mahatma gandhi - cjw.org · 2 | p a g e director amy neves, [email protected] 860-951-2242...

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1 | Page Connecticut Junior Women, Inc. VOL. 2015 ISSUE 1 JANUARY 2015 “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”, Mahatma Gandhi Diane Neri, editor, Media Coordinator: [email protected] http://cjw.org Join us on Facebook! Click on the link. CONTENTS Director ............................................................................................................................... 2 Assistant Director ................................................................................................................ 3 Immediate Past Director/Leadership/Parliamentarian ......................................................... 4 Corresponding Secretary .................................................................................................... 4 Treasurer/Ways & Means ................................................................................................... 5 Recording Secretary ........................................................................................................... 6 Arts & Education .................................................................................................................. 6 Conservation & Current Affairs ........................................................................................... 7 Health & HomeLife.............................................................................................................. 8 Junior Bulletin, Media Coordinator ...................................................................................... 8 Juniorettes .......................................................................................................................... 9 Long Term Affiliation (LTA) ................................................................................................. 9 Meeting Planner.................................................................................................................. 9 Ways and Means ................................................................................................................ 9 Charter Oak ...................................................................................................................... 10 Dogwood .......................................................................................................................... 10 Regal Monarchs................................................................................................................ 11 S.H.O.R.E. ........................................................................................................................ 12 Wildbury............................................................................................................................ 12 This and That .................................................................................................................... 13

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1 | P a g e

Connecticut Junior Women, Inc.

VOL. 2015 ISSUE 1 JANUARY 2015

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”, Mahatma Gandhi

Diane Neri, editor, Media Coordinator: [email protected]

http://cjw.org

Join us on Facebook! Click on the link.

CONTENTS

Director ............................................................................................................................... 2

Assistant Director ................................................................................................................ 3

Immediate Past Director/Leadership/Parliamentarian ......................................................... 4

Corresponding Secretary .................................................................................................... 4

Treasurer/Ways & Means ................................................................................................... 5

Recording Secretary ........................................................................................................... 6

Arts & Education .................................................................................................................. 6

Conservation & Current Affairs ........................................................................................... 7

Health & HomeLife .............................................................................................................. 8

Junior Bulletin, Media Coordinator ...................................................................................... 8

Juniorettes .......................................................................................................................... 9

Long Term Affiliation (LTA) ................................................................................................. 9

Meeting Planner.................................................................................................................. 9

Ways and Means ................................................................................................................ 9

Charter Oak ...................................................................................................................... 10

Dogwood .......................................................................................................................... 10

Regal Monarchs................................................................................................................ 11

S.H.O.R.E. ........................................................................................................................ 12

Wildbury............................................................................................................................ 12

This and That .................................................................................................................... 13

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DIRECTOR

Amy Neves, [email protected] 860-951-2242

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”, Mahatma Gandhi

On each New Year’s Eve I always get asked the question about what my New Year’s resolution is going to be and each year I have a very difficult time thinking of one (that is realistic). It’s mainly because, honestly, I’m probably not going to stick to it anyhow so why publicly announce my already defeated idea? However, not picking a resolution is kind of like selfishly saying that all is well and there is nothing worth changing about yourself or your circumstances, which we all know is hogwash because we all have something that we desire to work on; regardless of how small. I was bothered by this and contemplated for a long time why I have not ever been able to stick to my Resolution. I kept answering the question with “it was too challenging and no one was holding me accountable for the results” and thus already doomed. My excuse was not acceptable, but was the reality of the situation. Many moons ago, my cousin would come over my house at 6 AM every day to work out with me and I never missed a day because of laziness. When circumstances changed and we stopped working out together in the mornings, I stopped as well. Why – because I no longer had that commitment to someone else and I gave into the excuses. Being committed to something that is bigger than us as individuals gives us reason and purpose. When that is gone, crumbling within is eminent.

This is not different for CJW. Each of our clubs is part of something bigger and we have achieved success because of our unity. Together we can support, celebrate, educate and contemplate; and we can do it uniformly and more effectively. Becoming part of something bigger gives you availability to resources that you normally would not be able to access, allows you to share ideas more broadly and can expand your voice. Yes, success is possible individually, but it is so much more challenging and why struggle when you don’t have too?

