GUILFORD ABC CELEBRATES
50 YEARS

Guilford ABC hosted a weekend of activities to celebrate 50 years of our program, current scholars and alumnae. The centerpiece of the weekend was a benefit concert on October 19, 2024, at the Guilford High School Performing Arts Center.

All the way from London, Mo Pleasure returned to his hometown to headline the concert, which also featured students from the GHS Music Department, including GHS Voices directed by special guest Angela Clemmons, and emcees Stephanie Simoni and Roger Susanin from WFSB

Mo Pleasure is a former member and musical director of the renowned Earth, Wind & Fire. He also served as musical director for Bette Midler, and has collaborated with artists such as Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Roberta Flack, Michael Jackson and David Foster, to name just a few.

Angela Clemmons, in addition to leading the hugely popular Shoreline Soul choir for over 20 years has also worked with Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Elton John, Steely Dan, Cyndi Lauper, and many more.

Additional events for the Alumnae included a lunch at the Guilford ABC House with the current Scholars. There was also a tour of the high school and a brunch at the Guilford Mooring with the Board of Directors and current Scholars.

GABC 50th Anniversary Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor
The Eveland Family

Lead Sponsors
Guilford Foundation/Guilford Savings Bank
Larry Dowler/Ellen Rosand
Withers Bergman, LLC

Patron Sponsors
Robert Jaeger
Sue and Matt Kornguth
Watering Pond Foundation
West Hartford Lock

Friend Sponsors
Campaigne Kestner Architects
Guilford Racquet and Swim Club
Robert Leitze, Esq.
Salon Zena
Yankee Equipment Systems & Eileen and Peter Limoncelli

With deep gratitude to Martha and Terry Maguire,
Pam and David Harding, and the M.J. Petretto Foundation
for their ongoing generous support.

Special Thanks

To these organizations and individuals for their support of and commitment to the ABC program, and for helping us organize and celebrate our 50th anniversary. We are most grateful!

GHS Music Department
Mark Gahm
Rachael Allen
Chris Jones

Guilford High School
Nick Ripa
Ben Copleman
Joel Rebhun
Elisa Milano
Herman Solivan and the Facilities staff at GHS
Cara Mulqueen Teasdale

Guilford Anniversary Committee
Laura Berkowitz Gilbert, Jeff Zeitlin, Judy Wright, Georgia Cosgrove,
Marie Berry, Lori Harris, Cheryl McPherson, Maria Brown

With Support From
Abby Goodman
Jen Payne, Words by Jen

About the 50th Anniversary Quilt Graphic

Celebrating the Spirit of Guilford A Better Chance

The quilt patches you see in the 50th Anniversary graphics and throughout this program book were designed to capture the spirit of Guilford A Better Chance.

The eight colorful quilt patches, designed especially for our 50th anniversary, are more than just pretty patterns. They are infused with meaning.

The patterns were created based on the individual interests of each student.

Co-president Laura Berkowitz Gilbert, a trained graphic designer, talked with each student to get a sense of their unique interests or point of view and developed a design accordingly.

The concept of a quilt perfectly captures the spirit of the Guilford ABC house. A quilt is made up of smaller fabric pieces of different patterns that are arranged in an intricate layout and stitched together to make a cohesive glorious blanket known as a patchwork quilt.

So too, our scholars arrive from diverse backgrounds and hometowns to live together at the GABC house. As they spend time together in school and in the Guilford community, they form tight bonds that will last a lifetime.

As you see with all of our alumnae that are here tonight, those bonds, some lasting 50 years, are still strong!