East Hampton United Way efforts applauded

Jeff Butler and Marc Andrukiewicz of Connecticut Light & Power and Yankee Gas, Northeast Utilities Companies accept their award from United Way for being top 2011 campaign contributors. Courtesy photo.

Hundreds gathered at the Crowne Plaza in Cromwell on May 3 to honor more than 80 companies and organizations, their employees and community leaders who collectively contributed $1,925,723 to the 2010-11 Middlesex United Way 75th Anniversary Campaign.

This amount is about 3 percent over the campaign goal of $1,875,000.

“Every year around the world, thousands of coordinators and volunteers are mobilized to raise resources on behalf of United Way,” said Gary Simonsen of PrimePay, President of the Middlesex United Way Board of Directors.

“That cumulative effort results in a total of four billion dollars raised across the globe. You are part of this worldwide movement to advance the common good for all.

“Your efforts are changing lives and moving the needle on community conditions,” Simonsen said. “And it’s working… we are getting results and creating real, lasting change in the areas of education, income, health and housing.”

President of Wesleyan University Michael Roth, presented Connecticut Light & Power and Yankee Gas, Northeast Utilities Companies with an award for being a top-10 account, as well as an award for being a Platinum Level Sponsor.

Along with their employees, CL&P, Yankee Gas, Northeast Utilities Companies contributed $1.5 million throughout the entire region, with 1,100 employees volunteering on Day of Caring.

Other local awards

Bank of America’s Portland and East Hampton branches received awards for their campaigns topping $10,000 in total giving and for a more than 10 percent increase in employee participation.

Peterson Oil Company and the Town of Portland each received awards for 5-plus years of campaign growth.

Others that topped $10,000 in total giving are Standard-Knapp, Inc., East Hampton Public Schools and East Hampton Stop & Shop.

The event brought to a close Middlesex United Way’s 75th Anniversary Campaign, and the three co-chairs who oversaw the fundraising effort were acknowledged for their outstanding leadership and advocacy on behalf of United Way. They are:

• Chandler Howard, President and CEO of Liberty Bank;

• Larry McHugh, President of the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce; and

• Michael Roth, President of Wesleyan University.

McHugh also introduced the co-chairs of the 2011-12 Middlesex United Way Campaign:

• Harry Eben Burr of McCutcheon Burr & Sons and

• Arthur “Buddy” McDowell of Middlesex Hospital.

Middlesex United Way is advancing the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. Our focus is on education, income, health and housing – the building blocks for a good quality of life.

United Way recruits people and organizations that bring the passion, expertise, and resources needed to get things done. You are invited to be part of the change by giving, advocating and volunteering. That’s what it means to Live United.

Middlesex United Way is a locally-based organization serving the towns of Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook.

Posted May 10, 2011

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