We are surrounded by heroes who do unsung work every day. Yet their daily contributions to our communities are readily recognizable. From putting clothes on people’s backs, food on people’s tables and, in a less visible, but equally important manner, a renewed sense of hope in people’s hearts, many small nonprofits throughout Connecticut serve the most pressing needs of our communities.
Unfortunately, like any unsung hero, these small organizations don’t usually command the attention they deserve for the vital roles they play in our community. As a result, they continuously struggle to obtain the resources they need in order to do the important work of helping others. But we need to pause and think about the contributions these organizations make to our community. More importantly, it’s time to reconsider how we can best support them.
Across Connecticut, there are thousands of nonprofit organizations that make up a lifeline that connects our cities, communities and neighborhoods. From running after-school programs for children and offering job training programs, to providing food and shelter and helping the aged, these organizations change lives every day.
A great example in Connecticut is the Mercy Housing and Shelter Corp. in Hartford, where each day more than 400 men, women and children take advantage of the many programs and services offered by Sister Patricia McKeon and her team. The organization delivers over 200,000 meals each year, provides more than 50,000 bed nights annually and offers supportive services to individuals and families placed in 100 scattered-site housing units throughout the region.
If Mercy Housing did not provide their services, who would? What would the financial expense be for you and me? More importantly, what toll would this take on our communities?
More Than Money
We all recognize that homelessness and hunger are not good for business or society. And we all recognize that supporting nonprofit organizations is vital to the survival of our communities. But our support does not have to come only in the form of large, or even small, financial contributions. In fact, strengthening these organizations requires harnessing the power of a much more abundant resource – which can be found in no small measure at every organization, and in every one of us.
An award winning program, Champions in Action, sponsored by Citizens Bank and WTNH News Channel 8, provides nontraditional support to small, lesser known nonprofits – the unsung heroes in our communities. Through this program, which we believe has redefined corporate philanthropy as we know it, we leverage our time and expertise, as well as our relationships with our customers, vendors and community partners in addition to financial support. Every quarter, we “adopt” a new nonprofit and give them money and volunteer time, but most importantly we put our combined corporate resources to work for them. We advertise these organizations in every branch and at our ATMs. WTNH donates significant free airtime to showcase their outstanding work.
Providing these resources has greatly helped small nonprofits in surprisingly impactful ways. LEAP of Connecticut indicated the program allowed them to significantly enhance their profile, leading to a substantial increase in grant-making and individual contributions for the organization.
Everyone Involved
This is just one example of how committing resources beyond dollars can create transformational change. Imagine if all companies – big and small – chose to adopt and champion a local nonprofit. What if every restaurant provided unused goods to the local food pantry? What if every doctor’s office donated old magazines to help organizations working to improve adult literacy? What if every one of us gave something – anything – of ourselves to just one organization in our community?
Philanthropy can be so much more than writing a check or volunteering for a day. Real partnerships, over time, will make all the difference in our communities. n
Richard Barry is the president and CEO of Citizens Bank of Connecticut.
