By Josh LaBella
Voice Reporter
Michelle Caprio has spent years doing philanthropy in and around West Haven, and she doesn’t have plans to stop anytime soon.
She said having a passion for helping others and giving it her all helps to make other people smile and make the world a better place. The West Haven native has been involved in copious fundraisers and projects.
“I got involved when my older daughter, Michaela, started at Mackrille Elementary School,” said Caprio. “When Hurricane Katrina hit, I organized for a truck to come and I had gotten supplied from the community and we filled the truck and sent it down to New Orleans to help the victims.”
For Caprio, this was just one chapter in a long story of having a passion for helping others. Soon after she said she started a program called “Backpacks for Kids” with teacher Cathy Biagetti which gave “gently used” backpacks filled with school supplies to foster children or children in need.
Caprio said she has always enjoyed helping others but got more involved after her daughters Michaela and Chloe were born. She said she realized that bad things could happen to anybody.
“You’d always want someone to come along to put a smile one your face and make your day a little better,” said Caprio. “So I’d always had that feeling people could use a helping hand sometimes. So why not help out?”
Caprio said for five years she hosted the Health and Wellness Fair for students in the school district which saw over 30 vendors and medical professionals give out free items and information. She said over 300 families attended each year.
The list of events and fundraisers Caprio has organized or been involved in organizing is extensive. During the past 20 years she has run a dental hygiene day for students to get free teeth cleanings, helped raise supplies for foodbanks like WHEAT, ran “A Day of Caring” for struggling or homeless families as well as several benefits for families going through hard times. She also does work with national organizations.
“I am an active participant of fundraisers and do walks for the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, Alzheimer’s Association and Wounded Warriors Foundation,” said Caprio.
Her work has not gone unnoticed as Caprio has received many awards and honors. ) In 2014 she received the “Forever Friends” award from the West Haven Community House. In 2016 she received a proclamation from the office of the mayor of Meriden for being a “hometown hero for West Haven.”
This year the West Haven Republican Party gave her an award for her service and commitment to the city. Caprio said it was an honor to be chosen for any of the numerous awards she has been given but one stuck out.
“I received 2017 Westies Care Deb Hutchinson Award,” said Caprio. “She passed away and I was very close to Deb so this was heartwarming. It was very special.”
Caprio said she has not done any of this work alone and said she has had support from Mayors Picard, O’Brien and Rossi as well Superintendent of Schools Neil Cavallaro. She said she has met countless great and likeminded people along the way.
“I thank everyone who has entered my life and made an impact on the lives of others through all our hours of volunteering because I didn’t do any of this alone,” said Caprio. “I was always in great company.”
With such a long resume, Caprio said her crowning achievement is her daughters, who came to PTA meetings, City Council meetings and all of her events and helped her learn so much along the way. She said she wants her children to see her work and realize there are people who need their help.
“Like I’ve always said, if you’re able to give back, don’t hesitate – do it,” said Caprio. “Don’t second guess it. Get out there, present an idea and get it done because it will always help someone else.”