CT Philanthropy Digest - Mar 2014

New Giving Day Raises $745,000 for Fairfield County Nonprofits

In just one day, a total of 15,423 donations were received by local nonprofits totaling $618,229.64, during the Fairfield County Giving Day, an online 24-hour day of local giving on Friday, March 7.
          An additional $127,500 in prizes funded by the Fairfield County Community Foundation, Bank of America and other corporate and community sponsors, were awarded to more than 50 nonprofits.

          All combined, Fairfield County Giving Day raised $745,729.64 for more than 250 local nonprofits.

"Our local nonprofits provide critical services in our community, and Fairfield County Giving Day was a great way to showcase their important work and help them raise funds that will allow them to do more," said Juanita T. James, president & CEO, Fairfield County Community Foundation. "Thank you to all who contributed and supported this first year effort."

          A full list of all the participating nonprofits and how much they raised can be viewed online at www.FCGives.org.

          For more information:  Sallie Mitchell, Faifield County Community Foundation, 203-750-3206, smitchell@fccfoundation.org; T.J. Crawford, Bank of America, tj.crawford@bankofamerica.com, 646-855-3301. 

Newman's Own Awards $200,000 as Part of "Honoring Those Who Serve" initiative

          Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation was awarded a two-year $200,000 grant from Newman's Own Foundation, as part of its Honoring Those Who Serve initiative that supports United States military men, women, and families. 

          Fidelco breeds, trains and places its unique breed of German Shepherd Guide Dogs for people who are blind. The Newman's Own Foundation grant will support Fidelco's core mission with a special emphasis on services for blinded veterans and their family members.

          "Recalling Paul Newman's service in the United States Naval Corps in World War II, we have been committed to supporting military nonprofits for over twenty years," said Robert Forrester, President and CEO of Newman's Own Foundation. "More service men and women are surviving battlefield injuries which leave them seriously injured and blind. We are pleased to award a grant to Fidelco as they endeavor to make a difference in the lives of these veterans and their families."

          There are more than 160,000 blind veterans now living in the United States, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and that number is expected to increase. Each year, some 7,000 veterans from the Korean and Vietnam conflict eras become blind or visually impaired due to age-related diseases. And about 17 percent of younger veterans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer traumatic eye injury, according to the American Foundation for the Blind, including penetrative eye damage from IED explosions.

          For more information: Heidi Voight, Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, 860-243-4800, hvoight@fidelco.org.

Two Libraries Get Uplift from Foundations

          Kent Memorial Library in Suffield and Saxton B. Little Free Library in Columbia will be making improvements to their facilities thanks to the generosity of two separate foundations.

          Construction is expected to begin this summer on a handicapped-accessible addition to the Suffield's Kent Memorial Library, thanks, in part, to a $200,000 grant from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.
          The improvements will make the library, built in 1971, compliant with standards for a historic building under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The library, designed by noted architect Warren Platner, is considered an important example of modern architecture.
          The Saxton B. Little Free Library in Columbia has been awarded a $10,000 grant from New Alliance Foundation. The grant will be used to assist with the planned renovation and expansion of the library.

          This is the second grant received in the last 6 months to support the proposed renovation. The Library will also receive a $1 million construction grant from the State of Connecticut if the townspeople of Columbia vote in November to approve a bond to expand the library. 

           Fore more information: Chris Senecal, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, 860-548-1888, csenecal@hfpg.org; Maryann Ott, NewAlliance Foundation, 203-859-6555, mott@newalliancefoundation.org.

CL&P and Yankee Gas support 24 Robotics Teams

          Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) and Yankee Gas' have awarded a total of $15,500 in grants to help 24 high school teams fund their efforts in the upcoming 2014 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition Northeast Utilities FIRST Connecticut Regional.

          "It is really exciting to see that the teams are from all over the state," said Jim Muntz, president and chief operating officer, CL&P. "These are students who see the value in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These are skills that are vital to this country's future."
          Applications were judged on team diversity, what types of fundraising the teams were involved with, how these teams have helped mentor other FIRST Robotics teams, and commitment and involvement in community service.

          See the list of recipient teams.
          More than 1,500 high school students are expected to compete in the 2014 Connecticut FIRST Robotics Competition, March 29 - 31 at Hartford's Connecticut Convention Center. Northeast Utilities is the title sponsor. 

          For more information: Mitch Gross, Connecticut Light and Power, 860-665-5221.

Comcast Cares Day in CT

          Comcast's signature day of service, Comcast Cares Day, is the culmination of the company's year-round volunteer activities. Comcast and NBCUniversal mobilize employees, their families and friends to work alongside community partners and public officials to revitalize neglected neighborhood parks, beautify schools to improve the learning environment, stock community food banks, install computer labs at community centers, plant trees, conduct food drives and much more.

          This year the company expects more than 80,000 Comcast and NBCUniversal volunteers to participate in over 700 projects across the country and around the globe.

