CT Philanthropy Digest - Jun 2013

The Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health) will engage partners, old and new, about its new strategic plan focused on health equity for people of color at regional forums on June 25 and June 26.

A new report issued by the Annie E. Casey Foundation underscores the urgency that children are able to read proficiently by the end of third grade, especially those living in poverty or in poor communities.

Early Warning Confirmed: A Research Update on Third-Grade Reading "affirms the points we made three years ago," said Ralph Smith, senior vice president of Casey. "Third-grade reading is a powerful predictor of school success high school graduation. Children who are not ready for school, who miss too many days and who lose ground over the summer months are likely to miss the third-grade reading milestone."

In 2010, the foundation launched the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, a network of civic leaders and community organizations that focuses on community solutions, quality teaching, and strong systems of early education. Since the launch, 124 communities have joined the campaign.

For more information: Sue Lin Chong, (410) 223-2836, media@aecf.org.

For more philanthropy news go to the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy's press room and the Connecticut Philanthropy Digest archives; Funders, please email us your news and feedback.

EMILIE PRYOR of West Cornwall has joined the Board of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. Pryor has been involved in the nonprofit world for almost 30 years. She was a program officer for Asia and supervised grants for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Washington D.C. for nine years. She has served as a director on the boards of the Connecticut Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, RARE Center for Tropical Conservation, Open Space Institute, Miss Porter's School, Indian Mountain School, Prime Time House, Cornwall Library, Cornwall Child Center, the Cornwall Conservation Trust, and the World Rehabilitation Fund.

Liberty Bank has chosen students EMMA CARPENTER of Plainville and LUKE HAJDASZ of Colchester as the recipients of its 2013 Youth In Action Awards. The bank presented the awards - a $1,000 donation to the nonprofit of their choice - at a reception at Middlesex Community College.

Established in 2011, Liberty's Youth In Action Awards recognize middle and high school students within the bank's market area who have distinguished themselves through volunteering, fundraising, and advocating for nonprofit organizations.

Carpenter was lauded for spending more than 500 hours working with the "Out in the Cold Soup Kitchen" in New Britain, the New Britain Triad Senior Center, Monsignor Bojonowski Manor skilled nursing facility, and St. Maurice Church. Carpenter is a member of the Principal's Council at Plainville High School and the founder and president of Interact, the high school arm of the Rotary Club. She also volunteered in Honduras.

Middle schooler Hajdasz brightens the day for senior citizens at the Colchester Senior Center. He organizes friendly Wii bowling competitions and teaches new seniors how to bowl. He also helps with the annual fundraising Holiday Bazaar, attends seniors' birthday parties and field trips, and assists those who have difficulty with mobility. When seniors are ill or hospitalized, Hajdasz visits them and calls them on the phone.