New Canaan Family Honored At Maritime Aquarium Gala

From The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk:

Norwalk, CT – The family of Bill and Alice Burnham of New Canaan are among the champions of The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk who were honored April 21 at the popular attraction’s annual fund-raising gala.

The Burnhams, along with State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff of Norwalk and Bank of America, are recipients of the The Maritime Aquarium’s 2016 Red Apple Awards, which honor companies, organizations and individuals who share the Aquarium’s concern for the natural world and environmental education.

The awards were presented April 21 during the Aquarium’s annual Cirque de la Mer gala.

“From serving as political advocates and neighbors to education innovators and philonphropic supporters, our three recipients are worthy of recognition,” said Dr. Brian Davis, president of The Maritime Aquarium. “These recipients have enabled us to transform the lives of students, teachers and all of our guests through our education, research and conservation initiatives. They have played a vital role in who we are and ultimately who we will become.”

Bill Burnham returned to The Maritime Aquarium’s Board of Trustees in 2013, after first serving from 1989-99. He currently provides stong leadership as chair of the trustees’ Education Committee. He and his wife, Alice, were instrumental in the furnishings of the Aquarium’s new hybrid-electric research vessel, R/V Spirit of the Sound™, and in support of Whole School Partnerships, which integrates The Maritime Aquarium’s educational programming into the curricula of participating area schools.

The Cirque de la Mer gala invited more than 300 guests to enjoy cocktails in the Aquarium galleries, an elegant sit-down dinner, and silent and live auctions. Chairing the 2016 gala were James Hurlock, a Maritime Aquarium trustee, and his wife, Kate, of New Canaan.

The event raised $625,000 to support The Maritime Aquarium’s Red Apple Fund for Student Enrichment, which helps to make the Aquarium’s unique marine-science and environmental-education programs available to schools in the tri-state area regardless of their ability to pay. Proceeds from Cirque de la Mer are used toward financial assistance for schools’ admissions, IMAX movies and programs conducted both at the Aquarium and in schools through Traveling Teacher presentations, as well as toward supporting the promotion of the Aquarium’s educational and conservation messages.

Of the $625,000 raised, a “paddle raise” by guests generated $100,800 specifically to help schools meet the costs of busing for field trips to the Aquarium.

New Canaan-Darien-Rowayton Magazine/Moffly Media was media sponsor of the 2016 Cirque de la Mer.

For more information about Cirque de la Mer or the Red Apple Fund for Student Enrichment, call The Maritime Aquarium at (203) 852-0700, ext. 2277.

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit institution whose mission is to inspire people of all ages to appreciate Long Island Sound and protect it for future generations. A vibrant and entertaining learning environment, it achieves this goal through living exhibits, marine science, and environmental education.

The Maritime Aquarium receives support from the State of Connecticut DECD’s Offices of Culture and Tourism.