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United Way
of Capital Area Adopts New Name
to Reflect Region Served and Streamlined Governance
Hartford, CT –
The Board of Directors of
the United Way of the Capital Area officially announced today that
going forward it will do business as United Way of Central and
Northeastern Connecticut. Raymond P. Necci, president and COO
of Connecticut Light and Power and Yankee Gas and chairman of the
board of the former United Way of the Capital Area, unveiled the
organization’s new name today at its 30 Laurel Street offices in
Hartford. “This culminates a year of work to streamline our
governance structure to ensure maximum transparency, accountability
and efficiency,” stated Necci at the ceremony today.
The new name symbolizes a
truly united 40-town service region and new governance structure to
support it. During this past year, several local independent United
Ways previously affiliated with United Way of the Capital Area voted
to dissolve or are in the process of dissolving their independent
corporate status to come under one governing body that is better
equipped to deal with the increasing demands of accountability and
resource distribution. Local regional advisory boards will continue
to work in the local communities including the Windham region, New
Britain, Berlin, Avon, Canton, and Greater Enfield. Each region will
do business under a local regional geographic identifier.
“We are changing to be a
more streamlined organization that can best meet the growing needs
of our region. What will not change is our commitment to improving
lives and changing conditions in local communities thanks to
committed, engaged and enthusiastic local volunteers,” explained
Necci. “We can continue to do this work, but without an additional
administrative layer that up to this point was still in place in
these local communities.”
United Way began serving
Hartford in 1924 as the Hartford Community Chest. As the region grew
into the suburbs the organization changed in 1943 to Greater
Hartford Community Chest serving Hartford, East Hartford, West
Hartford, Bloomfield, Newington, Wethersfield and Windsor. During
this time United Funds or Community Chests were formed in
Farmington, Simsbury, Vernon (Tri-Town), Manchester, New Britain,
Enfield and Windham.
In 1973, following a
national movement to use a consistent name, the Greater Hartford
Community Chest became the United Way of Greater Hartford. In 1979
the organization became United Way of the Capital Area (UWCA). By
this time, other United Way organizations in the 40-town region
either merged into the UWCA or entered into affiliate agreements
with UWCA for fundraising and administrative efficiencies while
maintaining independent corporate status.
Today, with the
announcement of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut,
this is truly one region with one governing body working together to
engage people to improve lives and change community conditions in
local communities.
Historical Timeline for
United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut
1924 Hartford
Community Chest forms to fund 24 agencies and raises $381,732.
1943 Hartford
Community Chest changes its name to Greater Hartford Community
Chest. Service areas include Hartford, East Hartford, West Hartford,
Bloomfield, Newington, Wethersfield and Windsor.
1970 United
Way’s national association reorganizes under the name United Way of
America.
1973 Greater
Hartford Chest changes its name to The United Way of Greater
Hartford.
1979 The United
Way of Greater Hartford changes its name to United Way of the
Capital Area.
2008 United Way
of the Capital Area changes its name to United Way of Central and
Northeastern Connecticut.
Letter from the Chairman
Dear Friends:
As I reflect on United
Way of the Capital Area’s year, I’m
struck by the recurring themes of change, challenge and
opportunity and how the leadership of one volunteer, Chandler J.
Howard, was present throughout.
Chandler, president
and CEO of Liberty Bank, is the 2007 Community Service Award
recipient, the highest honor bestowed on a volunteer by United
Way of the Capital Area (UWCA). The article on Chandler will
give you an appreciation for why he deserves our award including
his leadership of the 2002 United Way Community Campaign, a $27
million effort, heralded at the time as the most successful in
our organization’s then 78-year history.
And, as records are
meant to be broken, the 2007 team rose to the challenge and did
just that, raising $27,678,042 and surpassing the goal by nearly
$500,000. This is the greatest amount raised in United Way’s
history. A special thank you goes to Chuck Shivery, chairman,
president and CEO of Northeast Utilities, the 2007 Community
Campaign Chairman, and his team of volunteers, loaned
executives, and of course, all of our contributors.
Chandler’s influence
is still present given his involvement in the smooth transition
of leadership following the untimely death of George Bahamonde,
president and CEO from 1994-2006. Chandler, chairman of the
board from 2005-2006, helped us commemorate the one year
anniversary of George’s passing on July 20, 2007 with the
unveiling at United Way of an Inukshuk, a lifelike stone figure
similar to those built by the Inuit people of Canada.
Inukshuks are said to
represent safety, trust and
reassurance. They provide direction to a safe path and
affirmation that the traveler will reach one’s goals despite any
challenges along the way.
We firmly believe
we’re on the right path and are energized by the challenges that
lie ahead. This includes an expansion of our commitment to
helping working families achieve financial stability and
providing children and youth with the resources needed to become
the qualified, competitive workforce of tomorrow. Accomplishing
this will require our collective efforts …donors, community
leaders, the public sector and nonprofit organizations.
