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New Canaan Family Happy To Host Fresh Air Fund Kid

NEW CANAAN, Conn. — Kim Finnerty of New Canaan has wanted to be a part of the Fresh Air Fund since she was a child. Since 2009, her family has taken in Victoria every summer.

Victoria (left) of New York City has spent her past several summers in New Canaan with Kiera (middle) and Kim Finnerty (right) thanks to the Fresh Air Fund.

Victoria (left) of New York City has spent her past several summers in New Canaan with Kiera (middle) and Kim Finnerty (right) thanks to the Fresh Air Fund.

Photo Credit: Contributed

“It’s a lot of fun to have another child around besides my daughter! We love going to musicals together at the Summer Theatre of New Canaan. We pick shows that interest us, like 'My Fair Lady' and 'The Big River.' It’s very relaxing because we get entertainment and relaxation by having a picnic on the lawn since it’s an outside theater,” she said in a statement.

Finnerty’s daughter Kiera, who is an only child, also gets to enjoy having a sister around for the summer in Victoria, the release said. The two go to day-camp together, play sports with other neighborhood kids, and one year even tried to sell the jewelry they made at one of the town’s parks, the statement said.

“My daughter is an only child so it has been fun watching her and Victoria giggle while they play outside on a warm summer day,” Finnerty said in the statement.

The Finnertys also stay in touch with Victoria when she is not with them and have been invited to her birthday parties and her mother’s wedding. “I feel that she has become part of our family. Almost all of our extended family have met her and adore her,” Finnerty said.

The Fresh Air Fund is an independent, not-for-profit agency that has more than 4,000 low-income New York City children live with host families in rural and suburban areas in 13 states and Canada for summers out of the city. Since its founding in 1877, more than 1.7 million children have participated in the program.

To become a host family, contact local volunteer leader Teri Reed at 203-972-9199 or visit the organization’s website.

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