Community Access

We spoke with Dave Kinahan and Lauren Messner from Connecticut CASA, an organization that trains volunteers to advocate for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. CASA volunteers, like Dave, work closely with the child, family, and other stakeholders to ensure the child's best interests are met. Donations support the training and supervision of these volunteers. CASA has over 150 active cases in Connecticut, primarily serving children aged 10 to 18.

We spoke with Steve Boyle about the origins of 2-4-1 Sports, a nonprofit promoting multi-sport participation, which transitioned to a nonprofit in 2021, expanding its reach significantly. They emphasize the importance of not specializing in one sport early and the benefits of social-emotional learning through sports. Steve highlights their work in underserved areas, including Baltimore and Hartford, and their various sports programs, such as Ultimate Team Handball and fencing.

We spoke with Andrew Montgomery about Sarah's Hope, a charity launched in memory of his daughter Sarah, who passed away from a rare blood cancer. Sarah's story gained attention through her TikTok updates, and the charity aims to raise $100,000 over five years, with $30,000 already raised. The charity is linked to Dana Farber and the Jimmy Fund, where Sarah received treatment. An upcoming event, Art Harmony and Hope, will be held on July 11 to raise funds and honor Sarah. The event will feature local artists, a band, and catering, with sunflowers as the theme, symbolizing Sarah's favorite flower.

We spoke with Kevin Prue from Donate Life Connecticut. Kevin explains that Donate Life Connecticut focuses on organ donation awareness and increasing registrations to save lives. He shares his personal story of receiving a liver transplant on Thanksgiving Day 2022, highlighting the quick regeneration of the liver. Kevin emphasizes the importance of awareness and fundraising, noting that Donate Life Connecticut keeps overhead low to maximize impact.

We spoke with Kathryn Schubert from the Connecticut Humane Society (CHS) about their involvement in the Birdies for Charity program at the Travelers Championship. Connecticut Humane Society offers various services, including pet food assistance, free vaccine clinics, and emergency veterinary funds to help pet owners. They are currently experiencing high adoption rates, particularly for cats and kittens. Volunteers are needed for tasks like cleaning and socializing animals.

We spoke with Ryan Pettengill from the Dear Jack Foundation about their focus on supporting adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer, aged 15-39, through quality of life support, mental health resources, and community building. Ryan shares his personal connection to the cause, highlighting the lack of support for AYA patients and the importance of community. The foundation uses 85% of donations for programs like wish granting, retreats, and virtual support, emphasizing the need for mental health support post-treatment.

We spoke with Steve Morris from the Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford about the organization's mission to improve literacy among adults, serving 19% of Hartford's population who read at or below the second-grade level. The nonprofit, established in 1972, offers classes in English, reading, writing, and citizenship preparation, with 100-125 volunteers annually. Steve highlighted a success story of a veteran who overcame illiteracy and built a bookshelf to display his reading achievements. The organization serves over 500 students annually and encourages community engagement and volunteerism.

We spoke with Jennifer O'Neill from Caritas Immigration Legal Services about their work providing legal assistance to low-income immigrant families in Central Connecticut. Caritas, formed in 2022, addresses the lack of affordable, trustworthy legal services for immigrants, many of whom are vulnerable to scams. They offer consultations, information, and legal representation. Jennifer shares a personal story about a mother seeking status for her children after being scammed by a private attorney. Donations to Caritas support their mission, funding services like information provision and legal consultations.

We spoke with Larisa Kottke from Leadership Greater Hartford at the Travelers Championship. Leadership Greater Hartford aims to develop and connect leaders to strengthen Greater Hartford, focusing on community leadership. Their programs, including training for nonprofit board members, foster collaboration across various sectors. Larissa highlights the importance of local impact and shares success stories of alumni leading nonprofits and state agencies.

We spoke with Lisa Lappe from The New Britain Museum of American Art, the oldest museum of American art in the nation, houses over 9,000 pieces of art spanning three centuries. The museum offers various social programs, including "Museum After Dark" events with themed parties like the annual "Mad Party" that attracts around 600 people in costume. The museum also hosts free community days on the third Saturday of each month and a Chalk Art Festival in July. Donations to the museum support these programs and contribute to community well-being.