Board of Directors Explores Ways to Strengthen Organization to Ensure Continued Support for Community Members Most in Need
Shelton, Conn., June 10, 2025 – Today, Valley United Way (VUW) President and Chief Professional Officer, Michael E. Pacowta announced his retirement, effective June 30, 2025. The organization, which strives to improve the quality of life for people living and working in the Valley by funding programs and organizations that make a measurable difference, has been led by Pacowta since January 2023.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to extend our sincere thanks to Mike for his contributions to the Valley United Way over the past two years. We wish him good health and happiness in his retirement,” said Dominick Thomas, Principal of Cohen and Thomas, Attorneys at Law and Interim Chairman of the VUW Board of Directors.
“I am honored to have led Valley United Way over the past two years,” said Michael E. Pacowta. “Our community is a very special place, and it has been a pleasure working with the VUW Board of Directors, community leaders, our partner agencies, corporate partners and of course our donors to help those most in need.”
Pacowta is well known within the Valley community and served as President of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce from 1991 through 1994, and as Mayor of The City of Shelton from 1985 through 1991. He also served for several years as President of the Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce and, immediately before joining VUW, held the position of Employment Specialist with TheWorkplace, Inc.
The VUW Board of directors is currently working with the United Way of Connecticut to explore ways to strengthen the organization’s structure to ensure it continues to provide support to those who are most in need within the Valley. In the meantime, the organization has a transition plan in place to ensure continuity of the organization’s services, relationships with our 18 partner agencies, donors and fund-raising efforts.
Valley United Way will host its 2025 Annual Meeting and Dinner on Thursday, June 26th at the Courtyard by Marriott in Shelton at 5:00 PM. This event brings together local leaders, nonprofit partners, and donors to reflect on the organization’s past year, while also looking ahead to the opportunities and challenges for the coming year.
The event will feature Andrea Barton Reeves, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Social Services, as its keynote speaker. With over twenty years of experience in Human Services and advocacy, she has dedicated her career to ensuring equity, dignity and accessibility to services for thousands of residents throughout the state.
The event will also honor the recipients of this year’s Charles H. Flynn Humanitarian Awards: Thomas Haynes, President, Haynes Group; and Richard Knoll, former President and CEO, TEAM, Inc. (Retired). To become a sponsor, purchase an ad in the awards ceremony program, or purchase tickets to the Valley United Way 2025 Annual Meeting and Dinner, visit: https://valleyunitedway.org/annualmeeting/.
About the Charles H. Flynn Award:
The late Charles H. Flynn was (at the time of his death), editor of The Evening Sentinel, a daily newspaper that was the main source of community information of the Lower Naugatuck River Valley. Mr. Flynn had also been one of the founders of the Valley United Fund. He had been president of the Ansonia Community Chest. In 1968, he led that organization into a merger with the Derby-Shelton Community Chest and the Seymour United Fund, which resulted in the formation of what is now known as the Valley United Way.
The Humanitarian Award was established because of his lifelong dedicated service to the entire Valley. The award was presented for the first time in 1971 to Alice Russ Cochran of Shelton. It has been presented to a list of distinguished Valley citizens each year since. This honor is restricted to living persons whose service has been to the Valley community. That service must encompass more than one town and more than one organization.
About Valley United Way
As a leading philanthropic organization in Lower Naugatuck Valley, Valley United Way improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of the community through philanthropy, volunteerism, and collaboration. For more information about the organization, visit its website at www.valleyunitedway.org