In these tough economic times, corporate philanthropy becomes even more significant when it becomes more personal.
As a corporation, The Hartford decided to get behind a unique breast cancer recovery program as the premier national sponsor of Casting for Recovery.
But its employees went a step further. During their annual Casual Day campaign in June, employees make a donation to acquire “badges” allowing them to wear casual clothes to work on special days. The Hartford offices raised over $14,000 to help underwrite the annual healing retreat for 14 Connecticut women recovering from breast cancer.
Casting for Recovery, now in its 15th year, will host its local retreat for women at any age and any stage of treatment and recovery from breast cancer on July 29-31 at the Trinity Conference Center in West Cornwall. During the weekend, they will have the opportunity to share their personal stories and challenges, receive small-group counseling and medical education, and learn the basics of a new sport, fly fishing.
Theresa Rust, an administrative assistant at The Hartford who helped organize the Casual Day campaign and is also a CFR volunteer, says, “When I saw that woman sitting by the side of the stream, unable to participate but so happy to be part of the group, I realized that Casting for Recovery is more than just another charitable organization. It is an organization that gives women who have probably reached the lowest point in their lives something special to take away from the weekend: a new hobby, a new friend, someone who understands where they are going, or where they have been, and a new way to cope. I want to thank all of my co-workers and the management at The Hartford for their tremendous support of the Casual Day badge sales that has once again made the CFR-Connecticut retreat possible for 2011.”
Grant funds museum program
The Travelers Foundation, the charitable arm of Travelers, has provided a $40,000 grant to The Children’s Museum of West Hartford to provide science enrichment programming for Hartford school children under the museum’s Science Achievement For All program.
The funding will provide both assembly and hands-on science education opportunities for over 3,000 students in grades five through seven at six Hartford schools.
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Komen race sets record
The 18th annual Komen Connecticut Race for the Cure raised more than $980,000 to battle breast cancer.
“With the knowledge that Connecticut has the second highest incidence of breast cancer in the nation, we wanted to make a big impact this year, and Connecticut didn’t let us down,” said Christa Allen, chair of the event. “We raised more money than ever in our history, meaning we can invest more money into programs that will make early detection a reality for everyone in the state.”
More than 15,000 Connecticut residents, survivors and families came to Bushnell Park on June 4.
The top fundraising teams were Pratt & Whitney, which raised more than $22,000; Positively Pink; HER2 TEAMPATTY, and Rita Margarita’s Runners. Patty Fox of West Hartford was the top individual fundraiser, raising more than $10,500.
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Foundation sets grant deadline
The Union Savings Bank Foundation is accepting community grant applications through Aug. 31.
Established in 1998, the Danbury-based foundation makes annual donations to nonprofit organizations and causes that meet the health and human service needs of residents in western Connecticut. Particular focus is placed on funding activities that support youth development and education.
Since the foundation was created, it has awarded 208 grants totaling $1,335,910 to more than 60 not-for-profit organizations.
In 2010, the foundation awarded $200,380 — a 28 percent increase from 2009 — in local grants to 33 non-profit organizations.
Information on eligibility requirements and application steps are available online at unionsavings.com or by calling Elizabeth Durkin at 203-730-5005.
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Housing grant program set
The TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, will award $2.5 million in grants to support affordable housing initiatives through its sixth annual “Housing for Everyone” grant competition.
The competition invites local non-profit organizations from Maine to Florida to submit proposals outlining their plans and initiatives to support and provide affordable housing initiatives in their communities. Twenty-five organizations throughout TD Bank’s footprint will be awarded a $100,000 grant for a total grant donation of $2.5 million.
This year’s “Housing for Everyone” theme is Building for the Future, focusing on three critical areas in affordable housing:
• Energy efficiency, including weatherization initiatives, HVAC improvements, or implementation of alternative or renewable energy sources;
• Capacity building, including the expansion of programmatic efforts or staff development for organizations that provide affordable housing services for low-to-moderate-income individuals or in low-to-moderate-income communities. Infrastructure investment to expand services provided will also be considered;
• And new unit creation, where organizations focus their efforts on the creation of new affordable housing units that benefit low-to-moderate-income individuals or communities.
Proposals will only be accepted online at www.TDBank.com (click on Our Community) and must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2.