So with that, I challenge each club to take a hard look at itself internally and ask the question – would my club be more successful if it were more actively participating with CJW? If you do not know what CJW does and what it can offer your club then you cannot reasonably say no to that question and so I urge you to become more active by attending a CJW Conference or at least reach out to me to have a discussion around support and opportunities that are available. If your club is already an active participant with CJW, then you are well aware of the support and resources that are available and I look forward to feedback that can help make this wonderful organization even stronger.

Happy New Year and best of luck with your resolutions!

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ASSISTANT DIRECTORS

Maryellen Friedrich, [email protected] Alison Wells, [email protected]

Marketing your club

Marketing your club is essential to attract new members. Unfortunately, it may not produce results right away, but don’t let that discourage you… keep at it. Consistent pictures and articles in local papers and on Social Media will get your Club’s name and projects out to the public. Marketing is also essential in creating awareness to the community as to who you are and what you do.

Marketing can be simple:

1. Website – every club should have one. It’s important to keep it current. Reference your

website in all your advertisements and correspondence.

2. Social Media – utilize Facebook, LinkedIn

3. Club Brochure – every club should have one.

4. Media – newspaper, television, radio. All are effective media avenues, seek out the free

ones! Send press releases and photos to local newspapers. Make this a club goal to send

something in at least once a quarter. Remember to include Club Website, Facebook Page

and email address.

5. Club Clothing – easy way to promote your club! Member shirts, hats, or other apparel –

wear at all your events.

6. Partner with another community group/ attend others functions and have a table or booth at

functions such as: Fire Station open houses, Girls Scout events, local festivals…your local

library is also a great resource!

7. Signs… roadside signs should be placed at all your events

8. Business Cards – Have each member keep a few in her purse with Club contact info. You

never know when a recruitment opportunity will present itself!

9. Flyers- A great way to reach out to the community! “Word” has a library of flyers. Always

include the CJW logo on your flyer. Submit to CJW Director, once approved, she will

forward to the Corresponding Secretary to forward to all Club Presidents. More people

reached the better!

10. Word of Mouth! – Probably one of the most effective marketing tools. Don’t be afraid to

“talk up” your club and community service activities.

Being a “Junior” offers many opportunities for a positive impact on our communities, as well as opportunities to make new friends and have social gatherings.

Looking for more info??

CJW Blue Book has wonderful and plentiful suggestions and information

Much thanks to Diane Neri for compiling and sharing Marketing strategies at the CJW 2014 Fall Conference. Some info “borrowed” as written above. Some of the websites and look-ups as noted in her handout are as follows:

How to Get Free Radio Advertising

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How to Publicize an Event

Printable Template

www.myscrapnook.com

http://www.ehow.com/how_5084237_advertise-event/html (underscore line at open spots)

Press Release

Happy New Year!

Maryellen and Alison

IMMEDIATE PAST DIRECTOR/LEADERSHIP/PARLIAMENTARIAN

Kathy Znosko, [email protected]

Happy New Year

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY

Diane Neri, [email protected]

We are happy to promote your club events. Please submit your flyers (must include a CJW logo) to Amy Neves for approval.

Please remember to let CJW know of any change in officers. Please send us the following information:

CLUB Name

F_NAME L_NAME OFFICE EMAIL ADDRESS CITY ZIP PHONE

We are also collecting official club mailing addresses. If your club uses a PO Box or has a physical address please include it with the names of your officers.

Please send this information to [email protected]

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TREASURER/WAYS & MEANS

Wendy Gamba, [email protected], 203-859-5729

If you need any pins or other supplies please let me know, and I can mail them out to you.

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a happy and healthy holiday season. This time of year people tend to make resolutions, make a family or household blueprint for the upcoming year or other types of strategic planning. Along those lines, perhaps there are some tactical preparations that could be made to facilitate club functions! Here are some ideas:

Create a checklist o Annual filings

Secretary of State annual reports 990N filings Presidents Report to CJW (due in March!) Budget creation and approval

o Annual Payments Insurance (due in July) Post Office Box Rental Fees Chamber of Commerce Dues Annual disbursements from the Club Treasury

o Quarterly activities Dues transmission to CJW Review Budget to Actual data

o Monthly Activities Bank Reconciliations Financial Report to Club

Recruit your replacement o The treasurer position is often one of the hardest positions to fill. Members

generally think that a financial background is a prerequisite. It doesn’t have to be with the right preparation! Unless you want to be Treasurer forever (which also is not a good idea!) you need to prepare someone else to take over the duties.

o Organize your files Make it as easy as possible to transition your duties with an organized file

box of permanent files and at least three years of historical data Ensure that your paper trail is clear

The easiest way for a new person to get acclimated is by being able to look back on how things were done prior. Be diligent about making notes for the next person.