Who else but Robert
Egger, author and social activist and one of this country’s top
nonprofit leaders, to further motivate us and validate our
approach to giving and community change? Egger was the
key note speaker at a United Way
event on January 31st. He challenged us all to
demand an integrated approach to addressing community challenges
and emphasized that the nonprofit community must be more
efficient, more coordinated, and more results-driven.
As I look forward to
next year, United Way will continue to challenge itself and its
partners to develop and implement the comprehensive strategies
needed to not only help individuals but improve the communities
in which they live and work. We will seek opportunities to
increase our effectiveness and that of our partners to ensure
that your contribution as volunteers and donors is the best
investment you will ever make. We know that in so doing, we will
raise the bar even higher, but we’re
prepared for that challenge and welcome the opportunity to build
a stronger community for all of us.
Sincerely,
Raymond P. Necci
Chairman
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United Way of the Capital Area….Working
Families Initiative 2008 Report
Our economy and our
society benefit when people are able to provide for themselves and
their children. This belief is central to our work with volunteers,
nonprofit partner agencies, the public sector and community leaders
in helping individuals move from financial challenges to
independence through our Working Families Initiative which
was launched in 2007.
The initiative
has three primary
goals: raise awareness of the challenges faced by working families,
provide volunteers with practical opportunities to assist, and help
individuals and families increase their overall income, earning
power and savings by integrating a variety of effective,
results-oriented services.
2007…A
Successful First Year
A key component of the Working Families
Initiative is budget coaching, where trained volunteers are
matched with individuals who are interested in developing realistic
spending plans as a first step to financial stability. We asked one
of our partners, Hartford Asset Building Collaborative (HABC), to
develop and manage this unique program. And, when the Working
Families Initiative was launched, we issued an appeal to the
public to come forward and sign up to be volunteer budget coaches.
We are very pleased to report that as of this
publication, 135 volunteers have been recruited and 75 have
completed training. Several of the coaches worked with more than one
participant which allowed 91 individuals to develop budgets. So far
12 people have successfully completed the entire program with nearly
half reporting that they increased their income and all but one
reduced debt. In addition, 80% of these working individuals have
reported that they are now paying their bills on time and living
within their budgets.
We anticipate that more volunteer budget coaches
will be needed as the program is promoted at volunteer income tax
assistance centers and through the referrals of nonprofit
organizations. If you’re interested in volunteering, or learning
more about the Working Families Initiative, please contact us
at
WorkingFamilies@uwcact.org or
(860) 493-1125.
2008 and Beyond
First, we are pleased to report that we will
continue to support
expansion of the volunteer budget coaching program in
2008. We also helped establish the first financial resource center
in our region, and perhaps, the state. This ‘one stop’ center, also
managed by HABC, was launched in February 2008 and provides working
families access to financial education programs, matched savings
accounts, credit counseling, volunteer tax preparation assistance
and budget coaching, food stamp enrollment information and
employment services.
Second, we are
partnering with our state association, United Way of Connecticut, to
pilot a virtual ‘one-stop’ center through a specially assigned
United Way 2-1-1 call specialist. Callers to 2-1-1 interested in
achieving financial stability will participate in a brief assessment
to determine eligibility for income supports and interest in
financial education and employment programs. Most important,
however, will be the personalized follow-up by the 2-1-1 call
specialist to ensure satisfaction with services and progress to
attaining financial goals.
Third, we are pleased
to announce that we are supporting another partner, Foodshare, to
train volunteers to conduct food stamp eligibility pre-screening as
a means of increasing enrollment of eligible individuals and
families. Food stamps add to overall family income, and allow
individuals to purchase nutritious and culturally appropriate foods,
while area grocery stores benefit from the additional customers.
Lastly, we will be
working to strengthen public and private community partnerships in
Windham, New Britain, Manchester and Enfield to further help working
families achieve financial stability. By supporting efforts to
improve coordination among social service providers, chambers of
commerce, municipal social services, state agencies and others, we
are helping to ensure that more working people will navigate the
array of available services and as a result get ahead financially.
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A
Man With “Heart”
Chandler J.
Howard
United Way of the Capital Area 2007 Community Service Award
Chandler J. Howard, president and CEO of Liberty Bank and one of the
state’s top banking executives, is the recipient of United Way of
the Capital Area’s 2007 Community Service Award, the highest honor
that can be bestowed on a volunteer. He has touched the hearts of
many people through his positive influence in nonprofit
organizations, and his fostering of diversity throughout the region.
In the early 1970's, Howard was a Vietnam veteran with no job: then
“one guy took a chance” on him and offered him a part-time job as a
bank teller. This gesture of friendship and faith not only changed
the life of an individual but also the well-being of the communities
in which he lived and served.
One of seven children, Howard grew up in a housing project just
outside Bridgeport. Although he is president and CEO of
Connecticut’s oldest and largest mutual bank, he retains an
emotional connection with low to moderate income individuals.
