Mission: In loving memory of Mr. Michael Abelon, first principal and co-founder of the Connecticut IB Academy (CIBA), we walk together to take one more step in the journey to finding a cure for Pancreatic Cancer. His dedication and service to the students and faculty will always be remembered.

Since its conception in 2006, the Abelon Memorial Walk has raised $41,789.96.  This money is annually split between the Michael Abelon Memorial Scholarship and the Lustgarten Foundation. 

The Abelon Scholarship is awarded to annually at the CIBA graduation ceremony to a deserving member of the senior class according to the following criteria:

• The student needs not only to be bright, but deeply committed to learning and inquiry.
• The student ought to have an edge, one who challenges the teachers from an intellectual perspective, one who keeps them on their toes!
• And most importantly, the student should exemplify the C.I.B.A. mission statement as a “responsible, ethical, thoughtful, and informed citizen… with a compassionate and tolerant soul… capable of becoming a global leader.”

The Michael Abelon Memorial Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 2010.  The foundation finances the walk by finding business sponsorships to help fund the various walk expenses.  These include t-shirts, food for the day of the walk, prize drawing items, among others.  The students on the Abelon committee have coordinated many events in order to help raised funds.  These include dress down days, a benefit concert by Clearview Band, a murder mystery and scoop dinner, a Flapjack Breakfast at Applebee’s and a karaoke night.  In addition, we were chosen as the recipients of donations to the wishing well at Stew Leonard’s in Newington for a two week period in March 2012.