Create Efficiency o Inundated with paper? Maybe software can help. There are discounts available to

non-profits. If you would like more information, please contact me before you purchase.

o Not inundated with paper, but struggling to keep track of the comings and goings? Perhaps a check request form would assist. As your club members to complete a form with the pertinent details, and attach receipts to make your disbursement process more accountable.

Restock your Treasurers Supplies

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o You definitely need checks and deposit slips on hand, but what about those other items that you always scramble for? The treasury function is not something you want to pinch pennies on (not that you need an enormous budget either). Have the necessary items on hand:

Stamps Envelopes Receipt Book Calculator Pens (including Red) and pencils Paper clips, stapler Post It notes Bank stamp “For Deposit Only” Folder/3 Ring Binder or other mechanism to store your paper trail File box (well organized, see above)

And if you are still reading at this point, you probably are your clubs Treasurer. Everyone else would have skipped to the next section by now. And, in case you haven’t already been told…Thank you for taking on the responsibility of Treasurer. It is often a thankless job and one that is hard to transition out of. At times it can feel overwhelming. If this is the case and you need further guidance, please reach out and let me know. I am here to help and no question is too small. Happy planning!

Wendy

RECORDING SECRETARY

No report

How would you like to become a “behind the scenes” member of the greatest organization in CT? We have an opening for a Recording Secretary for CJW. If you are

interested please contact Amy Neves [email protected]. The job description is

available at www.cjw.org in our Blue Book.

ARTS & EDUCATION

Elizabeth Tischio, [email protected], 860-349-3065

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow.

Learn as if you were to live forever.”

~Mahatma Ghandi~

HAPPY NEW YEAR! January is the time to make resolutions. Therefore, I resolve to find closure with regard to a possible CJW 2015 State Spelling Bee. At the fall conference, clubs were told that the spelling bee is too huge an undertaking for one person. Clubs that sponsor a spelling bee were asked to say if they were willing to host this event.

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To date, there have been inquiries about whether or not we will have the spelling bee. Two years ago there was a problem with parental behavior which resulted in the cancellation of the spelling bee last year. Some schools have discontinued the spelling bee for the same reason. Teachers are also involved with testing.

It is highly unlikely that CJW will have a statewide spelling bee unless a club comes forward to host. I must know asap. Call me at 860-349-3065 after 10 am if your club is willing to tackle this project. A final decision will be announced soon.

In the meantime, I wish all Juniors a happy, healthy 2015!

Elizabeth Tischio,

December 21, 2014

CONSERVATION & CURRENT AFFAIRS

Ronnie Hollis, [email protected]

“Juniors make a difference in the lives of others”

Conservation/ Current Affairs

As of this writing we have not celebrated Christmas yet. So it may be late when you

do read this but I hope your Christmas or Holiday was all you and your family wished for.

I guess I should include Happy New Year also because you may be reading this some

time after the 1st of the New Year……

I wanted to share something that I finally was able to put together after a few

years. Because New England weather can be a little unpredictable, winter and summer, I put

together an emergency kit. I kind of based some of what I put in it what I would take

on a picnic. Paper goods, paper plates and bowls, napkins, plastic forks, spoons, knives

and cups. Assortment of can goods, don't forget the hand can opener. They also make a

milk that does not need refrigeration till you open it. It has a long shelf life, and you can

not tell the difference its call Parmalat. If you have an outside grill to cook on or a generator

both will help. I also found out that Crank Out Lights and a Crank Out Radio to be very helpful

no batteries needed. They also make solar ones.

Most of the storms that we get, we get some warning of so one of the last things I make

sure I do is fill up one of the bath tub with water, I mostly use it for flushing the toilet. Speaking

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of water make sure you have plenty of something to drink. I make sure that we have enough of

everything for a week just in case and I praying I never have to go more than a day.

