2024 Annual Appeal

  

November 1, 2024 

 

Dear Friends of the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc, 

 

            This has been a year of excitement as the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc (CTNGFI), celebrates our twenty-first anniversary!  As we reflect on twenty-one years of service, we are grateful for the enduring support of generous people like you who have made a profound difference in the lives of our service members and their families.   We celebrate the remarkable achievements made possible by the collective generosity and commitment of donors, partners, and friends like you who play a critical role in addressing the pressing needs of our service members, and supporting our initiatives and programs.  

            As we embrace our history, we also cast our gaze forward with a renewed sense of purpose and ambition for meeting our service members and family’s needs. Today I ask you to again join us in making a lasting impact by supporting our work and contributing what you can. 

            Your gift will make a positive 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. 

            I’m not entirely sure why, but this year we have seen a marked increase in assistance requests.  To date, we have awarded $75,000 in assistance grants, with two months remaining in the year. Additionally, we have awarded $24,500 in post-secondary scholarships.  I fully expect this increasing trend to continue. 

The past few years, the Connecticut National Guard saw fewer numbers of servicemembers deployed, but this is about to change.  Over the next two years, more than 1,000 servicemembers are expected to deploy.  They will be supporting missions in such countries and locations as the Middle East and Europe. 

Past experience has shown us that many of our deployed servicemembers and their families struggle financially during these deployments.  With deployments on the rise, we fear this demand for help, will not only continue, but will increase.  We need your help.

            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

 

P.S.  If you are age 701/2 or older, have you considered making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA to the Foundation?  For those over 72, such gifts may be counted toward your Required Minimum Distribution for the year.  Please also consider including the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc. in your estate plans.  Your legacy gift can create a lasting impact and contribute to the long-term well-being of our foundation.  

*Before making any estate plans always consult a qualified financial advisor or planner to discuss your particular situation, needs and goals. 

 

 

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 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!

 

 

 

             

                            _______________________________________

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

_________________________

 

  

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.

View our Annual Appeal Letter

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