Well known for his involvement with community organizations,
Howard’s public service has earned him numerous awards and accolades
including the Hartford Courant’s Tapestry Award for his
personal and corporate commitment to fostering diversity through the
community, the Champion of Children Award from The Village for
Families and Children, the 2003 Campaign Leadership Award from
Community Health Charities of Connecticut, the 2003 Secretary of the
State’s Public Service Award and the Urban League of Greater
Hartford’s Founder Award in 2005.
He has served as chairman of the board of the Urban League of
Greater Hartford, Charter Oak State College, and the Greater
Hartford YMCA, and as vice chairman of the Governor’s Council on
Economic Competitiveness and Technology. He also chaired the Urban
League of Greater Hartford’s 41st Equal Opportunity
Dinner.
In addition, Howard chaired the 2002 United Way Community Campaign
and served as chairman of United Way of the Capital Area in 2005 and
2006.
In his 33-years of experience in the banking industry, Howard's
passion, dedication, and determination have taken him from the
teller's counter to the executive suite. It started with a part-time
position at People’s United Bank, where he was rapidly promoted
first to branch management and then to regional management
positions. In 1996, he joined Fleet Bank to oversee its consumer
banking operation in Connecticut. He was later named chairman and
CEO of Fleet Bank – Connecticut.
When Fleet merged with Bank of America in 2004, Howard was named
president for Connecticut where he directed consumer banking
operations in Connecticut, upstate New York, and northeastern
Pennsylvania. He also served as the community reinvestment executive
for the entire northeast region. In 2005, he left Bank of America to
become president and CEO of Connecticut Innovations, Inc, a
quasi-public agency charged with promoting technology growth in the
state. In late 2005, he returned to banking as president and CEO of
First City Fund Corporation.
Howard, who lives in Farmington, is the father of two daughters,
Kate and Morgan, and son, CJ.
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“An Evening With Robert Egger”
A Huge Success
“Poverty and hunger are tied to other battles. It’s about
education, child care, job training, AIDS work, drug counseling,
affordable housing, and healthcare…It’s about connecting with
the people we’re serving and partnering with others who share
our vision,” said Robert Egger.
Nearly 400 top
executives, community leaders, and guests turned out on January 31,
2008 to hear Robert Egger, nationally renowned author, social
activist and president and founder of D.C. Central Kitchen speak at
“An Evening with Robert Egger,” at Saint Joseph
College in West Hartford.
Named by Non
Profit Times as one of the 50 Most Powerful and Influential
Leaders in 2006 and 2007, Robert Egger, author of Begging for
Change: The Dollars and Sense of Making Nonprofits
Responsive, Efficient, and Rewarding for All, delivered
an enlightening and provocative talk to his audience.
Robert Egger
highlighted the “ineffectiveness and waste and a startling lack of
logic” in the nonprofit sector and called for reform of the $800
billion industry. “I knew there had to be a better way,” said
Egger. In 1989, he started D.C. Central Kitchen by collecting
unused food from local restaurants, caterers, and hotels and
bringing it back to a central location where hot, nutritious meals
were prepared and distributed to agencies around the city. Its
highly successful 12-week job-training program equips former
homeless transients and drug addicts with culinary and life skills
to gain employment in the restaurant business.
Throughout
the nation, said Egger, nonprofits control $3 trillion in assets,
receive $250 billion in annual giving and employ eight percent of
the nation's work force. Yet despite such resources, the problems
of hunger, homelessness and poverty persist.
Seated
L-R are Robert Egger, keynote speaker
and Tom Condon, Deputy Editorial Page Editor
for the Hartford Courant.
"Poverty
and hunger are tied to other battles. It’s about education, child
care, job training, AIDS work, drug counseling, affordable housing,
and healthcare…It’s about connecting with the people we’re serving
and partnering with others who share our vision,” Egger said.
Egger looks for
nonprofits to be more innovative and results-driven, for corporate
leaders to be more focused and responsible, and for citizens who
contribute their time and money to be smarter and more demanding of
nonprofits and what they provide in return.
“Don’t give to any
organization that sets up the problem and not the solution.
Remember, pity isn’t a plan,” said Egger.
Egger told his
audience “not to give up on pooled giving. A steady check from a
federated giving program like the United Way is an amazing tool that
allows nonprofits to be strategic and to budget accordingly.” Egger
further stated “…if I had to wait at my mailbox every day for random
donations, I’d either be out of business in my first year or still
handing out cups of soup…”
Susan B. Dunn,
president and CEO of United Way of the Capital Area, spoke after
Robert Egger’s address and reminded the audience that “United Way
believes it’s time for systemic change on how we and other
non-profits do business.
“United Way’s
Working Families Initiative, which is currently in its second
year of existence, continues to raise awareness of the challenges
faced by working families while identifying and providing
opportunities in which they can achieve financial stability. Since
its inception 135 individuals were recruited as volunteer budget
coaches and 12 working families have successfully completed the
process,” said Dunn.