Remember to always practice safety

If your club has Projects in the Conservation or Current Affairs Department that you would

like to share please let me know and I would feature it in my article.

Ronnie

HEALTH & HOMELIFE

While we continue to seek a Health and Homelife Chairperson I will share some motivating thoughts:

Did you know that of all the people who make New Year’s Resolutions only 8% of them carry them out? We start of the new year with all sorts of good intentions but maybe our resolutions are just too difficult to attain, and that only leads to feelings of despair. If we feel that changes are needed in our lives it’s more realistic to incorporate small, attainable changes with definable goals. Make it easy. Make it possible. Make it rewarding.

As a scrapbook enthusiast I am combining my New Year’s Resolution with my hobby in a

workshop on www.bigpictureclasses.com called Move More Eat Well. Each day during the

month of January we receive motivating emails from the leader which include prompts to chronicle our journey in a Project Life album. The small changes and support of other members will make (hopefully) it more painless to get on track for a healthy start to a new year.

JUNIOR BULLETIN, MEDIA COORDINATOR

Diane Neri, 14 Beach Road, Clinton, CT 06413, [email protected] 860-669-8333 cell: 860-389-5650

Passwords for all internal documents will be (shhhh, don’t tell anyone) ‘cjw’. All lower case.

News Flash: The deadline for newsletter submissions is ALWAYS the 20th of the month. All officers and committees are required to submit an article each month. It doesn’t need to be a 500 word essay but should be checked for spelling and grammar. The purpose for this newsletter is to be informative and motivating for our readers. You know an article is due each month so you shouldn’t be caught by surprise when the deadline rolls around. Be prepared and write articles in advance.

Pictures! I need pictures of your club events. Let me see what you’re doing and please identify people in the pictures and the when-what-where-and why so I can

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incorporate them in Amy’s memory book (and add them to our web page if you’d like). Send electronically in .pdf format, please, and put “Amy’s Album” in the subject line.

JUNIORETTES

No report

LONG TERM AFFILIATION (LTA)

Michelle Cook [email protected]

See the Perimeter Newsletter, attached to this Bulletin.

MEETING PLANNER

Nicole Maxellon [email protected]

WAYS AND MEANS

Wendy Gamba, [email protected]

CJW has just what you need to…..welcome new members, thank speakers or other visitors to your clubs, and acknowledge that extra special effort of a club member or someone in your community!!!!

We have environmentally friend shopping bags – blue with a white CJW logo screen printed. I have about 30 in stock. PRICE $1.00/each.

We have certificates of appreciation – Quantity – unlimited – PRICE $1.00 for 10.

We have CJW pads – approximately 6”x4”; white with a blue logo printed – PRICE $2.50 for 5.

We have CJW Post It Notes –white with a blue logo printed – PRICE $2.00 for 10.

We have fleece jackets – quantity is limited – sizing runs small – 1 Medium; 2 – 2XL; 1 – 3XL. Blowout fall special PRICE $10 each.

We have fanny packs! PRICE $3 each.

We also have small quantities of pens, pencils and key chains.

Want to buy in bigger quantities? Let me know and we can offer volume discounts!!! I am happy to deliver items at Fall Conference or if you need them sooner let me know and we

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can try to find a way to not have to ship! With these extra special prices…the postage would cost more than the items!!! Hurry get yours TODAY!!!!

Wendy

CHARTER OAK

Barkhamsted Women's Club, Enfield Junior Women's Club, South Windsor Junior Women's Club, Tolland Junior Women, Vernon Junior Women’s Club, Windsor Junior Woman's Club, Tolland Juniorettes

Clubs, please send news items directly to Diane Neri with your club name and district in the Subject.

OK clubs, what have you been up to this past month? Send me ONE paragraph about your club’s last meeting. Make sure to include your club name and the District. Send to [email protected].

DOGWOOD

Donna Wesolowski, 873 Bayberry Lane, Orange, CT 06477, [email protected], 203-799-3519

Junior Women's Club of Fairfield, the Junior Woman's Club of Milford, the Monroe Women's Club, the Newtown Junior Women's Club, the Orange Community Women, the Stratford Junior Woman's Club, the Trumbull Community Women, Inc., the West Haven Junior Woman's Club, and the Orange Community Juniorettes.

