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

 

 

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SGT Felix M. Del Greco, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Connecticut National Guard Foundation Scholarships

The purpose of the SGT Felix M. Del Greco, Jr. Scholarship is to honor his memory by awarding  annual scholarship(s) to children of Connecticut Army National Guard members who are attending an accredited undergraduate degree program. 

For the 2023 - 2024 academic year we are pleased to announce that three  $4,000.00 scholarships will be awarded. 

Applications for this scholarship must be obtained from the Connecticut Community Foundation (CCF), at their website:  http://www.conncf.org.   This is the only application accepted for this scholarship.  All completed applications must be returned to CCF by the date specified on their application.    

For students who are a son or daughter of a current member of the CT Army National Guard:

  • Applicant does not need to reside in the Foundation’s 21-town service area.
  • Applicant must be attending an accredited college degree or technical program
  • Additional reference letter required, which must specifically address character traits 
  • Merit-based: Financial information not required for this fund

Apply & Get More Information at this Link

The SGT Felix M. Del Greco, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

The SGT Felix M. Del Greco, Jr  Memorial Scholarship was established on April 16, 2004.  The purpose is to provide an annual scholarship(s) to dependent children of Connecticut Army National Guard members, to honor the memory of SGT Felix M. Del Greco, Jr., who was killed in action in Iraq on April 9, 2004.  He was the first member of the Connecticut National Guard to die in Iraq.

Felix was born on July 18, 1981 to Felix M. Del Greco, Sr., and Claire Del Greco.  A lifelong resident of Simsbury, he graduated from Simsbury High School in 1999.  Felix was active in many school activities to include playing trumpet in the jazz band and working as part of the backstage technical crew on school plays and performances.  He was also a Boy Scout, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, of which he was very proud.

As a teen, Felix always had an interest in the military and enlisted in the Connecticut Army National Guard on March 30, 1999, while still in high school.  He joined Headquarters Company, 242d Engineer Battalion, and shipped to Basic Training in June 1999. 

In January 2001 Felix transferred to Company B, 1st Battalion, 102d Infantry where he volunteered to deploy to Bosnia on a peacekeeping mission.  While serving in Bosnia for six months, he earned the distinction of Soldier of the Rotation amongst over 10,000 multi-national forces.  He returned from Bosnia in March 2002.

In April 2003, SGT Del Greco volunteered to deploy again, this time in support of Operation Nobel Eagle III as part of the homeland defense ordered by President Bush.  He was stationed at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY.

After nine months at West Point, SGT Del Greco returned to Connecticut in December 2003 only to immediately volunteer to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II.  He transferred to Company C, 1st Battalion, 102d Infantry in Bristol as an Automatic Rifleman.  Company C left Connecticut for Fort Hood, Texas, on January 8, 2004 and became part of the 39th Infantry Brigade, Arkansas Army National Guard.   

The unit arrived in Kuwait in March 2004 and began patrolling in Baghdad, Iraq in April.  SGT Felix Del Greco was killed on April 9, 2004 when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb and gunfire. 

His military awards include:   The Bronze Star,  Purple Heart,  Army Commendation Medal,  Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster,  Army Good Conduct Medal,  Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal,  National Defense Service Medal,  Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal,  Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal,  Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,  Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device (2d Award),  Noncommissioned Officer’s Professional Development Ribbon,  Army Service Ribbon,  NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge.