In choosing the "Celebrate Southington" award winner, the selection committee had to look at a candidate's demonstrated track record of community service that benefited the town.

When all was said and done, it was the unanimous choice of the committee that Merinda DePaolo, a retired social worker for the Southington school system and active volunteer for service organizations throughout the town, had that track record.
"I couldn't believe it when I got the letter telling me I had won," DePaolo said, "especially after reading the names of the other people nominated. I thought it was special when I was told I was nominated, but now to win it well that's quite an honor.

"My whole life has been dedicated to my hometown. If you do something for the community you do it with all your heart."

DePaolo, a Southington native, is a retired social worker for the Southington school system, attended Holcomb School, Lincoln Lewis Academy and the old Southington High School.

"It's funny," she said. "One is a Walgreen's, another is a parking lot and the third is an elementary school. Just goes to show how time passes."

She earned her bachelor's degree in social work from the University of Hartford, and her Masters in Social Work degree from the University of Connecticut.
DePaolo was nominated by the staff of the Margaret C. Griffin Development Center, a non-profit agency located in Derynoski Elementary School that serves over 50 children and their families in town. "You can ask anyone here about who we decided to nominate, and they'd all say the same thing," said Carol Smith, the Director of the Center said. "and that would be ‘you couldn't have picked a better award winner.' Merinda is the epitome of what they requirements to win are. She quietly gave her whole life helping Southington, from the youngest to the eldest.

"I've know Merinda for over 30 years, and when we began to find out all she has and continues to do for the town, I just shook my head. "

DePaolo has a long and impressive list of volunteer service for the center, where she has been on the groups Board of Directors for more than 27 years. She has also served on the St. Thomas School Board, the board of directors of the Child Guidance Clinic for Central Connecticut, Inc., and is a member of the Southington Youth Services Juvenile Review Board, a position she has held since its founding in 1978.

Her resume also includes work with the Southington Visiting Nurse Association.

"It was kind of ironic that my last position was at DePaolo Middle School, along with Hatton Elementary School," DePaolo said. "DePaolo is named after my Uncle Joe, and he was a great inspiration and role model for me."

While at DePaolo, she started "DePaolo Cares," a program that helps meets the needs of any student at the school and their families. Another of her programs, the "Sponsor a Family" drive, benefited needy families during the Christmas season.
DePaolo also saw to it that the school was active in the community as well.
She organized the collection of foodstuffs for Thanksgiving baskets for distribution to needy families in town, and planned food drives for Bread for Life and the Southington Community Services Department.

"After I received my masters, I wanted to come home and give back to my community. And what better way to do that than to volunteer," DePaolo said. "I always liked to work with children, so I tended to volunteer in areas that involved them. My parents taught certain values to us as children, and I always tried to make sure the children had values in their lives."