The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Connecticut Chapter has met its fundraising goal, thanks to donations of nearly $60,000 during its 10th annual Leukemia Cup Regatta sailing competition held at the Duck Island Yacht Club in Westbrook on Aug. 28.
The nonprofit also increased the number of people soliciting fund for the group by nearly 20 percent compared to 2009, said Priscilla Fusco, campaign director of special events at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Connecticut Chapter.
Fusco said there are several reasons why the organization has been able to recruit over 200 new people to raise funds this year in tight economic times.
One is that the nonprofit did not set a minimum donation, meaning a person could raise whatever amount they were able to, whether that was $25, $2,000 or $25,000.
Fusco also introduced race participants to a personal story of hope.
“We share our mission with anyone when they register,” she said. “We had a 13-year-old survivor of pediatric leukemia we spotlighted. Because of research and better treatments and work everyone does here, Cameron is doing very well. By sharing his story, sailors and crews understand that this is not just a race. This is a race to raise funds to save lives.”
Since 1993, participants in The Leukemia Cup Regatta events throughout the U.S. have raised over $3.8 million in funding for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, according to the nonprofit’s website. ESPN commentator and 1976 America’s Cup winner Gary Jobson, a lymphoma survivor, has chaired The Leukemia Cup campaign since its beginning.
“In Connecticut, our campaign since 2000 has raised nearly $800,000. Money is still coming in,” Fusco added.
This was the second year the sailboat, Screwball, won the Connecticut Leukemia Cup Regatta, she noted.
Grantmakers Busier, Data Shows
Connecticut grantmakers distributed more than $902.7 million in 2008, a 22 percent increase from 2006, according to 2010 Connecticut Grantmaking Highlights published by the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy.
The report, published every two years, uses data from the council’s online database, Connecticut Grantmakers Online, and measures the extent and changes of the state’s philanthropy. Information for the report was gathered primarily from 2008 IRS returns, the most recent year for which data is available. There are more than 72,200 grant making foundations in the United States, of which 2,378 are active in Connecticut and included in this analysis. The 2010 Connecticut Grantmaking Highlights is available online at http://www.ctphilanthropy.org.
Key findings of the report include:
• The number of foundations active in Connecticut increased from 1,929 in 2006 to 2,378 in 2008, a 23 percent increase. Much of the increase can be traced to the conversion of a number of bank charitable trusts into private foundations by virtue of the Pension Protection Act of 2006.
• Connecticut grant makers held more than $8.8 billion in assets, a decrease of 1% from 2006.
Foodshare Targets Hunger
In the midst of the recession, many individuals and families in the Greater Hartford area face food insecurity, a daily challenge that will be highlighted this month in a national Foodshare awareness campaign. Throughout September, which is Hunger Action Month, the Feeding America nationwide network of more than 200 food banks, including Hartford’s Foodshare, will be working to raise awareness of its ongoing fight to combat hunger.
During September, Foodshare will also be offering an opportunity to students in grades K-12 with the Student Voices Against Hunger Media Contest. Youth will have a chance to put their creativity to work and express their own feelings on the subject of hunger in their community. More information on how to participate, or how to volunteer with Foodshare, can be found at www.foodshare.org.
Joanna Smiley writes the weekly Nonprofit Notebook column. Reach her at jsmiley@HartfordBusiness.com
