Avon Restaurateur Honored For Employing The Disabled

Avon UNICO National

AVON, CT — A local restauranteur has received a prominent civic organization's highest honor, an award earned for more than just serving great food.

Avon restaurant owner Kim Morrison was honored last month by Avon's UNICO National chapter for serving dreams and hope to an underserved population, one that hits home for Morrison.

At the November meeting of the Avon Chapter of UNICO National, the Avon Citizen of the Year Award was presented to Morrison, the co-founder of New England Pasta Co. and BeanZ & Co., both located in Old Avon Village, 11 E. Main St.

In her acceptance speech Morrison, a Farmington native, explained that while
in college in Vermont, she worked at a restaurant that taught her the art of making high
quality pasta as well as running a food establishment from every aspect.

This led her to a calling in the hospitality industry.

She moved back to Connecticut, married her husband, Scott, and together founded New England Pasta Co. in 1994 to bring superior handmade pasta to residents of the Farmington Valley.

Four years later their daughter, Megan, was born with Down Syndrome.

Over time she realized that she would enter the working world where the unemployment rate for
people with disabilities is as high as 80 percent.

This inspired Morrison to expand their business plan to create a café for breakfast and lunch with a 50/50 split of employees with IDD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) and those who support them while they work.

This mission of inclusive employment of BeanZ & Co. where “everyone belongs” has become the cornerstone of their very successful business.

“Kim Morrison and her staff at BeanZ & Co. live the UNICO motto of 'Service
Above Self' in a very literal way each day, which is why the selection committee was
unanimous in the decision to present her with this award,” said Joe Pavano, chairman
of the selection committee.

Avon’s Chapter of UNICO selects the Citizen of the Year for the Town of Avon and this is the 26th annual award for outstanding service to the community.

UNICO National is a nationwide, Italian-American service organization that represents communities throughout the country.

For more information on UNICO National, click on this link.