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

 

 

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

Click Here

See Types of Assistance We Offer