HARTFORD, Connecticut – West Hartford residents Eric Maurer and Mel Simon will be honored at “Eat, Drink & Connect,” celebrating the10th anniversary of JTConnect, an organization that engages Jewish teens from the Greater Hartford area in educational and social experiences grounded in Jewish learning and values.

The celebration will be held Sunday, April 3, 4 – 6 p.m. at The Emanuel Synagogue at 160 Mohegan Drive in West Hartford.

Honoree Eric Maurer is the outgoing Executive Director of JTConnect. He joined the organization in 2016, and under his leadership JTConnect has both grown the number of teen participants and diversified its program offerings. expanded its impact in the community, growing participation and diversifying program offerings. A graduate of the University of Hartford, he holds dual Masters degrees from Brandeis University’s Hornstein Program in Jewish Professional Leadership and Near Eastern & Judaic Studies. He serves as a Trustee on the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford Board, as a volunteer advisor to the Alpha Epsilon Pi Jewish Fraternity at the University of Hartford, and as a founding steering committee member of the Jewish Community Foundation’s JewGood Hartford: Young Professionals Connecting through Philanthropy. Maurer and his wife Becca have two sons.

Mel Simon is founding president of JTConnect who helped guide JTConnect through its transformation from Yachad, formerly Greater Hartford’s Jewish community after school high school into the educational program it is today. A longtimeleader in the Jewish community of Hartford, he has served as President of The Emanuel Synagogue and the Mandell JCC, and on the Boards of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford and the Friends of the Arava Institute.  Mel is a practicing commercial litigator with Cohn Birnbaum & Shea.  He is the father of three daughters.

For “Eat, Drink & Connect” tickets and information, visit jtconnect.org.