Dunn further
reported that looking ahead to 2008 “United Way will help establish
a new one-stop center managed by Hartford Asset Building
Collaborative where working families will be able to access
financial education programs, volunteer tax assistance, volunteer
budge coaching and workforce services. In addition, United Way will
pilot a new virtual service model in partnership with United Way of
Connecticut featuring a dedicated United Way 211 number that
individuals will be able to call for information and assistance,
24/7.”
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2007 United Way Community Campaign Raises
Greatest Amount Ever!
Hartford, CT
(November 14, 2007).
Some records are meant to be broken, and the 2007 United Way
Community Campaign did just that, raising $27,678,042, the greatest
amount in its 83 year history.
The result is nearly $500,000
more than the $27.2 million goal announced on September 7th,
the official Campaign kick-off, and more than $900,000 over what was
raised in the 2006 United Way Community Campaign.
Chuck Shivery, chairman of
the 2007 United Way Community Campaign and chairman, president and
CEO of Northeast Utilities declared ‘victory’ to a crowd of nearly
600 campaign volunteers and
corporate and community leaders, celebrating the results at a
luncheon at Pratt & Whitney, East Hartford.
Shivery noted that the record
breaking result includes “what we have in hand and what we know is
still to come … Once again, this community has shown its generosity
and it’s been a total team effort. On behalf of those whose lives
will be changed by your contributions, thank you very much.”
“Ten major corporations plus the
United Technologies family of companies contributed more than two
out of every three dollars raised this year, with the UTC companies
the largest contributor overall,” said Shivery. “We are truly
appreciative of the generous support these companies, and their
employees, collectively provide in so many ways to our community.”
The United Way Community
Campaign is the largest annual health and human service fund-raising
effort in Connecticut and the second largest in New England. More
than 200,000 employees in nearly 900 organizations in central
Connecticut are asked to participate in the workplace campaign. The
funds raised are distributed through non-profit agencies for
programs and initiatives that change lives and improve conditions.
The campaign was guided by a volunteer
campaign cabinet of leaders from organizations such as the United
Technologies companies, ING, TD Banknorth, Ernst & Young, LLP,
Sovereign Bank Hartford Hospital, and representatives from organized
labor and state and federal government.
*
Additionally, 18 loaned
executives representing companies such as Pratt & Whitney, The
Phoenix Companies, Hamilton Sundstrand, UPS and Northeast Utilities
among others were on “loan” or sponsored to work full-time on the
campaign.
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2007 United Way Community Campaign Goal Announced
Press release
For immediate release, 8:30 a.m. Friday, September 7, 2007
 Hartford, Conn. (September 7, 2007)… “This is the largest Community Campaign goal ever announced for Greater Hartford and when we reach it and exceed it, it will be the highest about raised in this campaign’s 83 year history,” 2007 United Way Community Campaign chairman Chuck Shivery said as he unveiled $27.2 million as this year’s United Way Community Campaign goal. Shivery, chairman, president and CEO of Northeast Utilities System, ascended United Way’s three-story building in a Northeast Utilities System bucket truck to reveal the goal. He stood high above the audience as he announced the goal.
“This goal is ambitious, but we believe we can raise this and more,” Shivery said. “We just need to harness the energy and will power to do it.”
Shivery spoke to a crowd of more than 150 campaign volunteers, agency representatives and community leaders. “I know that with your enthusiastic support, we can light this goal up to help those in need in our community.”
The morning also kicked off the 16th annual Day of Caring. Over 4,200 employees representing. Activities include preparing and serving food at soup kitchens, harvesting food for food banks and pantries, landscaping and painting group homes and reading with children.
Now in its 83rd year, the annual United Way Community Campaign organizes fund- raising campaigns in more than 800 workplaces throughout its 40-town area to support programs and services of United Way of the Capital Area and Community Health Charities of New England. Details of how campaign funds change lives and improve community conditions can be found at www.uwcact.org
The amount raised this year is scheduled to be announced on November 14.
###
For more information or to arrange an interview with Susan Dunn, president and CEO of UWCA or Chuck Shivery, 2007 United Way Community Campaign Chairman, about the campaign, contact Matt Broderick at 860 493-6822 or mbroderick@uwcact.org.
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2007 Day of Caring Quick Facts
The 2007 United Way Community Campaign, Day of Caring XVI provides an opportunity for employees of local companies to volunteer their time at local non-profit organizations across the 40 town Capital region.
This year, more than 4,200 volunteers from nearly 90 local companies were scheduled to lend a hand at more than 300 project sites for 179 nonprofit agencies throughout the 40-town capital region as part of Day of Caring XVI.
• Day of Caring is open to all non-profit organizations serving the Greater Hartford community. It takes place this year on Friday, Sept. 7, 2007 and marks official kick off to the United Way Community Campaign.
• More than 4,200 volunteers will participate in this year’s Day of Caring. The first Day of Caring took place in 1992 with 430 volunteers.
