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. 

 

 

Urgent Crisis Appeal

URGENT CRISIS APPEAL 

The impact of COVID19 is threatening the very existence of the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc services.  But with your help we will be able to continue providing emergency financial assistance to those service members and families in need.


April 20, 2020

Dear Friend,

This is the most important letter I have ever written.  I hope you are well, safe and are adapting to the lockdown.  I and the entire Board of Directors wish you the best.

I never thought I’d have to write something like this, but these are unprecedented times, and the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc needs your help.

The Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc was established on March 18th, 2003 and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation fully recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.  We provide temporary financial assistance, in the form of grants, for members of the Connecticut National Guard and Organized Militia, Retirees, and Family Readiness Groups.  The Foundation has also established annual educational scholarships for Connecticut National Guard members, their spouses and children, and children of Connecticut National Guard Retirees.

Our grants are used to provide immediate, emergency financial aid such as, but not limited to; weekly care and emergency relief, food assistance, rent or mortgage payments, utilities, home health care, and some medical expenses and funeral expenses.

We rely entirely on donations, and some fundraising events to support our service members in need.  During a typical year, we average 90 – 100 grant awards.  However, since March 16th, when the state lockdown began, we have received over 150 inquiries from service members requesting assistance, with more coming every day.  Most of these inquiries are from National Guard members who have been furloughed, laid off or lost their civilian jobs, as a result of the COVID19 crisis, and now have no income. 

If these requests for assistance continue to climb, which we expect they will, I am concerned that we will quickly outstrip our resources and not be able to support our members and their families in need.

In order for us to assist these families during their time of need, 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?  You can donate by sending a check or going to our website at www.ctngfi.org and clicking on the donate button.  Your contribution is fully tax deductible and helps so many.  Whether your contribution is $5 or $1,000, because the Foundation is made up entirely of volunteers, nearly all of the monies raised go directly to support our mission. 

The COVID19 pandemic is having an unimaginable impact on our services and our ability to raise funds.  As I said earlier, these are unprecedented times.  I realize that this pandemic is affecting everyone.  But if you can find it within your heart to donate, our service members and families need your help now, more than ever.

I hope that you, your family and friends are all safe as possible and I thank you for taking the time to read this.  I wouldn’t be writing to you right now if it weren’t so important.

In closing, please accept the thanks of the entire Board of Directors of the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc and the gratitude of those who have benefitted from your generosity.  Remember, your contribution, no matter how large or small, helps so many.

Sincerely,

John Godburn
Executive Director


Your contribution is deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. The Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc. is recognized as a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization with the Internal Revenue Service.  The Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc. did not provide any goods or services in consideration, in whole or in part, for this contribution.  You should retain this letter for tax purposes.