row are Kierstyn Raines of Sherman School in Sherman, Katie Farnqueira of St. Peter - Sacred Heart School in Danbury, Charlotte Blain of St. Gregory the Great School in Danbury and Laura Marisco of Exploration Academy/Rogers Park Middle School in Danbury.

Established in 1866 and headquartered in Danbury, Conn., Union Savings Bank is a $1.8 billion mutual bank dedicated to providing excellent customer service to its customers and communities. As a full-service financial institution, Union Savings Bank provides banking, mortgage, investment and insurance products throughout western Connecticut with eighteen offices in Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, Kent, New Fairfield, Newtown, New Milford, Ridgefield, Sharon and Southbury. For more information, visit unionsavings.com