Hello Everyone!!

As we start the New Year I’d like to wish all of our CJW Clubs a year full of productive planning meetings, smooth sailing service projects, and well attended ways and means fundraisers.

To friendship, laughter, smiles, and happy memories in the making!

- Donna Wesolowski, Dogwood District Advisor

Highlights and News from our Clubs:

The Stratford Junior Woman's Club held a fundraiser at Two Road's Brewery in Stratford on November 20th to benefit the Sterling House Toy Drive and Adopt-a-Family Program as well as our scholarships and other community programs we support throughout the year and raised $2600.

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Junior Woman's Club of Milford was on Facebook soliciting more gifts for their local nursing homes. They wrapped over 300 gifts but needed 161 more to make every grandparent’s day. Let’s hope they were successful in recruiting more of Santa’s elves to give them a hand.

On December 3rd, Orange Community Women held a fundraiser in support of our LTA project at Bertucci’s in Orange. The restaurant donated 15% of the total check for all diners presenting our “fundraising voucher” before their meal. The voucher could be used for take-out orders as well. It was easy, delicious and fun, and we raised approximately $190!

On December 10th we held our annual Holiday Gathering with our friends at Silverbrook Senior Center. We were joined by our Juniorettes who did a great job in assisting the Residents with the craft project, as well as serving the refreshments. We did some traditional caroling and ended the evening with a grab bag! Each Resident left with their gift, craft project, and a goody bag filled with cookies baked by each OCW member. This is always a fun evening, and one that both the Residents and OCW looks forward to.

Coming up on December 20th, we will hold a gift wrapping fundraiser at Barnes & Noble in Milford. Gift wrapping is free, but we will have a tip jar, and any monies raised are earmarked for our LTA and other projects. Have a wonderful holiday season everyone! Happy New Year from Orange Community Women!

In December, the Orange Community Juniorettes completed their first pet food drive (Wonderland Waggin Tails) to benefit the Milford Animal Shelter. We collected a combination of pet food and related items with an approximate value of $250 along with monetary donations totaling $186. Additionally the group is donating $50 out of their account. We are next going to be working on our 2nd annual toy drive to benefit the Yale Toy Closet in the month of January. More to come on that, along with a flyer to promote the drive.

REGAL MONARCHS

Junior Woman's Club of Berlin, Central Connecticut Community Woman's Club, Inc., Glastonbury Junior Women's Club, Hebron Women's Club, Marlborough Junior Woman's Club, Simsbury Junior Woman's Club, Hebron Juniorettes

Clubs, until you get a District Advisor please send your news directly to Diane Neri or Amy Neves.

Please indicate in your subject that you are a Regal Monarchs District club.

OK clubs, what have you been up to this past month? Send me ONE paragraph about your club’s last meeting. Make sure to include your club name and the District. Send to [email protected].

News from the Central Connecticut Community Women’s Club (CCCWC)

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The Central Connecticut Community Women’s Club (CCCWC) would like to wish everyone in the Cromwell and Central CT area a Happy New Year! December was a busy month for the club. They shopped for holiday gifts for Veteran’s from the VA Hospital in Rocky Hill, decorated the Music Room of the Frisbee House as part of the Cromwell Historical Society’s Christmas Open house and announced the winner of the Christmas tree and Ornament giveaway they sponsored. Our winner took home a live tree filled with ornaments donated by CCCWC! The New Year brings the start of many more activities for the Club. They are currently planning for the 2015 Cromwell Women of the Year Award as well as a membership event which will be open to prospective new members..

S.H.O.R.E.

Durham Woman's Club, Haddam Junior Woman's Club, Lyme-Old Lyme Junior Women's Club, Shoreline Community Women, Inc., Wallingford Community Women

I challenge other S.H.O.R.E. district clubs to send me a paragraph or a photo of what your club did at your last meeting. Send it to

[email protected]. Better yet, would

someone like to step up and join the CJW Board as District Advisor?

December 14th members of Shoreline Community Women went caroling at Peregrine’s Landing, a memory care facility in Clinton.

Shoreline Community Women hosted a Christmas Dinner for the residents of the senior housing complex in Clinton on December 18th. Our January meeting will be a Reject Social/Pajama Party. Join us if you dare! We’ll be having “Make Your Own Sundaes” for those who have already chucked their dieting resolutions.

