2023 Annual Appeal

 

Dear Friends of the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc,

Last year the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc (CTNGFI), provided direct financial assistance to sixty-seven service members, families and Family Readiness Groups, totaling $77,551.00. Additionally, $20,500.00 in scholarships was awarded to Connecticut National Guard service members and family members. 

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc. I wonder if the founding members of the CTNGFI thought that so many service members and families would still need financial help, twenty years after its founding. But the need does still exist!

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that these times of crippling inflation and economic turmoil have been an incredibly difficult time for all of us. 

But for those who are unemployed, or barely earning minimum wage, they are suffering more than others. Unfortunately, service members and families of the Connecticut National Guard, are among those suffering. 

Today, I am writing to you with a simple yet heartfelt plea. Will you step forward to help our service members and families during this especially dangerous and trying time by sending a charitable donation to the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc?

Your gift will make a real and practical difference in lifting up service members and their families, who are suffering. Your gift to our general fund will be used to help support our members suffering with such needs as weekly care and emergency relief, food assistance, rent or mortgage payments, utilities, home health care, medical expenses and funeral expenses.

Any one of us could find ourselves needing the support of friends and neighbors if life takes a sudden turn. Together, we can lift up our struggling service members and their families, and give them the hope and help they need. 

Yes, it is truly amazing the difference you can make today. By reaching out with your charitable donation, you will be supporting our mission of providing financial hands-on solutions to our struggling service members and their families. 

But direct financial assistance is not all that your donation will support. Operation ELF, Adopt-a-Military Family, Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, and Post Secondary Scholarships are also funded by your generous donations. These vital programs provide relief and happiness to military families who may be struggling with the pain of deployment separation, loss of employment and income, or how to pay for the escalating costs of higher education. 

Your donation, no matter how large or small, could be the lifeline to our military families and service members who have no where else to turn. Please make this special difference – a life-sustaining difference for many – by sending your contribution today to the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc. 

In order for us to assist these families, we need your help. Our hope is to continue to support our Guard family as long as the need exists, but we cannot do it alone. We need your help. Contributions can be made by check, credit card, PayPal, and now Venmo. You can donate by check or credit card, by using the enclosed reply card and envelope, or for PayPal by going to our website at www.ctngfi.org and clicking on the “how to help tab” and then the donate button. To donate by Venmo use our account name: @ctngfi. If you are using Venmo, please be sure to provide your name, address and/or email and cell number for proper acknowledgement of your donation. 

This is the season for giving thanks ... and in that spirit, thank you for all you do for our Foundation. Please send your most generous gift today.

 

Sincerely,

 

Christopher Mackenzie

Chief Warrant Officer Four (Retired)

President

 

 

FOUNDATION MISSION:

To provide temporary family assistance and support for members of the Organized Militia and National Guard of Connecticut consistent with its exclusive charitable and educational purposes.

Thank you to some of our generous donors and sponsors

The Connecticut Military Corvette Club (CMCC) recently presented a very generous donation to the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc. (CTNGFI).   CMCC has long been a valuable and dedicated supporter of the CTNGFI, for which we are very grateful. 

Pictured left to right are COL Mike Sipples, Chief of Staff;  Gary Coviello, President of CMCC;  John Godburn, Executive Director of the CTNGFI;  Paul Vasques, Charter Member of CMCC;  LTC Jason DeSousa, CTNG Joint Staff;  Melody Baber, Deputy Director of the CTNG Service Member and Family Support Center.  

Both Gary Coviello and Paul Vasques are former members of the CTARNG.  Gary is a former Platoon Sergeant, Co B, 2nd Battalion 102d Infantry and Paul served in several units, including the 118th Medical Battalion and the 169th RTI. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A special "Shout-out" to the Connecticut

     Funeral Directors Association for their extremely

       generous donation of toys and gift cards for 

       Operation ELF and Adopt a Military Family.  

 

 

 

"A very special Thank You to all of Connecticut's Republican and Democratic Legislators, their staffs, legislative aides, press aides, research teams, and the Capitol Police for their recent donatation." 

Connecticut State Representatives Lezlye Zupkus, 89th House District, Deputy Leader At-Large in the House Republican Office, and Representative Michael Quinn, 82nd House District, Assistant Majority Leader, in the House Democrat Office, recently spearheaded a fund-raising drive to support the CT National Guard Foundation, Inc. (CTNGFI).  Donations were collected from both sides of the political aisle.  All Republican and Democratic Legislators, their staffs, legislative aides, press aides, research teams, and the Capitol Police, donated.    

This is not the first year that the Legislative Body has held this fund-raising event.  Due to everyone’s hard work and generosity, a record amount of money was raised this year.  On Monday, June 5th, a check in the amount of $4,270.00 was presented to members of the CT National Guard Foundation, Inc.  All funds raised will go directly to support the 2023 Operation ELF Holiday Party for family members of deployed service members.  Operation ELF is open to all families of deployed service members from any branch of service, located in Connecticut.  

Pictured from left to right is Representative Lezlye Zupkus, 89th House District; John Godburn, Executive Director of the CTNGFI; Michelle McCarty, CTNGFI Board Member; SFC Kelly Strba, Military Service Representative, and Representative Michael Quinn, 82nd House District.  

 

 

The Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc is fortunate to be supported by so many  corporate, private and individual donors.  Two recent donations - one from MSgt Roger Beaudoin of the Connectict Air National Guard and the other from Ilia O'Hearn and Raytheon, Pratt & Whitney Division, are sincerely appreciated.  Were it not for such dedicated sponsors, the CTNGFI could not accomplish it's mission of helping service members and their families who are experiencing financial hardships. 

 

 
 

 MSgt Roger Beaudoin of the Connecticut Air National Guard, recently made a $10,000 donation to the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc. (CTNGFI).  We are incredibly grateful to him for his generosity and desire to help his fellow service members and their families, who are struggling financially.  Pictured left to right are:  John Godburn, Executive Director of the CTNGFI; MSgt Roger Beaudoin CTANG; Melody Baber, Deputy Director of the Connecticut Family and Service Member Support Center; Melissa McCarty a Family Program staff member and CTNGFI Director; and BG Ralph Hedenberg, Assistance Adjutant General, Connecticut National Guard. 

 

 

 

 

Our sincere thanks and appreciation goes out to Ilia O'Hearn and the Pratt & Whitney Division of Raytheon Technologies for their very generous donation of $10,000 to the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc.  We are very fortunate to have the support of so many corporate sponsors, like Pratt & Whitney, who give selflessly to our cause.

For twenty years our mission has been to provide financial assistance to service members and their families who are experiencing financial hardship.  We could not do this work without the help and support of our hundreds of sponsors and contributors.  To all of you goes our most heartfelt thanks and appreciation. 

ABOUT OUR FOUNDATION

The Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc. is a private nonprofit corporation organized to for the purpose of providing temporary financial assistance for Connecticut National Guard and Organized Militia members, and families who are in need.

The fund provides benefits such as clothing, food, medical and surgical aid, and general care and relief.

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