The Spencer Family

In January 2009, the DesignWish Team announced Brian and Beth Spencer as the recipients of our 2009 complimentary room makeover! With more than twenty nominations to consider, selecting a recipient was no small task. There were so many stories that touched us. However, it was the Spencer’s story that captured our hearts. (See below for a slideshow of the Spencers learning that they were chosen as the 2009 recipients.)

As you read the nomination letter written by the Spencer’s daughter, Rebecca, you will understand the reason we chose to give back to this caring couple who epitomize the true meaning of giving selflessly.

“We’ll take him,” was the immediate response my mom gave when hearing about a little boy who no one wanted to adopt. This phrase illustrates the way in which my parents love and give with abandon. In the sixteen years my parents have been married, they have spent every year caring for others. After being a single mom for ten years, my mom married Brian. They began their marriage with a teenage daughter and my ill grandfather. Their first Christmas together was shared Chinese food at a Boston hospital. But they never complained and they would not have been anywhere else.

Every year they have had various people, adults and children alike, come to live with them because they had a need for shelter, food, and most importantly love. Among the most admirable decisions my parents have made is in adopting three young children through DCF. They are children with special needs, yet my parents never hesitated in adopting them, and they strive daily to bring out the beautiful qualities in each of them.

They have incredibly giving hearts and a home to match, although much of their home has been pieced together over the years as caring for others has taken priority. They have the most selflessly giving hearts of anyone I know, and I would love to see them blessed with something beautiful and new just for them. If you could find a way to bless them, I know you will be blessed in return.

A heartfelt thank you…

to all the caring individuals who took the time to nominate someone. We received several letters from children nominating their parents out of appreciation for all that they do. It is rewarding to know that parent’s efforts do not go unrecognized. We also received many letters describing individuals who are battling illnesses with such strength and courage, and somehow still find ways to give to others in spite of their own challenges.  We read of others whose financial burdens make each day a struggle and are a source of great concern.

As we agonized over which nominee to select, we wished we could have chosen more than one recipient. If we had the means to do so, we would. At the very least, we will keep all the nominees in our thoughts and prayers.

Key Donors

Broughal Painting LLC
residential and commercial
Andrew M. Broughal
203-488-5144
pbroughal {at} comcast(.)net

Catherine Kiernan
9 Farmview Lane
Guilford, CT 06437
203-453-1795
Kiernan.photo {at} snet(.)net
www.kiernanphotography.com

Cort Furniture Rental
50 Berlin Road
Cromwell, CT 06416
860-613-0415
www.cort.com
cinzia.scipione {at} cort(.)com

Daniel Magee
Custom Framing Services
92 Main Street
860-526-5803
magillxy {at} aol(.)com

Johannesen Home Improvements
Ted Johannesen
Wagner Muranda
203-640-8548
Thadd1977 {at} hotmail(.)com

Kim Regan
Kim E.’s Interior Painting
203-392-4917
Kime714 {at} aol(.)com

Masland Carpets
Theresa Kelly
203-926-1319
tkmasland {at} sbcglobal(.)net

McNeil Painting Service
Interior/Exterior Painting
Gary McNeil
203-483-0686
203-589-9819 (c)

Nautical Needles LLC
12-16 Westbrook Place
Westbrook, CT 06498
860-399-9754
Sue {at} sbcglobal(.)net
Susan Lennox, Decorative Interiors

Riverbend Development
Joseph Lynch/Mark Eastwood
203-530-1037
jlynch60 {at} sbcglobal(.)net

Wayne Hanna
Cabinet maker
500 Main Street
Deep River, CT 06417
860-526-3897

Window Products of CT
11 Business Park Drive
Branford, CT 06405
203-481-9772
www.windowproductsct.com
Sylvia {at} windowproductsct(.)com

Contractors

Bay Street Construction LLC
Darrin Reed
P.O. Box 1245
Westerly, RI 02891
401-348-0172

Sheri Kellaher
Graphic Design Services
Logo & Program
203-988-0921

Longshore Services LLC
Chris Weiler
www.longshoreservices.com
203-245-4427
c-weiler {at} sbcglobal(.)net

