Foodshare’s 10th annual Food Industry Convoy of Caring drew 24 companies — the largest participation ever — to a recognition breakfast at the Marriot in Rocky Hill.
Since 2002, Foodshare has publicly recognized the food industry for its efforts to end hunger. Each year, companies like Freshpoint and SYSCO donate over $21 million of food, in-kind, to help fight hunger in Greater Hartford.
During the breakfast, Gloria McAdam, president and CEO of Foodshare, honored each attendee with a certificate of recognition.
“I am so proud to see Foodshare’s partnership with the food industry growing year after year. I know that we could never meet the demand without their help, and it really shows a strong commitment to our cause,” she said.
After breakfast, drivers made the 21-mile journey to the Foodshare distribution facility in Bloomfield. The cargo of nearly 113,000 pounds of donated food will help the more than 128,000 people who depend on Foodshare’s services.
Foodshare also received a $30,000 grant from MetLife Foundation’s Food Bank Initiative. The grant is one of 13 awarded across the country.
“Promoting healthy and strong communities is a cornerstone of our work,” said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. “Food banks play a vital role in meeting basic needs, especially for children and older adults.”
Since 2008, MetLife Foundation has awarded more than $2 million to support food banks, Meals on Wheels programs, the MetLife Healthy Families Program at the New York Botanical Garden and an online tool created by AARP Foundation to help raise additional funds for local hunger relief organizations focused on serving older adults.
Banks aid Red Cross
Two of the region’s largest banks have stepped up to assist the Red Cross in its disaster relief efforts in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene.
People’s United Community Foundation has made a $50,000 donation to support relief efforts throughout New England.
And First Niagara has made a $25,000 donation to tthe American Red Cross Connecticut Region for its disaster relief efforts.
First Niagara officials toured the Red Cross disaster relief headquarters in MMiddletown. The Red Cross opened evacuation shelters ahead of the storm and continued to provide sheltering, food and cleanup supplies in Irene’s wake.
Since Tropical Storm Irene made landfall earlier this month, the American Red Cross has served more than 600,000 meals, distributed more than 35,000 clean up kits and 30,000 comfort kits. They have also provided more than 61,000 overnight stays at 581 shelters, as well as other support services provided by Red Cross volunteers and staff.
Also, each of First Niagara’s more than 300 branches across the Northeast is accepting tax-deductible contributions to American Red Cross relief efforts.
• • •
Grants aid education
The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain has awarded $55,666 in early childhood development grants to three local organizations.
Literacy Volunteers of Central CT will employ $25,666 in funding from CFGNB to support improvement and growth of the Central Connecticut Family Literacy Center and LVA’s other family literacy programs and services.
Tunxis Community College will receive up to $25,000 to support the sixth year of its Early Childhood Professional Educators’ Consortium.
A $5,000 grant to the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy will fund a partnership with other Connecticut funders and the state to implement the state’s plan to develop a coordinated early childhood system that engages and responds to the needs of parents and communities.
In total, the foundation made $133,116 in grants to nine local non-profit organizations.
The Community Foundation invests in programs and services in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington.
• • •
Brokerage helps My Sisters’ Place
The Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Cares Foundation recently raised nearly $22,000 for My Sisters’ Place, a Hartford nonprofit organization working to end homelessness, through its annual golf tournament.
The Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Cares Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Connecticut and Westchester County, N.Y., has provided significant financial support to My Sisters’ Place over the past 12 years.
This year marked the 11th annual Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Cares Foundation golf tournament. Each year, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage sales associates and staff throughout Connecticut and Westchester County, N.Y. come together to help raise money for this cause.
The brokerage operates 46 offices with more than 2,100 sales associates.
• • •
Schools benefit from donations
Bob’s Discount Furniture is presenting checks to five area schools from money collected in all of the donation jars which are located in each store café.
Niantic Center School receive a check for $2,500, and four other schools — · Ellington Middle School, Frank T. Wheeler School in Plainville; Harborside Middle School in Milford and Killingly Memorial School in Danielson — will receive $1,000 checks.
Every month, Bob’s randomly selects five schools in the communities near its stores and grants a donation ranging from $1,000 — $2,500.