Roast of Chandler Howard to Benefit Reading Initiatives

Chandler Howard, president and CEO of Liberty Bank, will be the guest of honor at the 2015 Middlesex United Way Leadership Circle Roast on Oct. 21 at Saint Clements Castle in Portland. Celebrity roasters will take their swings at Chandler during this golf-themed event, all in the name of philanthropy.

The fifth annual event will benefit Middlesex United Way’s expansion into the area of third-grade reading, a key indicator of student success. A student who cannot read by the end of third grade is four times less likely to graduate by age 19 than their peers who read proficiently. Add poverty to the mix, and a student is 13 times less likely to graduate on time than his or her proficient, wealthier peer.

Tickets start at $50 and include hors d’oeuvres and dinner. Cash bar will be available. Cocktail hour begins at 5:30 and dinner and program begin at 6:30 p.m. For more information and tickets, visit www.middlesexunitedway.org/RSVP.

Howard has been president and CEO of Liberty Bank since 2007 and has over 30 years of experience in the field of banking. He has long been active in community affairs and he serves on a number of boards and commissions. Howard is a Director of Middlesex Hospital, a past campaign co-chair for Middlesex United Way, and a past director and campaign chair for United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut. He has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Hartford Courant's Tapestry Award for his personal and corporate commitment to fostering diversity, the Champion of Children Award from the Village for Families & Children, and the Middlesex United Way Tocqueville Society Philanthropy Award.

Middlesex United Way is a locally based organization dedicated to strengthening lives, helping people, and improving community conditions in the fifteen towns in Middlesex County. Middlesex United Way serves the towns of Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook.

This event is sponsored by A&A Office Systems, Giuffrida Electric, Suburban Stationers, and Wolf & Company, P.C.