• Since the first Day of Caring, the cumulative value of volunteer time is estimated to be nearly $2.75 million. For 2007 alone, volunteer time is valued at more than $280,000**
• Day of Caring projects include volunteer activities such as painting, landscaping, meal preparation, reading to children, building handicapped ramps and socializing with senior citizens.
• Beth Stafford, Manchester Area Conference of Churches, and Paul Kuehn, Northeast Utilities Systems are the 2007 Co-Chairs for Day of Caring XVI.
• The United Way Community Campaign raises funds to support health and human services programs and initiatives supported by United Way of the Capital Area and Community Health Charities.
• Since 1924, the United Way Community Campaign has enabled employees to support the communities in which they live and work through a single workplace fundraising campaign. In its 83 year history, the campaign has raised more than a half a billion dollars to change lives and improve conditions.
• Dollars directed to Community Investment through the campaign help ensure successful children, strong and healthy families and a safety net of services across the 40-town Capital Area.
* The dollar value of the Day of Caring volunteer effort is determined based on the average hourly wage ($16.88) of a person in the Connecticut workforce (Connecticut Department of Labor) multiplied by average number of hours volunteers contribute on Day of Caring (an average of four), then multiplied by the number of volunteers.
For more information, contact Matthew Broderick, Director of Communications at 860-493-6822.
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Hartford teen honored with the United Way Community Campaign’s 14th Annual Courage Award
Hartford, CT – The United Way Community Campaign presented its 14th Annual Courage Award to Brittany Santiago Smith, 16, of Hartford on June 21, during the organization’s Jumpstart campaign training luncheon held at St. Joseph College in West Hartford. Smith, who just completed her sophomore year at Hartford’s AI Prince Technical High School, credited COMPASS Youth Collaborative, a youth development organization and United Way partner agency, for guiding her down the right path and making her success a possibility.
As a sixth grader at Hartford’s Belizzi Middle School, Smith was regularly pressured to join gangs. She was an underperforming student with a poor reputation among teachers and had a propensity towards fighting. Through the COMPASS Youth Collaborative, Smith learned conflict resolution, anger management and study skills. Today, Brittany is an honor roll student, mentor, peer mediator, and part-time employee of COMPASS, working with 15 students daily. “Without COMPASS, I probably wouldn’t be in school or my grades would be down,” Smith said. “I’d probably be in the streets, thinking I’m tough.”
On winning the Courage Award, Smith was both honored and reflective. “The Courage Award means a lot to me,” Smith said. “I overcame obstacles that seemed so big, but I made a change [in my life] and it’s very satisfying.” |
(Pictured from left to right) Susan B. Dunn, president and CEO of United Way of the Capital Area; Catalina Santiago, Smith’s mother;
Brittany Santiago Smith, 2007 United Way Community Campaign
Courage Award recipient; and Brad Drazen, NBC 30 News Anchor,
who emceed the Jumpstart. |
The Courage Award was established in 1994 to recognize an individual who has triumphed over adversity with the assistance of a United Way Community Campaign supported agency. Smith was nominated by Robert Pawloski, Executive Director of COMPASS Youth Collaborative.
Jumpstart trained over 200 workplace coordinators from over 100 local companies who will lead the Community Campaign in the fall. Chuck Shivery, President, Chairman and CEO of Northeast Utilities is chairman of the 2007 United Way Community Campaign. Campaign contributions are invested in health and human services programs that change lives and improve community conditions in the 40-town Capital Region. In 2006, nearly $26.8 million was raised through the Campaign. The 2007 Campaign goal will be announced on Friday, September 7. |
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UNITED WAY OF THE CAPITAL AREA TO RECEIVE GRANT FROM BANK OF AMERICA TO PROMOTE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT AVAILABILITY
Grants Part of National Initiative between United Way of America and Bank of America
United Way of the Capital Area today announced it has received a grant from Bank of America designed to help individuals and families in the greater Hartford region obtain tax preparation assistance and unrealized tax refunds through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
This grant is part of a national partnership between United Way of America and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation that will provide $500,000 in grants to two statewide and 31 local United Ways.
“Bank of America’s generosity helps support and expand United Way’s efforts in the Greater Hartford area to promote a critical program that increases eligible families’ access to the tax credit and, in turn, makes a financial investment in our community,” stated Susan B. Dunn, president and CEO, United Way of the Capital Area. EITC campaigns, as they are commonly called, typically include outreach to eligible tax filers; free tax preparation for low-income individuals and families (those earning under $38,000 annually) using volunteer tax preparers, financial education and other asset building opportunities. “Every year, billions of dollars in tax refunds are left unclaimed by the very people who most need those funds.
By donating both financial and human capital, we hope to help more Connecticut residents effectively navigate the tax system, access tax preparation services and secure the benefits of the Earned Income Tax Credit,” said Susan A. Rottner, president, Bank of America Connecticut.
