A director has been named for the Newtown Community Center, which is currently under construction. Matt Ariniello will be leaving his role at Newtown Youth & Family Services as operations and development director to begin the job next month. Ariniello has more than a decade of experience in marketing, fundraising, and community outreach.
Ariniello is looking to do some community outreach to develop relationships for collaborations to better serve Newtown residents. He plans to create an organizational structure to bring programming to the Center which will serve all generations.
Ariniello has served as a member of the United Way of Western Connecticut, the Newtown Prevention Council and organized the Newtown Road Race 5K. He previously was membership service coordinator for the Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut in Brookfield. At NYFS, Ariniello directed annual fundraising initiatives, and organized programs among other responsibilities. The Director will be responsible for implementing a business plan, creating policies, developing fundraising opportunities, program development and overseeing daily operations.
A donation from GE after the shooting at Sandy Hook School is paying for design and construction of the community center. Part of the money was earmarked to operate the center for five years. Construction, which began earlier this year, is expected to be completed September 2019. The community center will have a six-lane lap pool, a recreational pool and a kitchen. Exercise rooms, classrooms and multipurpose rooms are also planned.
An adjoining wing will feature a $3 million senior center.
