OIC Honors Three During Annual Award Reception
By Robin Vinci at June 8, 2024 | 8:00 am | Print
“Building and Sustaining Quality Relationships” is the mission of the Opportunities Industrialization Center of New Britain and on May 31, the group took the time to honor those who help keep that mission alive.
Don DeVivo, president of Dattco, Inc. was given the Leon Howard Sullivan Award. Dattco was established in 1924 and it is one of the oldest family operated transportation businesses in New England.
“They have been great partners in the City, with the OIC, with after-school programs and with me personally,” said Ronald Jakubowski, who presented the award. “It is located in New Britain and employs mostly New Britain people. It is a vital company to us.”
“I’m honored to accept this award on behalf of Dattco,” said DeVivo. “OIC is a partnership between educators and business community.”
DeVivo added that OIC is about opportunities and Dattco gives opportunities to kids, but the kids give opportunities to Dattco.
“It takes kids and develops them and turns them into workers. Our people are the most important thing we have,” said DeVivo. “It’s great to be able to take kids from New Britain and make them part of our workforce.”
The Angelo Tomasso Community Award went to John C. Geragosian. Geragosian was appointed a state auditor in 2011. He has served in the house of representative for 16 years representing the 25th district. Previously, he was a New Britain Alderman.
“It wasn’t what I did for OIC, but what the OIC has done for itself as an organization,” said Geragosian. “The hope and change is what the OIC is.”
Geragosian also thanked Angelo Tomasso for giving thousands of opportunities for kids.
He said people ask him now that he is auditor if he will move and he says “No, New Britain is where I live.”
Michael Foran, principal of New Britain High School received the OIC Essence Award. He has been an educator for 25 years and was named the 2012 National High School Teacher of the Year.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be here and honored by the OIC,” said Foran. “The reality of what OIC does is change lives. I appreciate the honor and opportunity to be here.”
He thanked Gerri Brown-Springer for naming him an assistant principal which started his career.
The OIC also named three honorary co-chairs of the event. The theme was father and sons. The co-chairs were father Ronald Jakubowski and sons Jason Jakubowski and Nicholas Jakubowski.
Ronald Jakubowski is interim superintendent of schools and is retiring this year. Jason Jakubowski is the Vice President of Government Relations for the Hospital for Special Care and Nicholas Jakubowski is the coordinator for the Greater New Britain Teen Pregnancy Prevention Center (Pathway/Senderos).
President of the OIC board is retired educator Gerri Brown-Springer and Paulette Fox is the executive director of OIC.
The event was held at the OIC, 114 North St.
