The Hartford Promise — programs and scholarships to encourage Hartford public school students to attend and succeed in college — is a third of the way to its $12 million goal.
Six major donors stepped up with $4.1 million:
• The Travelers Foundation, $2 million;
• Hartford Hospital, $1 million;
• The Say Yes to Education Foundation, $500,000;
• Ramani Ayer, former CEO and chairman of The Hartford, $300,000;
• Newman’s Own Foundation, $200,000;
• And Robert E. Patricelli, chairman, president, and CEO of Women’s Health USA, $100,000.
Beginning with the class of 2016, the Hartford Promise expects to award up to $5,000 a year to every eligible Hartford Public School student attending a four-year college. Two-year college students would receive $2,500. To be eligible, students need to have graduated high school with a minimum 3.0 grade point average.
Continued fundraising will be run by 10 Hartford Promise “champions”, including Ayer, Patricelli and Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra.
Grant aids vets
Edible Arrangements in Wallingford is contributing $125,000 to the International Franchise Association’s VetFran program and the launch of Hero’s Welcome, a nationwide initiative designed to help veterans become business owners and re-enter the workforce.
In addition, Edible Arrangements will launch its own Hero’s Welcome program this year. The program, part of the company’s Edible Cares umbrella initiative to give back, will be designed to provide special support to help veterans become franchisees. It will include specialized training, a franchise fee discount and mentoring from existing Edible Arrangements franchisees who are also veterans.
Edible Arrangements has set a goal of providing job opportunities and a career path for an additional 1,000 veterans throughout its franchise locations nationwide.
Edible Arrangements International LLC has more than 1,100 franchise locations open or under development around the world providing fresh fruit arrangements.
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Tools to build on
Stanley Black & Decker and the Glastonbury Home Depot have teamed up to provide some Hartford area at-risk youth will receive basic tools and safety equipment to embark on a new career.
Stanley Black & Decker donated 30 tool boxes and 30 sets of tools, including hammers, screw driver sets, measuring tapes, and utility knives with a total value of $1,787 to the Capitol Region Education Council. Home Depot in Glastonbury donated $250 for the purchase of reflective safety vests, safety glasses, and safety work gloves.
The equipment will go to 30 students participating in a workforce development program through CREC’s Transition to Employment Services department.
Transition to Employment Services was awarded a grant from Capital Workforce Partners to offer a combination general educational development (GED) and construction training course. The program targets at-risk youth between the ages of 17 and 21.
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Tax credits for housing
Santa Energy Corp. has donated $150,000 to support The Greater New Haven Community Loan Fund’s Workforce Housing Program, a program focused on facilitating and funding the creation of affordable and stable housing for individuals and families who live and work in the City of New Haven.
The contribution will aid in the creation of as many as 30 housing units for New Haven workers earning less than 100 percent of the area median income. The fund has dedicated 60 percent of the donation to serve households earning less than 80 percent of the area median income ($65,000 for a family of four).
Santa Energy Corporation made the contribution through the State Housing Tax Credit Contribution Program, a program managed by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority.
“The HTCC program offers Connecticut businesses an opportunity to contribute to the expansion of affordable housing in their communities by donating to non-profit developers building affordable homes. In return for the donation, businesses receive credits to apply toward state taxes,” said Eric Chatman, executive director of CHFA. “This program has resulted in the creation of more than 4,100 affordable homes in the last five years.”
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Car donation
Pete’s CARSTAR of South Windsor and Farmers Insurance Group presented a car to a Manchester family in need.
The goal was to help lift the family’s daily pressures by providing reliable and safe transportation. The family, a young single mother with a 4-year-old daughter, was selected by Connecticut non-profit organization Covenant to Care for Children.
The car, supplied by Farmers and refurbished by Pete’s CARSTAR, is a 2003 Subaru.
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Union Savings grants
The Union Savings Bank Foundation in Danbury has awarding $8,400 to the New Milford Visiting Nurse Association and $1,200 to the Litchfield Community Center to support the 11th annual Bob & Peg Andrulis Memorial ‘Sweetheart’ Run and Walk.
The $8,400 grant to the Visiting Nurse Association will help support the Influenza Vaccination Program offered to infants and young children. The funds are needed to cover operating expenses such as the cost of nursing and supplies.
The ‘Sweetheart’ event is a special fundraiser for the Community Center and has brought in over $75,000 to benefit their youth and family programming. Berta Andrulis Mette, Litchfield Community Center Executive Director, started the run in memory of her parents.
The bank’s donation will allow the committee to enlist the services of a company which will provide computerized timing results.
