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

 

 

CTNGFI Annual Appeal Letter

 

 

 

CONNECTICUT NATIONAL GUARD FOUNDATION INC
360 Broad Street
Hartford, Connecticut, 06105-3795

 

November 1, 2022

 

Dear Friends of the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc,

 

        I have BIG NEWS for you.  Your donations to the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc, are helping support Connecticut service members and their families, who are struggling with financial insecurity.

        Every day, more generous people, like you – from around Connecticut, and beyond – are making a difference in the lives of our soldiers, airmen and their families.  For many of these service members, it’s because generous donors have come together to support the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc for decades.  

        Many of our service members who are struggling find it hard to ask for help.  The mindset and culture within the military community is to “tough it out” and things will work themselves out.  But this is not always the case, especially for those members who have young families.  They cannot afford to ignore their problems when they have spouses and children, they are responsible for.  Your donations will help us help them.

        Will you join our family of donors, so we can continue to support and help these families in crisis?  Your gift today of $25, $50, $100 or $1,000, helps us continue in our mission of providing financial assistance to our military members and families.  

        In the past two years, the financial impact of the pandemic and multiple overseas deployments, has led to an enormous increase of requests for help, and depletion of our unrestricted funds.   We are asking you to help us build it back up. 

        Unrestricted funds are critical because they go wherever the need is the greatest.  For example, unrestricted funds can provide assistance with weekly care and emergency relief (including food & clothing); paying rent, mortgage interest and utilities; medical expenses and some dental expenses; eye examination and eye glasses; audiological examination and hearing aids; funeral expenses; home health care; yearly scholarships. 

        This is why I hope you will continue to help our service members and their families with a gift to the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc.  When you do, you are making a difference in the lives of our soldiers and airman.

        We take seriously our obligation to ensure your donations are used wisely. Our grants are not a “free ride”, given to just anyone who has a story.  We thoroughly screen all applications to ensure that the money you donate, goes to those who most deserve it.  Oftentimes we find that there are other agencies and programs, whether they be federal, state or non-profit, that can better serve our members in need.  Only when these applicants have fully exhausted all other programs, do we commit your donations – we are the charity of last resort.  

        I hope you will continue your support of the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc by making a tax-deductible donation during this year’s annual appeal.  I know there are many worthy charities, and I want to thank you for continuing to support us, and the service members and families we support. 

        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.  Won’t you please consider making a donation to the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc?  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.  

       With your gift today, no matter how large or small, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that your donation will help those most in need.  

       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