          Where you can Comcast volunteers in Connecticut on Saturday, April 26, 2014:

• East Hartford YMCA Larson Community Center, East Hartford, CT
• Lincoln Elementary School Nutmeg Big Brothers and Big Sisters "Bigs and Littles" Giving Back Together, New Britain, CT
• Fairview Oddfellows Home, Groton, CT
• Middlesex YMCA Camp Ingersoll, Portland, CT
• Quinnipiac Elementary School, New Haven, CT
• Seymour Boys & Girls Club, Seymour, CT
• Valley Shore YMCA, Westbrook, CT
• NBC CT & Comcast partnered Shred Event, Westfarms Mall, West Hartford, CT
• NBC Universal & Comcast partnered New Covenant House - Hospitality, Stamford, CT

          For more information: Karen Perham-Lippman, Comcast Western New England Region, Karen_Perham-Lippman@Cable.Comcast.com

Outdoor Enthusiasts to Have More Info About Nagautuck River Access

          Boaters, fisherman, hikers and bikers will soon have more information regarding available recreational and greenway opportunities along the Naugatuck River because of a $6,000 grant from the Connecticut Community Foundation. The grant was awarded to the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) to expand the Naugatuck River Web site.

          Other funders include ION Bank; Aquarion Water Company; Wesson Energy, Inc.; Thomaston Savings Bank; Valley Community Foundation; and Connecticut Outdoors.

          HVA Water Protection Director Michael Jastremski said, "There is widespread agreement among current users of the site that its most important function is getting people out to enjoy the Naugatuck. We'll use this funding to make the site an even better resource for planning river trips by making it easier for people to use the Web site to communicate with each other about river-related activities and issues.

          For more information: Michael Jastremski, Housatonic Valley Association, 860-672-6678,

msjastremski@hvatoday.org.

          The Berlin Land Trust, Inc. has established a new fund at the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain (CFGNB), affording existing supporters, new donors, area citizens and conservationists alike with a convenient way to help preserve open space in Berlin and beyond.
          The Berlin Land Trust Fund is designed to advance the Trust's goals of preserving open space in Berlin and surrounding towns, and educating citizens of the benefits of land preservation.
          "The environment in which we live is a gift, and a gift worth protecting for all to enjoy," said Attorney Dennis Kern of Berlin, president of the Berlin Land Trust, Inc. "The properties owned by the Berlin Land Trust will be protected in perpetuity, and never be used for housing or commercial development."

          For additional information on the Berlin Land Trust, Inc., visit their website at  www.berlinlandtrust.org.

          For more information: Jim Williamson, Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, 860-229-6018.

   ANNOUNCEMENTS & OPPORTUNITIES

   PEOPLE & RECOGNITIONS

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has named MONIQUE R. POLIDORO, VANESSA ROBERTS AVERY, BERNARDO G. CUADRA, JOHN W. ECKEL, SUZANNE S. GIUFFRIDA and MICHAEL J. WELCH to their Professional Advisory Committee. Established in 1993, the Professional Advisory Committee provides valuable feedback to Hartford Foundation staff on philanthropic strategies, communications efforts, and community reactions and attitudes. The committee also advises the Foundation on trends and opportunities to engage individuals and families in the region's charitable community.

          Monique R. Polidoro of Tolland, who will serve as chair of the committee this year, is a partner at the law firm of Rogin Nassau, LLC. She specializes in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, charitable planning and elder law. Monique works with clients and their families to structure estate plans that implement their personal goals, protect their loved ones and reflect their values while minimizing taxes. 
          Vanessa Roberts Avery of Hartford is a business and financial services litigation attorney at McCarter and English, with experience in complex commercial litigation, trust and probate litigation, product liability litigation, and appellate advocacy. Her experience with trust and probate litigation includes will contests, disputed accountings, fiduciary claims, and challenges to private and charitable trusts in the probate and superior courts. 
          Bernardo G. Cuadra of Holyoke, Mass. is an associate at the law firm of Shipman and Goodwin in Hartford, where he specializes in the area of estate planning, estate settlement and trust administration. Bernardo assists clients with the full range of planning techniques for tax-effective intergenerational and charitable transfers. 
          John W. Eckel of Simsbury founded Pinnacle Investment Management in 1991. He has been selected four times by Worth magazine as one of the "best financial advisors" in the United States. He was also selected by BusinessWeek.com as one of the most experienced financial advisors, named twice by Medical Economics as one of the best advisors for doctors and is listed as one of the "Top Professional Advisors" in J.K. Lasser's book, Estate Planning for Baby Boomers and Retirees.
          Suzanne S. Giuffrida of West Hartford is a senior trust officer at U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management, where she is responsible for providing fiduciary solutions and administration to high-net-worth clients and their families. 
          Michael J. Welch of Suffield is a tax partner with Pue, Chick, Lebowitz and Blezard, LLC in Vernon. He specializes in tax and estate planning and compliance for closely held businesses, not-for-profit organizations and high-net-worth individuals. 
          For the full list of current members, visit www.hfpg.org/professionaladvisors.

   SEND US YOUR NEWS