“By supporting the United Way EITC program and others like it, Bank of America hopes to help underserved individuals and families preserve income and develop assets, and thereby advance the health and vitality of the communities in which we all live.” The Bank of America grant to United Way is supporting volunteer tax preparation sites in New Britain and Hartford. Last year, volunteer tax preparation sites in both of these cities resulted in more than $8 million in tax credits and refunds being returned to working families and local economies.
The median adjusted gross income of filers at last year’s Hartford free tax sites was $14,897 with the average refund being $1,433. Individuals may call 2-1-1, a service of United Way of Connecticut, to locate a volunteer tax preparation site.
About United Way of Capital Area
United Way of the Capital Area is a nonprofit organization that has been meeting human care needs in the 40 towns throughout north central Connecticut for more than 80 years.
With its network of partner agencies, volunteers and community leaders, United Way takes a leadership role in changing conditions to improve lives in the Greater Hartford region. In addition to meeting basic human needs, United Way is committed to ensuring success for children and strengthening families.
About Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy
Bank of America has embarked on an unprecedented 10-year goal to give $1.5 billion to nonprofit organizations engaged in improving the quality and vitality of their neighborhoods. The bank will give more than $200 million in 2007, making it one of the most generous corporate donors in the world. Bank of America approaches giving through a national strategy called "neighborhood excellence" under which it works with local leaders to identify and meet the most pressing needs of individual communities.
Through Team Bank of America, bank associate volunteers contribute more than 500,000 hours each year to improve the quality of life in their communities nationwide. For more information about Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation.
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United Way hosts 82nd Annual Meeting Earl J. Schofield is 2006 Community Service Award recipient
Hartford, CT (March 14, 2007) … A record breaking number of guests attended United Way of the Capital Area’s 82nd annual meeting today which included presentation of the organization’s highest volunteer recognition to Earl J. Schofield of East Hartford.
The meeting was held from 5 to 7 p.m. at The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. in Hartford. Guests gathered in the Wallace Stevens Theater to celebrate United Way’s accomplishments including results from its 2006 Community Campaign and progress in changing lives and improving community conditions in its 40-town service area.
2006 Community Service Award recipient Earl J. Schofield
The 2006 Community Service Award was presented to Earl J. Schofield, senior union EAP (Employee Assistance Program) coordinator for District 26 – IAMAW. Schofield provides counseling services for three Pratt & Whitney locations, Hamilton Sundstrand, UT Fuel Cells and several small job shops.
“For more than a decade, Earl has worked tirelessly to help us garner wonderful support from organized labor in the 40-town area,” says Susan B. Dunn, president and CEO of United Way of the Capital Area. “Earl reminds us that United Way and organized labor share a concern for the well-being of the working family in our community.”
During his more than 35 years as a union representative, Schofield’s community service efforts have continued to grow. He has recruited hundreds of walkers for Foodshare’s Walk Against Hunger and the March of Dimes WalkAmerica. He has organized and encouraged support for United Way supported drives for food, coats and toys. In 1994, he joined United Way of the Capital Area’s board of directors where he says he began to learn about the many United Way supported programs and services that are available to his co-workers and to the community at-large.
Since 2002, Schofield has been co-chairman of the Pratt & Whitney workplace campaign which has raised the largest amount of dollars in a single workplace for the last several years. In 2005 and 2006, he joined the United Way Community Campaign cabinet as labor representative. In that capacity, he has continued to raise awareness among local labor organizations about the campaign and the many programs and services it supports.
“The knowledge I gain from my United Way involvement is invaluable in my work,” says Schofield. “I’ve learned how to direct people to basic human needs like food and shelter; to financial literacy, childcare referrals, domestic, drug and alcohol abuse counseling and so much more.”
Schofield’s commitment to helping others is apparent in his ongoing efforts to learn and do more. In the last decade he has studied drug and alcohol rehabilitation counseling and earned credentials as a Certified Employee Assistance Professional, a Certified Labor Assistance Professional and a Substance Abuse Professional. He founded and is president of the Connecticut Chapter of Labor Assistance Professionals. In 2007, he was given an appointment as one of the Labor Committee members of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association.
Additional highlights
During the Annual Meeting, outgoing board chair Chandler J. Howard passed the gavel to incoming board chair
Raymond P. Necci. Howard, president and CEO of First City Fund Corporation, has served on the board since 1996. In 2002, he chaired the United Way Community Campaign, which raised $27 million. Raymond P. Necci, president & COO of CL&P and Yankee Gas, Northeast Utilities Systems, has served on the United Way board since 2005 and a member of the United Way Community Campaign Cabinet since 2003.
Board members elected during the meeting were:
Nancy Bernstein (Women’s Health/Evolution Benefits)
Howard Carver (Avon, CT)
Susan Christensen (Fox 61)
Sean Egan (KPMG LLP)
Kevin Flaherty (Sovereign Bank)
Laurie Londergan (Deloitte and Touche LLP)
John Patrick (TD Banknorth Connecticut)
Paul Pita (Pita Communications)
Christopher Wilkos (The Phoenix Companies, Inc.)
