U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal with (l to r) Circle of Friends Weston High School president Samantha Rehr, COF President of Weston H.S. Katherine Koller and COF President Staples H.S. Sami Schwaeber.

Circle of Friends honored more than 100 of its teen and adult volunteers at an Evening of Recognition Dinner on Sunday, June 5, 2011. Among the evening’s highlights was an address to the more than 300 guests in attendance by Circle of Friends founder and director, Rebbetzin Freida Hecht, who urged the volunteers to continue their vital work on behalf of children with special needs. “We need to see the inner souls of these children, for these special souls are a gift to the world,” said Hecht, quoting the Lubavitcher rebbe. Circle of Friends volunteers offer the gift of friendship to children with special needs, helping to bring them into the heart of the community. Connecticut U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal presented the teen volunteers with special U.S. Senatorial Citations of Merit recognizing their service. He encouraged the teens to continue to lead by personal example. “Show your friends that it’s cool to help others through public service,” Blumenthal told the teens.