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At our annual meeting in January, YWCA Hartford Region was thrilled to honor three deserving recipients with the
2009 Creating Opportunities Award:
We are pleased to announce that Prudential is our Corporate Partner Creating Opportunities 2009 recipient. Prudential’s long time partnership has provided significant financial and in-kind resources to assist the YWCA Hartford Region in meeting community needs. Their generous sponsorship of both the Money Conference for Women and the In the Company of Women luncheon has been greatly appreciated. In addition, Prudential has provided many great board members who have served on numerous committees.
YWCA is thrilled to honor Knox Parks Foundation as our Business Partner Creating Opportunities recipient for 2009. Knox Parks Foundation has been a strong partner with the YWCA. The Green Crew has done a marvelous job of caring for our properties while giving young people job skills. We are also very grateful for their collaboration with us in landscaping at the Growing Tree and providing a horticultural experience for our Young Women’s Leadership Corps. The Knox Parks Foundation management and staff have worked closely with the YWCA to make our facilities and grounds beautiful.
Debra Palermino is the Leadership Creating Opportunities recipient for 2009. We appreciate Debra’s extraordinary commitment and guidance. Her six years serving on the board of directors, which included two years as President and a year as co-chair of the luncheon, were critical to our success at a turning point in the organization. She has been very generous personally, and a great advocate for the ongoing support of MassMutual for the YWCA. Debra’s extensive time, commitment, and leadership have been truly inspirational for this organization.
2008 Creating Opportunities Awards: In the Corporate Partner Categorywe are pleased to announce that Northeast Utilitiesis our 2008 recipient. Northeast Utilities’ long time partnership has provided significant financial and in-kind resources to assist the YWCA in meeting community needs. Northeast Utilities is a sponsor of the Money Conference for Women and the In the Company of Women luncheon. NU has provided many great board members who have served on numerous committees. For several years, NU has come to Camp Aya Po on United Way’s Day of Caring providing not only painting, raking and other tasks, but also skilled labor and equipment to help cut trees which has saved the YWCA thousands of dollars. NU’s commitment and leadership have been truly inspirational for this organization.
Mary Foxis the 2008 Leadership Creating Opportunities Awardhonoree because of her dedication and commitment to the YWCA. As past president and vice president of the Board of Directors, Mary’s guidance for those seven years was invaluable. We are also grateful for her time spent as a member of the nominating committee and her partnership as an advocate with Aetna for the YWCA. Her generosity and leadership are limitless, and a true inspiration.
Marge Albanois the 2008 Volunteer Creating Opportunities Award recipient. Marge has played a crucial role as a liaison with the Young Women’s Leadership Corps and has been a motivation and inspiration to many of the young women involved in the program. We are so grateful for her commitment and dedication to the YWLC and the YWCA.
In the Business Partner Creating Opportunities category we are pleased to announce that Chrysalis Centeris the 2008 recipient. Chrysalis Center has been a strong partner with the YWCA since the very beginning of Soromundi Commons. Their collaboration with the YW in the development and implementation of the program continues to make Soromundi Commons one of the strongest supportive housing projects in the state. The Chrysalis Center management and staff have worked closely with the YWCA to make this initiative so successful and we greatly appreciate their continued alliance.
2007 CREATING OPPORTUNITIES AWARD WINNERS:
Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center is our 2007 recipient in the Business Partner Category. Saint Francis Care and the YWCA partnered in 1999 to establish the Growing Tree Early Learning Center located on Garden Street in Hartford. As landlord, Saint Francis has been a trusted and committed partner in ensuring that this vital child care site, which also includes the Time Out for Parents program, meets the needs of the people in the neighborhood. This year, Saint Francis Hospital donated the Growing Tree building to the YWCA. We are grateful for their assistance and generosity to ensure that this program continues to thrive.
Marion Griffin is the 2007 Individual award honoree because of her dedication and commitment to the YWCA for almost 15 years. In the mid-90's she served on the Board and as President of the Board of Directors. Marion has been an advocate for the YWCA and was a force behind the implementation of the Money Conference for Women where she currently serves on the Steering Committee. We thank her for her many years of loyal service and generous support.
2007 marks the 25th anniversary that the Towns of Manchester and West Hartford have been involved with the YWCA. We began our childcare programs in both towns with the cooperation of local officials. Both towns have been great supporters of YWCA programs and activities through the years and we salute them for their partnership and involvement. Currently the YWCA provides after school, nursery school and TOP program services in Manchester. The Elmwood Early Learning Center and KidsLink after school programs care for children in West Hartford.
2006 CREATING OPPORTUNITIES AWARD WINNERS:
Sherry Manetta is the recipient of our 2006 award because of her exemplary individual support of the YWCA. In her nomination, Debra Palermino, Board President said “Sherry Manetta is a past board president. She led the YWCA board during a period of significant turmoil. She is always available to the organization to discuss issues and challenges where her advice would be beneficial. She is among the early backers of the In the Company of Women luncheon and remains one of the most productive members of the Sponsorship Committee. Sherry is also a generous individual donor to the organization.”
We are pleased to announce that the Kaplan Early Learning Company is our 2006 recipient. The Kaplan Early Learning Company and Dave Kulick in particular have worked with the YWCA to develop an innovative collaboration to help improve the quality of preschool services that we are able to offer our children and families. Beyond sharing our vision for a new and improving Growing Tree, Mr. Kulick arranged for the Kaplan Company to donate a complete preschool classroom of equipment and learning materials to our center valued at approximately $17,000. Without the actual support of Kaplan, we would still be working to raise the dollars necessary to implement this important change. is the recipient of our 2006 award because of her exemplary individual support of the YWCA.
The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is our organization Creating Opportunities recipient for 2006. The Hartford Foundation has been a long time supporter of the YWCA and the community in so many ways. The Multi Service Agency Initiative has helped and continues to help us strengthen our infrastructure so that we can more effectively serve our clients. We have also been part of the Brighter Futures Initiative, received technical support grants and the foundation was a key funder of the renovation of our emergency shelter at Soromundi Commons. Our staff continues to benefit from the wonderful seminars and other services sponsored by the Nonprofit Support Program.
