On Tuesday, May 5, 2015, Malta House of Care Foundation, Inc. will honor seven women who are remarkable for helping other women in a variety of ways. One of the honorees is Dr. Paula DeSilva, a 2013 graduate of the Catholic Biblical School.
Dr. DeSilva of Avon, CT holds a Ph.D. in Education and is a passionate advocate for people with disabilities. As an educator of children and adults with disabilities, she initiated programs in public schools, Services for the Blind, Department of Developmental Disabilities, and served as Coordinator of Faith Based Initiative at UCEDD; was adjunct professor in education at the University of Hartford; was Executive Director of CRIS Radio for the Blind; Executive Director of Very Special Arts Connecticut which provided opportunities and programs for artists with disabilities; is a prolific grant writer; founded Sri Lanka Tsunami Relief, Inc. coordinating medical relief, funding sanitary drinking water, and rebuilding and refurbishing schools for the deaf and blind in rural Sri Lanka; recipient of March of Dimes Volunteer Mentor of the Year Award and the Living Spirit Award from the Spiritual Life Center; chairs efforts to raise funds for the March of Dimes for the prevention of prematurity; a life member of the St. Francis Hospital Auxiliary; supports efforts to raise funds for patients of the Saint Francis NICU; coordinates volunteers for the Mothers and Babies Project for the Haitian Health Foundation; established Quilts2Heal, Inc. which provides comfort and healing though quilts for veterans and for families who have suffered a loss or illness including the families of Newtown, CT; actively involved in scouting for 30 years; board of St. Ann Cares, active in parish ministries and in music ministry at Holy Family Retreat Center.
