2022 Annual Appeal

 

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

 

 

Contact Us
Contact Us

How to Help

Now Accepting Online Donations Through PayPal

To Send a Donation by Check

If you want to donate to the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc, and prefer to do so by sending a check, it is very easy.

1.  Make your check out to either The Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc or CTNGFI - either is acceptable.

2.  Mail your tax-deductable donation to:   The Connecticut National Gaurd Foundation, Inc,  Gov William A. O'Neill Armory, 360 Broad Street, Hartford, CT 06105.

Use Smile.Amazon.com To Shop Online & Automatically Donate to CTNGFI

If you love to do your personal or gift shopping online using Amazon.com, please sign up and use Smile.Amazon.com instead — and designate Connecticut National Guard Foundation as your preferred charity! 

AmazonSmile.com | Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice

"Want to help make a difference while you shop in the Amazon app, at no extra cost to you?  Simply follow the instructions below to select the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc  as your charity and activate AmazonSmile in the app.  They will donate a portion of your eligible mobile app purchases to us."

How it works:

  1. Open the Amazon app on your phone
  2. Select the main menu (=) & tap on "AmazonSmile" within Programs & Features
  3. Select "Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc" as your charity
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to activate AmazonSmile in the mobile app

Fundraising Campaigns

The foundation’s annual fundraising campaign is conducted in the Fall, usually during the months of OCTOBER through DECEMBER.

Additionally, corporate contributions are accepted throughout the year.

The foundation is affiliated with Local Independent Charities of America and participates in workplace giving campaigns through them. Most notably the Combined Federal Campaign and the Connecticut Employee Campaign for charitable giving.

Additionally, the Foundation participates in various fundraising activities such as golf tournaments and other sponsored activities throughout the year.

The foundation has provided over $1.7 million dollars of financial aid to its constituents since 2003.

Of that amount, approximately $820k was in the form of individual assistance. On average we provide 95-100 individual aid grants per year. 

Approximately $547 K was provided to assist Family Readiness Groups. The FRG’s sponsor homecoming celebrations, youth programs, annual Christmas parties and other activities for the families of service members.

An additional $250 K was provided for post-secondary educational scholarships. 

Since the foundation is 100% volunteer supported and we do not pay salaries our administrative expenses are only approximately $106 K and fundraising expenses are under $190 K.

Money is available for:

Weekly care and emergency relief (including food & clothing)

Paying rent, mortgage interest, and utilities

Medical expenses and some dental expenses

Eye examination and eyeglasses, Audiological examination and hearing aids

Funeral expenses

Home health care

Yearly Scholarships

Eligibility & Qualifications

To qualify for aid, an individual must demonstrate need and be a current or retired member of the Connecticut National Guard or Organized Militia.

An eligible members spouse living with the member, surviving spouse living with him when he died, or dependent children under age 18 are also eligible for aid.

Disbursement of Aid

An individual in need completes an application for aid through the local Family Assistance Center which determines applicant eligibility for aid through our grant process and for directing disbursements

Aid will be denied or discontinued if the member secures or attempts to secure it through fraud, misrepresentation, or submission of inaccurate information.

2022 Annual Appeal

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See Types of Assistance We Offer