WILDBURY

Beacon Falls Junior Woman's Club, Bethlehem Junior Women's Club, Junior Woman's Club of Bristol, Cheshire Junior Women's Club, Junior Women's Club of Litchfield Hills, Middlebury Community Women's Club, Southbury Junior Women's Club, Junior Woman's Club of Watertown, Junior Women's Club of Wolcott, Woodbury Junior Women's Club, Southbury Juniorettes, Wolcott Juniorettes, Woodbury Juniorettes

OK clubs, what have you been up to this past month? Send me ONE paragraph about your club’s last meeting. Make sure to include your club name and the District. Send to

[email protected].

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THIS AND THAT

(anyone who wants to can stop reading here, but you may miss a really good recipe or project idea)

Do you have a SmartPhone or iPhone? Do you take pictures with it, or wish you knew more about

the amazing photos that are possible with your phone? Did you know that there is such a thing as

“phonography”? Go ahead and put it in your search engine and see what pops up. There are free, or

practically free, sites that will guide you through the basics and clue you in to the many apps

available to enhance your photo experience. I’m trying to do a “365 Project” where you post a photo

every day. Some sites give you daily prompts and challenges to make it more exciting. I’m using an

app called Photo365 and I’m trying to take pics of things that are important to me each day so at the

end of the year I can have a visual “diary” of 2015. Hopefully it will be more than just photos of my

dog!

November 2014 Edition

Greetings! With the holidays fast approaching we wanted to take a

moment and share with you some heartwarming stories in

the November issue of The Perimeter! From recognizing

Veterans Day to celebrating Thanksgiving it was certainly a

busy month. Scroll down to read more and we wish

everyone a wonderful holiday!

Homes for the Brave in the News

This past Veteran's Day WFSB News Channel 3 featured

three segments about Homes for the Brave and Female Soldiers:

In This Month's

Issue...

Channel 3 News

2014 Annual Report

Grants Awarded

Giving Back

GIVE NOW

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Forgotten Heroes. The stories are part of their series "Keeping

the Promise" and focus on the work that the state of

Connecticut is doing to help its Veterans.

Click here to see Cynthia's story

Click here to see Alex's story

Click here to see Andrew, Fred and Stephen talk about

Homes for the Brave

Annual Report 2014 & Honor Cards

Our 2014 Annual Report has been widely received! If you

have not had the chance to flip through it yet click here.

We would like to thank everyone who has supported our

2014 Annual Appeal so far. Your contributions mean the

world to us.

A sample of our Honor Card.

Click here to send one!

Needed Items

Coffee

Sugar

Creamer

New t-shirts

Toilet Paper

Napkins

Paper Towels

Brownie Mix

Pillows (new)

Stop & Shop or Shoprite gift cards

Silverware

Shout Outs

-Westport Arts

Center

-buildOn

-New Castle

Hotels & Resorts

-Assumption

School Parish

-Bigelow Tea

-Vitas Innovative

Hospice Care

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Please click here for more information.

Grants Awarded

TD Bank

A $5,000 grant from the TD Charitable Foundation will help ABRI to implement a plan for a personalized approach through presentations and individual conversations to reach out to female veterans and service providers so as many women as possible may benefit from ABRI's Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes (FS:FH) transitional housing program at the PFC Nicholas A. Madaras Home in Bridgeport. Community outreach includes offering peer support for the residents and providing for their security while generating referrals from current residents to maximize the program's 15 bed capacity.

Bank of America

A $2,500 grant from the Bank of America Foundation will

help support an on-site legal services initiative for

ABRI/Homes for the Brave. Services will be provided by a

staff attorney from the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center

(CVLC), a statewide non-profit based in West Haven that

leverages the pro-bono work of local attorneys from CVLC's

network of 500 volunteers. Legal help removes barriers to

employment and housing by addressing many issues such

as eligibility for veterans' benefits, criminal records,

suspended drivers licenses and child custody matters.

Newman's Own Foundation

In November Female Soldiers Forgotten Heroes was awarded a $30,000 grant from Newman's Own Foundation. The grant will support the healthy eating program at the PFC Nicholas A. Madaras home. We are very grateful for the continued support from Newman's Own Foundation!

