William J. May III Service Above Self Award Honorees 2024

William J. May III Service Above Self Award Honorees for 2024

to be Feted at Annual Hearts & Heroes Gala March 22

Honorees Liberty Bank, Munger Construction, Paul Strom and Steve LePage

Among the Finest of Those Who Support the House of Heroes Mission

Selfless supporters of House of Heroes Connecticut’s mission to recognize, honor and serve military and public safety Veterans for their sacrificial service to our nation will be honored at the organization’s ninth annual Hearts & Heroes Gala on March 22 with presentation of the William J. May III Service Above Self Award.

The William J. May III Service Above Self Awards are presented annually to the organization’s Sponsor,

Craftsman and Volunteer of the Year. The Strength in Service Award is a special category of the May

Award, presented periodically in recognition of extraordinary and/or unique contributions to our shared

communities.

This year’s honorees, to be recognized for their contributions to HOHCT during the organization’s 2024

year of service, are Liberty Bank (Sponsor of the Year); Pat Munger Construction Company, Inc.

(Craftsmen of the Year); Paul Strom (Volunteer of the Year); and Steve LePage, Superintendent of

Schools for Northwestern Regional School District No. 7, who will be honored with the organization’s

Strength in Service award.

Liberty Bank (Sponsor of the Year): A House of Heroes Connecticut Project partner since 2022,

Middletown-based Liberty Bank and its Liberty Bank Foundation have steadfastly supported the House

of Heroes mission, both financially and through employee volunteerism, partnering with the

organization on four Veteran service projects (including two in 2024). The bank typically goes above and

beyond in serving the needs of the Veterans served, and its support of House of Heroes is not limited to

Project Partnerships – the bank is also the presenting sponsor of the state’s largest Veterans charity golf

event, the Golden Kielbasa Veterans Open, of which House of Heroes is lead beneficiary.

Paul Strom (Volunteer of the Year): House of Heroes Connecticut cannot do the work it does without a

strong team of skilled workers and Project Managers who perform miracles Making a Difference in a Day

for the Veterans it serves. Paul Strom has become a vital member of the HOHCT Team, assisting

wherever and whenever needed – even at a moment’s notice – to help manage projects and complete

often challenging repair and installation jobs. Paul’s experience as a retired 35-year lineman for

CL&/Eversource and skills as a former sheet metal tradesman have served both him, and HOHCT, well.

Pay Munger Construction Company, Inc. (Craftsmen of the Year): In June of 2024, House of Heroes

tackled a life-saving project in Marlborough, rebuilding a crumbling, 52-foot hillside stairway so the

Veteran homeowner could safely exit and enter his home in traveling to weekly chemotherapy and

dialysis treatments. A team of employees from Branford-based Pat Munger Construction Company put

their engineering, carpentry and project management skills to outstanding use in completing the

project, which was also made possible by Project Partner The Inspired Kitchen and additional volunteers

from PCX Aerosystems and Bane Property Management.

Steve LePage (Strength in Service Award): As much as House of Heroes Connecticut is all about serving

those who served, it is also about engaging and teaching the younger generation about the importance

and value of patriotism, service and sacrifice. Steve LePage, Superintendent of Schools for Northwestern

Regional School District No. 7, has been an unabashed House of Heroes Connecticut supporter,

volunteer and advocate since he was principal of Plainville High School in 2016 and a leader with HOHCT

supporter the Plainville Rotary Club. Steve is all about motivating his students and teaching them life

lessons; in 2024, he was dogged in recruiting and engaging 20 Northwestern Regional High School

students, who had the experience of their lives working with HOHCT to assist an 85-year-old Winsted

Navy Veteran with a complete property makeover. House of Heroes Connecticut is thankful for

advocates like Steve, whose mentorship and leadership are making a difference in the lives of both

students and Veterans.

The May Awards, established in 2019, honor the legacy of HOHCT’s late co-founder Bill May, a 24-year

Army Aviation veteran, Black Hawk helicopter test pilot and inspiring leader whose vision was to assist

fellow veterans in need of home renovations and repairs that would keep them safely in their homes.

The theme of this year’s Hearts & Heroes Gala, to take place a The Aqua Turf Club in Plantsviile, is

“Country Nights, a Western Salute to Service.” In addition to presentation of the May Awards, the event

will feature saloon-style games, musical entertainment by American Honey, dinner, dancing, open bar,

premium raffle and a silent auction. The event is HOHCT’s largest fundraiser of the year.

Tickets are $130 per person. Event tickets, tables, sponsorships and advertising opportunities are

available at here.