Mr. Joseph Polletta 2012
St. John the Evangelist School Graduate Receives Prestigious Volunteer Award
St. John the Evangelist School 2003 Graduate, Mr. Joseph Polletta, received a prestigious award at the 34th Annual HOPES (Help Our Parish Elementary Schools) Dinner this past September. The award was presented by Archbishop of Hartford, The Most Reverend Henry Mansell and Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Mr. Dale Hoyt. Mr. Kurt Sullivan and Mrs. Melanie Honeggar were also among the honorees represented by St. John the Evangelist School. The 34th Annual HOPES Dinner is “dedicated to the men and women who have given so generously of their time and talent in support of Catholic school education in the Archdiocese of Hartford by serving their parish schools”.
After graduating from St. John the Evangelist School, Mr. Polletta went on to Holy Cross High School where he immediately became interested in giving of his time through the gracious act of volunteering. Mr. Polletta has always understood the positive involvement volunteering can be toward the community in which you live. He naturally devoted his energy in the area of coaching baseball, mentoring each and every young individual player at St. John the Evangelist School, developing their own self-worth and ability. Having his own DJ Company, DJ International, Mr. Polletta also gives of his talent spinning the music and providing entertainment at every St. John the Evangelist School function.
Believing in his capabilities and understanding that volunteers fill a critical void in their community’s infrastructure, Mr. Polletta graduated last spring from Fairfield University with a degree in Political Science. Local leadership, recognized in areas of social challenges, is a key role he plans on administering as he begins his political service career, being elected to the Town Council during the 2011 Watertown election.
Mr. Polletta smiles as he remembers the very first “run for Office” at St. John the Evangelist School. “It was always a passion of mine to pursue a career in politics. I can recall, as an 8th grader at St. John the Evangelist School, running for Vice President and trying to assist others and help make the school an even better place to learn. This only transpired into a deeper ambition to serve the entire community.”
The value of volunteerism and sense of community started with Mr. Polletta’s faith-based education throughout his life. This provided an essential grass-roots approach to his views of donating his time and skills, along with his strong family background, and leaning on the wonderful examples of his parents, Joe and Linda and older sisters, Diana and Maria. Enriching the lives of the youth, recognition of other’s individual talents, social development opportunities, working with others through mentoring, believing in his faith and giving back to schools and organizations whom gave so much to him, motivates Mr. Polletta to do more. He believes that, “helping others in need is such an important part of the American way of life. It gives you the opportunity to change the lives of others, including your own.”
Mr. Polletta believes in the power of volunteering, the power of a faith-based education and the belief to change the world around you for the better.