Southport Congregational Church

-Teamsters Local

1150

-St. Andrew

Church Social

Concerns

Committee

-SUNY Maritime

College

-Trumbull

Community

Women

-Newman's Own

Foundation

-Christel Truglia &

Friends

-Knights of

Columbus St.

Matthew Council

14360

-Fox Run

Elementary School

-Southport

Congregational

Church

-The Sun Products

Charitable Fund

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The Southport Congregational Church supported Homes

for the Brave with a $2,000 grant to facilitate the paving of

the back walk way. The newly paved walkway will be

much easier to maintain in the

coming winter months and will

be great assistance to our

handicapped residents. We are

looking forward to sprucing up

the surrounding grass areas

and gardens when the weather

warms up next spring!

Giving Back

Homes for the Brave Bowl

Cromwell High and Coginchaug - Durham High held their

2nd Annual Homes for the Brave Bowl on Thanksgiving.

The day was a huge success, over $800 was raised and they

filled up a car with donations to send back to Bridgeport. In

a great show of sportsmanship and community both teams

joined forces to help shovel snow off the field before the

game!

-Project

Hometown

Support

-Connecticut

Community Bank

-Foran High School

-Middlebrook

Elementary School

-Cathedral

Academy

-Orange

Community

Women

-Middlebrook

School

-E & Company

-Port 5 Naval

Veterans - Men's

& Women's

Auxiliary

And to those we

neglected to

mention here -

thank you!

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SUNY Maritime College

Tributes

In Memory of Al Waters

In Memory of Anthony Caseria

In Memory of Nick Madaras

In Memory of Michael Heeks

In Memory of Mark E. Fogle

In Memory of Nathan Boyden

In Honor of Ralph Conotti

In Honor of Roz Liss

In Honor of Herman and Meri Ogrinc

In Memory of George Wilson, Joseph Tomelleri and August Tomelleri

In Honor of COL & Mrs. James P. Oppenheim

In Memory of Dr. Paul Errera

In Memory of Edward J. Labacz Sr.

In Memory of All those that serve others

In Honor of David

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On Veterans Day Homes for

the Brave had a memorable

visit. Cadets from the SUNY

Maritime College drove all the

way from the Bronx to

Bridgeport to drop off new

clothing for our residents! We

greatly appreciate them having

made the trip to visit us on

Veterans Day.

Middlebrook School Supply Drive

Middlebrook School in Wilton

held their annual PFC Nicholas A.

Madaras supply drive this past

Veterans Day. It was another

hugely successful year in honor of

Nick. As usual the students wrote

letters to our Veteran residents.

The men and women at both

programs took time to write

special responses to each student.

We wish to thank Bill and Shalini

Madaras, as well as Middlebrook School, for keeping this

wonderful Veterans Day tradition going.

Sullivan & Susan Liszczak

In Memory of William Evanko

In Memory of Richard Evanko

In Honor of 82nd Airborne

In Honor of the Veterans at Homes for the Brave & Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes

In Memory of the Windsor and Vernon offices of Liberty Mutual Insurance

Happy Birthday Jaad

In Memory of Nick Madaras

In Honor of David A. Kiss & Albert A. Sency

In Memory of Herman F. Ogrinc

In Honor of our Brave Veterans

In Memory of All Vets who have given their lives

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One of the heartfelt responses from our Veterans residents to the

Middlebrook students.

Foran High School

Students in the Social Studies

Department at Foran High

School in Milford showed their

support for Homes for the

Brave once again! They filled

up our 15 passenger van with

much needed supplies for the

coming winter months. You

can read more about the drive from their school newspaper

here.

Tashua Elementary School

Everyone from the

Kindergarteners to the fifth

graders got involved in the

supply drive at Tashua

Elementary School in Trumbull!

They collected personal care items

and clothing for the residents and

also wrote letters to the Veterans.

Sincerely,

The Board of Directors & Staff at ABRI/Homes for the

Brave.

In Memory of Albert Freer

In Honor of Matt Gachi

In Memory of Richard Lesniewski

In Memory of Bernard V. Cromer

In Memory of Jeanne Chisefsky

In Memory of Richard Meehan Sr.

In Honor of Loyola Welsh

In Memory of Russell

Magian