Spring is in the air and that means the Travelers Championship is just around the corner, bringing with it a pledge-based fundraiser that’s brought together hundreds of Connecticut nonprofits to raise more than $1 million since 2004.
The Connecticut Association of Nonprofits and J.H. Cohn are again supporting Birdies for Charity by hosting a kickoff breakfast Thursday, March 10, at the Crowne Plaza in Cromwell. The breakfast will include an informational session about Birdies for Charity, a panel discussion with past participants and a seminar on fundraising, sponsored by Connecticut Association of Nonprofits.
The Birdies for Charity program offers every 501(c)(3) in Connecticut the opportunity to raise funds by collecting pledges based on the number of birdies made by PGA tour professionals Wednesday through Sunday of tournament week. At the conclusion of the tournament, the Travelers Championship calculates the number of birdies made by the pledge amounts and distributes invoices to all donors. Individuals and businesses alike can pledge a minimum of a penny per birdie and 100 percent of the proceeds raised will be distributed to their nonprofit of choice. In 2010 alone, more than $291,000 was raised by 88 nonprofits participating in the Birdies for Charity program.
“The Birdies for Charity program has provided hundreds of our members with an opportunity to raise thousands of dollars,” said Karen Maciorowski, COO at CT Nonprofits. “We are looking forward to the program’s continued success this year and encourage nonprofits to find out more at one of our info sessions or by viewing our free, informational webinar at www.ctnonprofits.org.”
Frank Longobardi, managing partner for J.H. Cohn LLP Connecticut office.
Said his firm is providing all administrative support and continuing to provide the $15,000 Birdies Bonus Bucks incentive program.
Connecticut Association of Nonprofits is also sponsoring the Guess the Birdies Sweepstakes. The sweepstakes provides donors the opportunity to guess the number of birdies made during tournament week for a chance to win a $500 Visa gift card, a prize that will be matched with a $500 donation to the winner’s designated nonprofit, one year membership and four training sessions with their organization.
Grant to expand Chrysalis program
Chrysalis Center Inc. has received grants totaling $400,000 from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to expand the Hartford agency’s human resources and development departments. The funding includes $50,000 from the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund at the Hartford Foundation.
Chrysalis Center was founded in 1975 to provide case management services to individuals living in poverty who struggle with mental illness and/or substance abuse. Over the years, the agency expanded core services to include supportive housing, employment supports and psychosocial rehabilitation. Today, it offers more than 20 programs to 3,000 people each year. Chrysalis Center’s annual budget has grown from $1.8 million in 1996 to $7.5 million in 2011 while adding little to agency infrastructure.
“As the number of staff and volunteers has grown over the years, we saw a need to add capacity in both human resources and development. Improvements in our administrative functions will help Chrysalis Center maintain the high quality services it provides to those in need in our community,” says Sharon L. Castelli, CEO of Chrysalis Center.
NEW YMCA CEO WELCOMED
James Morton, the new president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Hartford, was welcomed to Hartford by hundreds of civic and community leaders at a red carpet event at Hartford 21. Pictured are, from left, Morton with Chris Cloud and Tony Camilliere of Camilliere, Cloud & Kennedy. Morton comes to Hartford from the YMCA of Greater Springfield Inc. where he was known for creating opportunity for disenfranchised youth, teens and adults through strategic partnerships with local school departments, colleges, civic leaders and businesses, while developing highly engaged volunteer leadership.