As a nonprofit organization, United Way has been meeting human care needs and taking a leadership role in changing lives and improving community conditions in the Capital Area for 82 years.
In 1924, United Way’s first fund-raising campaign goal was to raise $313,092 for 24 member health and human service agencies. That goal was surpassed by 20 percent, setting the stage for an 82-year tradition of support that continues today. In 2006, the United Way Community Campaign raised $26,775,731, exceeding the goal by nearly $600,000.
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United Way of the Capital Area Working Families Initiative
United Way of the Capital
Area (UWCA) launched the Working Families Initiative on
Thursday, January 25, 2007 to increase awareness of the challenges
faced by hardworking families and, together with community
volunteers, provide practical steps that can lead to financial
stability. UWCA is committed to changing lives to improve community
conditions while also ensuring that basic human needs are met.
Ensuring success for children and strengthening families are among
United Way’s priorities.
“The
Working Families Initiative complements this organization’s
existing efforts to strengthen families by helping individuals
increase income, build savings and gain and sustain assets,” said
Susan B. Dunn, president & CEO of the organization. The initiative
was announced following a speech by Pulitzer Prize winning author
David K. Shipler at Saint Joseph College in West Hartford. Shipler
spoke to an audience of nearly 400 attendees gathered at
The Carol Autorino Center
in The Bruyette Athenaeum on the campus.
Shipler
is the author of The Working Poor: Invisible in America,
which followed the lives of people who live just above or below the
federal poverty level for six years and chronicled their successes
and their challenges. In the book Shipler says:
Their
wages do not lift them far enough from poverty to improve their
lives, and their lives, in turn, hold them back. The term by which
they are usually described, ‘working poor,’ should be an oxymoron.
Nobody who works hard should be poor in
America.
“The
Working Families Initiative has three goals,” said Dunn, “First,
we want to raise awareness around the issues of those individuals
and families who are walking a financial tightrope. We have begun
doing just that tonight with the speech by David Shipler. Second, we
will continue to support programs to increase family income, savings
and assets. And, third, we want to engage our community around these
issues.”
The Working
Families Initiative is currently seeking volunteer budget
coaches. Volunteers will be trained to assist working individuals or
families to build and stick to a budget, to repay debt and improve
credit if necessary, and to begin saving for the future. These are
areas with which working families in the Hartford area have
identified which they need help.
More information
about the budget coaches program and the training schedule can be
obtained by emailing
jthayer@uwcact.org or calling (860) 493-1114.
The following
volunteers have generously agreed to lead the initiative in 2007:
Honorary Chair, Denise Nappier, Treasurer, State of Connecticut and
Co-Chairs John Bermel of Aetna, Corey Brinson of Day Pitney LLP,
Scott Davis of Hilb Rogal & Hobbs, representing HYPE, and Deb
Zawisza of The Phoenix Companies.
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The
Working Families Initiative builds upon programs that United
Way already supports to address current conditions in its
40-town area. Conditions such as:
The 2006 Federal
Poverty Level was $20,000 for a family of four.[i]
An estimated 84% of those served through United Way of the
Capital Area supported programs earn less than 200% of the
federal poverty level or less than $40,000.
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100,000 people in the Capital Area
rely on emergency food programs. Forty percent are children and
ten percent are senior citizens.[ii]
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More than
one quarter (27%) of families seeking food assistance include at
least one employed adult.ii
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33,000 people in Connecticut
experience homelessness in a 12 month period, 13,000 of these
are children.[iii]
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Ninety-five percent of a
sample of Connecticut Jobs First Employment Services customers
in north central Connecticut had skills below 9th grade level in
math and 55% had skills below 9th grade level in reading.iv
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Connecticut’s unemployment rate in
November, 2006 was 4.4%. The unemployment rate in Hartford and
other UWCA priority towns is nearly double the state rate.v
i
http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/06poverty.shtml
iiFoodshare,
http://www.foodshare.org/main.cfm?page=40
iii CT Coalition to End Homelessness,
http://www.cceh.org
vi The Connecticut Department of Labor’s
Welfare to Work program is called Jobs First Employment Services.
Data is from Capital Workforce Partners, October 2005.
http://www.greaterhartfordreads.org/publications/
vii Connecticut Department of Labor,
www.ctdol.state.ct.us
Specifically, UWCA invests in
programs and initiatives that:
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Improve literacy, including reading,
writing math and financial literacy;
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Improve job readiness and knowledge
with career-specific skills such as computer training as well as
“soft” skills such as punctuality and communication;
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Increase income by connecting
individuals with income supports and opportunities to build
capacity for increased earnings;
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Build assets by promoting savings,
homeownership and entrepreneurial opportunities.
United Way of the Capital Area supported
program outcomes in 2006:
Literacy:
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556 participants improved their
literacy skills in reading, comprehension and computer usage
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95 percent were able to gain or
retain employment or obtain citizenship.