ProSource of Milford
320 Quarry Rd.
Milford, CT
jwallak {at} psamerica(.)net

Stonington Paperie
Custom Web Invitation
Christine Toner / Graphic design
www.stoningtonpaperie.com
Christine {at} stoningtonpaperie(.)com
800-394-0175
Guilford, CT 06437

Superior Hearth and Spas
1457 Meriden-Waterbury Rd
Milldale, CT 06467
860-620-5555
Sdriscoll {at} superiornetwork(.)com

Vesna LLC
Olena Murphy,
Interior Redesign Specialist
203-315-8994
olena {at} vesnallc(.)com

Jennifer White
Decorative Painter/
The Nosey Goose
www.cottageflair.com
860-663-5619
shopflair {at} sbcglobal(.)net

Merchant Donors

Alana Adams Window Treatments & Area Rugs
350 Main St.
Durham, CT 06422
860-349-9581
joesimlick {at} aol(.)com

The Back Porch
Maggie Gallagher
142 Ferry Road
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
860-510-0282
maggiegallagher {at} comcast(.)net

Branford Paint Center
288 E. Main Street
Branford, CT 06405
203-488-2774

Country Home Furnishings
Rte. 80 at Rte. 139
North Branford, CT 06471
203-481-4120
icfreps {at} comcast(.)net  Attn: Joan

Creative Floral Designs
Tammy Rajcula
354 Main St.
Durham, CT 06422
860-349-1550
creativefd {at} yahoo(.)com

Louise Ebling
Fabric donation

Fabric Factory Outlet
Erica Mann
1250 Boston Post Rd
Milford, CT 06460
Phone: (203) 877-3380
fabricfactory {at} conversent(.)net

Fairhaven Furniture
72 Blatchley Avenue
New Haven, CT 06513
203-776-3099
www.fairhaven-furniture.com
kerry {at} fairhaven-furniture(.)com

Flowers on the Green
Christie Baker
959 Boston Post Road
Guilford, CT 06437
www.flowersonthegreen.com
flowers.on.the.green {at} snet(.)net

Guilford Paint
John Cleary
688 Boston Post Road
Guilford, CT 06437
203-458-6633

Jody’s Recovery Room
j.e.farias {at} gmail(.)com
540 E. Main Street
Branford, CT 06405
203-488-9963

The Madison Stock Exchange
170 Boston Post Road
Madison, CT 06443
203-245-0348
www.themadisonstockexchange.com
gg {at} themadisonstockexchange(.)com

Montage Décor
564 Main Street
Branford, CT 06405
203-481-6378

Sherwin-Williams Paint Stores
2 Liesl Lane Branford, CT
Lee Wehry Manager
Justin Kripps Asst. Mgr.
203-488-1236

Treasure House Antiques
303 Main Street
Branford, CT 06405
203-481-4006

Cash Donations

Kathleen Andrus

Melissa Blundon

Susan & Johnny Browning

The Guilford Savings Bank
625 Boston Post Road
Guilford, CT
453-6485

Ellen D. Lowe

Dr. Peter Marks & Jenifer McShane

Meagen
Christopher’s Salon & Day Spa
1575 Boston Post Road
Guilford, CT
453-6836

North Shore Tans
215 East Main Street
Clinton, CT
669-8267

Raymond & Karen Riccio

Steve & Deb Tietjin-Smith

Thomas & Gail Tomsich

Heather Victoria

William Raveis Real Estate
869 Boston Post Road
Madison, CT
318-3570

Donna M. Whalen

Volunteers

Nicole Borino
Jane Cardarelli
Alex Conover
Greg Cousins
Paula Galluzzi
Amanda Johnson
Tracey Johnson
Sheri Kellaher
Debbie Kaechele
Darlene LaFontaine
Jennifer Lattanzi
Amanda Leonardi
Christina Leonardi
Phil Leonardi
Janine Townes
Marc Reed
Deb Tietjin-Smith
Jim Wall