2007 Corporate Volunteer Council
Holiday Giving Exceeds All Expectations!
In the true meaning of giving and caring, Valley United Way’s Corporate
Volunteer Council showed a strong commitment to making a difference in the
lives of many people in the Valley by donating food, clothing, toys, gift
cards and so much more to over one hundred Valley families to help make
their Christmas holidays special. We are in the process of creating our long
list of Holiday Giving and will be adding to this list in the next week:
(Click on thumbnails for full size pictures.)
 A
Holiday listing of caring includes: Fletcher
Thompson who adopted two families from Parent Child Resource
Center and held a special party for them at their headquarters and even had
Santa visit the families with his full bag of lots of presents for the boys
and girls. The smiles on their faces and the hugs that Santa got will be
remembered by everyone in the room. Maria DeMaio, Senior Accounts Manager
said “It was so touching to all of us to see the smiles and excitement on
all of the kids faces. They were all so very sweet and happy with
everything they opened. My wish for next year is for us at Fletcher
Thompson to be able to do more.”
 The
employees at Health Net got into
the holiday spirit by adopting families at the Parent Child Resource Center
and also families participating in St. Vincent DePaul's Helping Hands in the
Valley Project.
The United Illuminating Company
donated $2500 to help families. So many families were helped in many ways
through this generous donation. Pat Tarasovic coordinated as army of CVC
shopping "elves" who helped complete the wish lists of many needy Valley
families. These special CVC elves – Michelle Fabozzi, GE
International; Kris Bures, HSBC; Diane Fraczek,
Peoples United; Bonnie Sinclair, NEC; and Sue Millican, Iroquois Gas
Transmission quickly ran out to stores and bought for their families and
delivered them back to United Way for pick up. It was a great success.
 Latex
Foam sponsored 3 families from Catholic Charities and 10
children from PCRC. The held a meeting and determined a goal of $4,000 to
spend. After collecting the money, the employees raised $2000 and the
company matched that amount. They organized shopping teams and selected
gifts from the suggestion lists and their “elves” were the happiest gazing
through aisles of Valley stores. According to Paula Behanna, Human Resources
Manager, “It was extremely gratifying when the agencies came to pick up
their gifts and we were able to see the expressions on their faces. It truly
is what the holiday season is all about.”
Adrienne Cabral, CVC Co-Chair, said, “As part of it's community
involvement Iroquois Gas Transmission
provided holiday assistance for the following agencies: Birmingham Group
Health Services: $300 to their Under the Tree program, Parent Child Resource
Center: $200 for the holiday needs and also adopted a family of 5 (Mom & 2
boys age 9 and 3 and two girls age 12, TEAM, Inc.: $300 Toys for Tots
program, ACT/Spooner House: $250 for holiday needs, St. Vincent's DePaul:
$250 for holiday needs, Shriners' Children Hospital (Utica, NY):$500 and
Bridgeport Hospital: $400 to their Hug a Bear program in memory of 16
employees that lost a relative during 2007.
 Pitney
Bowes employees provided 30 toys for the Angel Tree program
at the YMCA. They also participated in the Toys for Tots program at TEAM,
Inc. Pitney Bowes Global Financial Services division employees sponsored 3
families, providing clothing, food, gifts and Christmas goodies. Pitney
Bowes employees demonstrated amazing generosity throughout 2007, as they
have always done. Bill Bubbico, CVC CoChair said “I am proud to be a part
of an organization with such wonderful, caring people.”
Greenwich Workshop provided
$50 Target gift cards to 29 Men in the Valley YMCA Men in Residence Program.
 Prudential
Financial adopted several
families in great need. They gave so many gifts. One of our holiday miracles
happened with the help of a Prudential employee relative. This employee
learned about a family who desperately needed a washing machine and arranged
for her cousin who owns an Appliance Store to donate a washer and dryer.
Sikorsky Finance Department
adopted two families in great need. For one family they assisted with
the cost electricity for a man who was on dialysis and helped with the
medical expenses for a family who needed to have special phone services for
a daughter with medical problems requiring ongoing access to emergency
ambulance services.
The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce
donated $1,000 to ACT, and $1,000 to The Valley YMCA. They were also a drop
off site for TEAM’s Toys for Tots Program.
 The
Greenwich Workshop gave $50 gift
cards to 29 of the Men at the Y.
Hundreds of Valley families learned the true meaning of Holiday Giving
this year when so many employees from member corporations of the Corporate
Volunteer Council happily shopped and wrapped hundreds of gifts for so many
families.
 Back to Volunteer Action Center
 Valley United Way
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