CONNECTICUT NATIONAL GUARD FOUNDATION INC

Since September 11, 2001, over 6,400 Soldiers and Airmen of the Connecticut National Guard have deployed to fight in the Global War on Terror, both domestically and overseas. Many of these service members left lucrative civilian occupations to defend our nation, often at great financial and emotional costs to them and their families. For active duty service members, the Army Emergency Relief Fund and the Air Force Aid Fund are two programs that offer financial assistance. Unfortunately, members of the National Guard are not eligible to participate in either of these funds, thus the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc was established to fill that void.

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.

The Foundation is normally the funding source of last resort after all other Local, State and Federal programs have been exhausted. Our grants are used to provide immediate, emergency financial aid such as, but not limited to weekly care and emergency relief, rent or mortgage payments, utilities, home health care, some medical expenses and funeral expenses.

Working with the Connecticut National Guard Family Support Program, the Foundation also provides funds to support pre and post deployment activities, homecoming celebrations, youth programs, family events, Operation ELF holiday party for families of deployed service members, and Breakfast with the Easter Bunny. Of special note, this year’s Operation ELF holiday party is open to families of deployed service members from any branch of service, not just the National Guard.

The Foundation has provided over $1.6 million dollars of financial aid to its constituents since 2003. Of that amount approximately $850 thousand dollars was in the form of individual assistance grants. On average, we provide 95-100 individual aid grants per year. Approximately $547 thousand dollars was provided to assist Family Readiness Groups; and an additional $243 thousand dollars has been awarded for post-secondary education scholarships.

The Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc receives no federal funding to support our program. We rely entirely on charitable contributions from citizens, corporations, businesses and civic groups. We have been assisted by everyone from multi-million-dollar corporations to a veteran’s motorcycle club. The Foundation is made up entirely of volunteers, we have no paid staff. So, if the contribution is $5 or $1,000, nearly all of the monies raised goes directly to support our mission. We are especially grateful to all our donors for their unending support over the past 17 years. Without this support from them, we could not do the work we do, supporting our service members and their families.