Avon Citizen of the Year Award presented to Kim Morrison, co-founder of New England Pasta Company and BeanZ & Co.
At the November meeting of the Avon Chapter of UNICO National, the Avon Citizen of the Year Award was presented to Kim Morrison, co-founder of New England Pasta Company and BeanZ & Co., located in Old Avon Village, 11 East Main Street, Avon, CT. Joining in the presentation to Morrison was (L to R in photo) Dominick Lucenti, UNICO President; Jim Fanelli, UNICO Past President; Kim Morrison; Cate Alix; Meg Morrison; and Joe Pavano, UNICO Past President.
In her acceptance speech Morrison, a Farmington, CT native, explained that while in college in Vermont she worked at a restaurant that taught her the art of making high quality pasta as well as running a food establishment from every aspect. This led her to a calling in the hospitality industry. She moved back to Connecticut, married her husband, Scott, and together founded New England Pasta Company in 1994 with the goal of bringing superior handmade pasta to residents of the Farmington Valley. Four years later their daughter, Megan, was born with Down Syndrome. Over time they realized that she would enter the working world where the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is as high as 80%. This inspired Morrison to expand their business plan to create a café for breakfast and lunch with a 50/50 split of employees with IDD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) and those who support them while they work. This mission of inclusive employment of BeanZ & Co. where “everyone belongs” has become the cornerstone of their very successful business.
“Kim Morrison and her staff at BeanZ & Co. live the UNICO motto of “Service Above Self” in a very literal way each day, which is why the selection committee was unanimous in the decision to present her with this award,” stated Joe Pavano, Chairman of the Selection Committee.
Avon’s Chapter of UNICO selects the Citizen of the Year for the Town of Avon. This is their 26th annual award for outstanding service to the community. The selection committee members are Joe Pavano, Jim Fanelli, Tony Braico, Jeff Wojewoda, Dominick Lucenti, Kali Benios, Sandie Terenzi, Bill Shea, Tom Gugliotti and Terri Wilson.
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