NORWICH – Local celebrities from the Norwich Fire Chief to the Queen of Cookies have come forward this month to support the 2nd Annual Night of Cookies and Cream, the Children’s Center fundraiser to support the scholarship fund program. The event to be held on Thursday at the Norwich Fire Station will welcome the community and their families to enjoy free cookies and milk and to auction freshly baked cookies by noted local celebrities.

Martha Brower-Ryan, fundraising campaign chair, commented about the effort; “In December we sent letters to nominated local celebrities asking them to donate a batch of their favorite cookies. On the night of January 28th, cookie jars filled with their homemade cookies will be displayed and auctioned to raise funds that will help families with low income offset the cost of child care at the Children’s Center.” According to the Children’s Center Director Darlene Anderson, the percentage of total families served by the scholarship fund jumped from 48% in 2008 to 98% in 2009 coinciding with the financial challenges faced nationally.

As of publishing date of this article, local celebrities baking for the Celebrity Cookies auction are; Chris Taft – CEO Preferred Insurance, Dr. Lawrence Rosenblum – Central Diagnostic Imaging, Pegi LoPresti – Norwich BID, Joseph Mauriano – Mayor of the City of Norwich, Sharon Jeffers – Parson’s Daughter, Victoria Kappel – Executive Director Arts Council, Marty Dietrich – President & CEO NBT Bankcorp, Tom Emerson – Emerson Law Firm, Dave Emerson – Local Entrepreneur, Hon Thomas Libous – Senator 52nd District Maureen Carpenter – CEO Commerce Chenango, Dr. Jane Coddington – Executive Director Catholic Charities of Chenango County, Jamey Mullen – Executive Director YMCA, Hal Skillin – Owner Skillin’s Jewelers, Fran Roberts – Volunteer Norwich Dance Club, Melissa Stagnaro – News Reporter Evening Sun, Chief Tracy Chawgo –Norwich Fire Department, Marylou Stewart – Former Mayor City of Norwich, Doug Wilson – Golf Celebrity and Owner of Wilson Memorial, Marsha Cornelius – Interim Director SUNY Morrisville Norwich Campus, Jennifer Post – School Principal Perry Browne, Dara Lewis – School Principal Stamford Gibson, , Maria Stamatatos – Owner Gus’s Steakhouse, Doreen Rowe – Member Leadership Chenango 2010, and Angelina Curnelia – Volunteer Ladies of Charity. “These local celebrities will compete for the Cookie Excellence award given to the cookie jar that raises the most funds from the auction.