Job readiness and skills:
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75 percent of participants in job
training programs learned useful job search skills, such as how
to write a cover letter, prepare a resume, complete a job
application and conduct themselves in an interview.
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63
percent obtained jobs.
Increasing income and building
assets:
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4,186 people filed their taxes at
free tax preparation sites supported by UWCA in Hartford and New
Britain. These sites encourage low and moderate income workers
to claim the earned income tax credit and other tax credits for
which they qualify. The average earned income tax credit refund
for these filers was more than $1,400 in 2006.
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95 percent of participants in asset
building classes and programs made progress in saving towards
their goal of buying a home, starting a business or going to
college.
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221 participants in tenant relations
and home buyer education classes were able to stabilize their
housing or purchase safe, affordable housing.
The announcement
event, An Evening with David K. Shipler, was
made possible by
the generous support of St. Paul Travelers. UWCA thanks the
following organizations for making the Working Families
Initiative possible: Hartford Asset Building Collaborative,
Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs, Human Resources
Agency of New Britain, Inc., Jewish Community Relations Council of
the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, Jewish Family Services of
Greater Hartford, Office of the Connecticut State Treasurer, United
Way of Connecticut/2-1-1, United Way of the Capital Area Tocqueville
Society Advisory Council and YWCA of the
Hartford Region, Inc.
For more than 80
years, United Way of the Capital Area has been committed to changing
lives and improving community conditions.
Funds raised through the annual United Way Community Campaign
support programs and initiatives that ensure success for children,
strengthen families and improve community conditions.
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$26,775,731!
That was the amount raised by the 2006 United Way Community Campaign
and announced on November 15, 2006 by John J. Patrick, Jr., chairman
of the campaign and president and CEO of TD Banknorth. The campaign
result exceeds by nearly $600,000 this year’s goal of $26.2 million
that was announced in September.
The United Way Community Campaign is the largest annual health and
human service fund-raising effort in Connecticut and the second
largest in New England. More than 800 organizations in north central
Connecticut conduct workplace-based fund-raising campaigns each fall
to support the Community Campaign. The funds raised are distributed
through non-profit agencies for programs and initiatives that change
lives and improve conditions in the 40-town Capital Area.
More than 600 corporate and community leaders representing the
participating organizations were on hand at the “Victory” luncheon
celebration held at Pratt & Whitney’s hangar in East Hartford as
Patrick announced the result.
“On September 8 when I announced the $26.2 million goal, I said that
I believed we could raise $26.2 million and more. I knew that we
needed to raise more because of the important work this campaign
supports in the 40-town Capital Area. This very generous community
did not disappoint,” said Patrick. “Once
again, the degree to which this community cares about the lives of
others is shown through its generosity. This is an extraordinary result for our community.”
More than 800 organizations representing more than 200,000 employees
held fund-raising campaigns in the past three months. In addition to
Patrick, the campaign was guided by a volunteer campaign cabinet of
local corporate leaders from companies such as United Technologies
Corporation, ING, Northeast Utilities System, Sovereign Bank, and
Hartford Hospital.*
Additionally, thirteen executives representing companies such as
Pratt & Whitney, the Phoenix Companies, Hamilton Sundstrand, UPS,
and Northeast Utilities System among others, were on “loan” to work
full-time on the campaign.
“Eleven major companies plus the United Technologies family of
companies contributed two out of every three dollars raised this
year, with the UTC companies the largest contributor overall,” said
Patrick. “We are truly appreciative of the generous support these
organizations collectively provide in so many ways to our
community.”
In 2005, $27.2 million was raised through the Community Campaign.
2006 United Way Community Campaign Highlights
· The 2006 amount raised, $26,775,731, is the third highest amount raised in the campaign’s 82 year
history. $27,175,017 was raised in 2005 and $27,002,985 was
raised in 2002.
· The 2006 goal of $26.2 million was exceeded by nearly $600,000 or
nearly 3%.
· Eleven major companies (Aetna, Bank of America, Hartford Steam
Boiler, St. Paul Travelers, The Phoenix Companies, The Hartford, ING,
The Hartford Courant, MassMutual, CIGNA and Northeast Utilities
System) comprise the major corporate division which raised $11,374,909.
· The United Technologies family of companies contributed $6,941,458 to support our community through the United Way
Community Campaign and continues to be the top donor overall to
the Campaign since 1996. The UTC group accounts for 26% of all dollars contributed this year.
UTC Division highlights:
Ø The UTC Group has more than 80 employees who contribute $10,000 or
more and are members of the Tocqueville Society. .
Ø Pratt & Whitney raised
$3.3 million.
Ø Hamilton Sundstrand raised nearly $1,000,000.
Ø United Technologies Corporation exceeded goal by 21 percent and raised over $800,000.
Ø Otis raised more than $280,000.
Ø Carrier has raised nearly $243,000 and is still counting.
Ø UTC Fire and Security held its second annual campaign and raised more than $125,000.
Ø United Technologies Research Center | 
