The gala celebrating Near & Far Aid’s 75th anniversary on Friday drew a glittering crowd of hundreds to Mitchells on Post Road East. Among the fundraiser’s attractions, above, was aerial artist Tori Kubrick of Aerial Artistry of Miami. Below left, Jack Mitchell, chairman emeritus of Mitchells stores, greeted guests at the door of his family’s establishment. Below right, Karen Mitchell, left, and Kelly Scinto, Near & Far Aid co-presidents, welcomed the crowd to the event benefiting the nonprofit’s mission of helping Fairfield County people in need. / Photos by Gary Webster

By Gretchen Webster

WESTPORT — Hundreds flocked to Mitchells store Friday evening to raise thousands of dollars at a gala celebrating the 75th anniversary of Near & Far Aid, a nonprofit dedicated to helping Fairfield County people in need.

Near & Far Aid, an all-volunteer organization, is “targeting poverty and changing lives” in Fairfield County, according to a message from the organization’s presidents, Karen Mitchell and Kelly Scinto, who welcomed guests, along with Bob Mitchell, co-CEO of Mitchells stores, and his father, Jack Mitchell.

The charity event has been held at Mitchells, 670 Post Road East, for 28 years.

Music for the Near & Far Aid benefit was performed by the New York band Metro Strings.
Among the gala attendees were, clockwise from upper left, First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker, Westporters Ilka Gregory and Imke Lohs, and Chad Copp and Asher Hoffman.

The throng of elegantly dressed gala guests were entertained by Metro Strings, a music group from New York, and a dancer and aerial artist. 

A live auction followed, with NBC weatherman David Price as the master of ceremonies, and auctioneer Elyse Luray. Items including ski and golf trips and clothes shopping sprees were sold for thousands of dollars to bidders. 

A fashion show followed the auction, and the evening ended with music and dancing.

Near & Far Aid, based in Southport, raised over $1 million last year, and made grants to more than 100 groups, all in Fairfield County, according to its website.

“We extend our hand, we embrace our neighbors and we take care of our community,” Price said, explaining the agency’s mission as the auction started.

In addition to the annual fundraising gala, Near & Far Aid holds a Designer House Tour of homes in Westport, Southport and Fairfield every year. The house tour will be held this year on Friday, June 2. A “Golf Classic 2023” will be held at the Country Cub of Fairfield on Sept. 18.

Freelance writer Gretchen Webster, a Fairfield County journalist and journalism teacher for many years, was editor of the Fairfield Minuteman newspaper for 10 years and teaches journalism at Southern Connecticut State University.

The crowd at Near & Far Aid’s annual fundraising event at Michells on Friday evening.

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