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

 

 

2026 Scholarship Announcement

 

 

The Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc is pleased to announce the recent appointments of two new officers.  

Mrs. Michelle McCarty is our new President.  Michelle brings years of experience to the CTNGFI, helping our service members and their families. For years Michelle was the Director of the Guard Child and Family Program, within the CTNG Service Member and Family Support Center.  In her new full-time position as MACOM Prevention Specialist with the Connecticut National Guard, she works closely with CTNG leadership to help mitigate risky behavior (such as alcohol misuse, suicide and harassment).  

Ms. Melody Baber has recently been appointed as our new Treasurer.  Melody brings many years of experience of service to our state, country, service members and their families.  Melody is a veteran and retiree of the Connecticut Army National Guard, with over 20 years of service.  In addition, for many years she was the Assistant Director of the CTNG Service Member and Family Support Center.  Recently she was promoted to the position of Director of that agency.  

As happy as we are to welcome Michelle and Melody, we offer a sincere thanks and farewell to Christopher Mackenzie and Kimberly Hoffman who both recently retired as our President and Treasurer.  

For over ten years, Chris served unselfishly as our President.  Because of his vision and persistence, the Foundation not only continued to serve our service members and families, but he expanded our support to CTNG retirees, and expanded and grew our scholarships offerings.  Chris is an Iraqi war veteran, and a retired CW4 with over 30 years of service.

Kim Hoffman is one of the original founding members of our Foundation, serving as our Treasurer for over 22 years.  Kim’s service to the CT National Guard also includes over 40 years of full-time service, as a federal employee.  For the past 20 years, Kim was the Director of the CTNG Service Member and Family Support Center, until her retirement this past September.  Kim’s impact and contributions to the CTNG, as Director of this office are immeasurable.  She took a “start-up” program and grew it into a national model of how to serve and support our military members and families. 

Welcome Michelle and Melody, thank you Chris and Kim! 

 

 

The Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association

 Today the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc (CTNGFI) was among Twenty-four statewide organizations to receive a grant from The Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association Dealer Foundation. The 250 new car dealer members of the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association (CARA) award grants annually to nonprofit organizations which are based in Connecticut and which serve the community in a positive way, enhancing the quality of life in our state.

The Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc is incredibly grateful to the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association for their ongoing support. As the CTNGFI enters our Twenty-second year, CARA and Mr. Ken Crowley of the Crowley Automotive Group, have been by our side as very generous supporters and donors to our Foundation. Their dedication to our mission and our service members and families is extraordinary, and we owe them a tremendous amount of gratitude.

Today Mr. Ken Crowley, President of the Crowley Auto Group and representing the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association, presented a very generous grant to the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc. Pictured left to right are: BG Ralph Hedenberg, Assistance Adjutant General, CTNG; Ms. Melody Baber, Treasurer, CTNGFI; Mr. Ken Crowley, President, Crowley Auto Group; John Godburn, Executive Director, CTNGFI; and MG Fran Evon, The Adjutant General, CTNG. Thank you everyone!

 

 

 

             

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The Connecticut Military Corvette Club

On Thursday, February 20, 2025, The Connecticut Military Corvette Club (CMCC) presented a very generous donation to the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc. (CTNGFI).    All members of CMCC are former military service members, representing all branches of service.  Through their charitable work, they raise funds to support many different non-profits and services that directly support and positively impact military veterans.   CMCC has long been a valuable and dedicated supporter of the CTNGFI, for which we are very grateful.

Pictured left to right are BG Ralph Hedenberg, Assistant Adjutant General CTNG;  Woody Ferguson, Vice President of CMCC;  Paul Vasques, Founding Member of CMCC;  Michelle McCarty, Board Member of CTNGFI; John Godburn, Executive Director CTNGFI;  Gary Coviello, President of CMCC; Jack Scott, Secretary of CMCC; and Arthur Fredericks, Command Sergeant Major CTARNG.

 

 

 

 

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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.  

 

 

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"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.