HOPES Dinner pays tribute to volunteers

PLANTSVILLE, CT (09-26-10) - Pictured left to right are: Rev. Dennis Arambasick, OFM, Pastor of St. Anthony Church, Winsted, honoree Joan Jespersen, and school Principal Patricia Devanney.

Volunteers from 49 Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Hartford were honored for supporting their schools with their time and talents at the 33rd annual HOPES Dinner held at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville on September 26, 2010.

Joan Jespersen of St. Anthony School in Winsted (pictured) received the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, named after the Patron Saint of Catholic education. Jespersen, a 1954 graduate of St. Anthony, is a great-grandmother, whose children, grandchildren, and currently a great-granddaughter also attended the school, has volunteered at St. Anthony’s for over 20 years.