Love CT awards $10,000 to four area charities and grants a new roof for Autism agency

MILFORD, CT – March 30, 2015 –  As one of the sponsors and administrators for the 2015 Love CT grant awards, John Wagner of Allied Building Products Corp. was on hand Friday, March 20 when $10,000 was awarded to four qualifying nonprofits.  The grant applications included a request by The Pilot House for a new roof on a classroom that served autistic children; John Wagner offered to personally provide the materials and labor needed.   Allied, along with Albertus Magnus College, HealthyCT, and Easter Seals/Goodwill, were 2014-15 partners in Connoisseur’s Love CT initiative.

This generous offer of providing the roof freed up additional grant dollars, permitting the committee to award more funding to other finalists.  The distribution effort was accompanied by Karen Clarke of HealthyCT, a statewide nonprofit insurance provider; Andrea Kovacs representing Albertus Magnus College; along with a number of Connoisseur staffers, many who work closely with local community agencies and Love CT sponsors.

Doreen Caruso of The Pilot House was thrilled to get the news.  “We were planning on converting an outbuilding on our farm in Fairfield to a four-season classroom for our kids, but last winter snow caved in the roof,” Caruso said. “This donation from Allied is fantastic.”

Irena Makarchuk of Harmony4kidz (Harmony4kidz.org) was equally ecstatic about receiving a $2,000 grant from Love CT.   The boutique nonprofit obtains and refurbishes instruments for youths who can’t access their own, as well as serving more than 1,400 Bridgeport area children with music classes at ABCD – Action for Bridgeport Community Development, Inc.

Terry O’Connor of the Cardinal Sheehan Center (Cardinal Shehan Center) also expressed appreciation after qualifying for the top Love CT grant of $4,000 to provide 10 hours of one-on-one after school tutoring to dozens of struggling Bridgeport region students.

“You guys know how hard we work here for the kids,” O’Connor said. “This is great news.”

Milford Rape Crisis Center receives $3,000 in Love CT support.   Its prevention outreach and school-based programs serve more than 10,000 students from elementary through college age.   Agency spokesperson Ms. Pisano said, “How can we thank all the people responsible for awarding this grant so we can continue this critical work?”

The Love CT grant team also awarded $1,000 to the Black Rock Farmers Market.  Besides purveying Connecticut-grown farm and food products, the Black Rock market conducts nutrition outreach and participates in co-op programs that provide farm-fresh food at a lower cost to qualifying families.

Kristin Okesson, General Manager said, “It was difficult to choose just 5 applicants to award the LOVE CT funds.   Our partners and administrators feel that we have selected organizations that serve many, represent diverse needs, and have sustainable programing.   LOVE CT reaches and connects with organizations throughout our state that do great work and deserve a moment in the spotlight.   We are happy to provide the publicity with a positive public service campaign on our stations and the benefits of our partnerships.”

Director of Public Affairs John Voket said after more than 25 years hosting nonprofits on Connoisseur’s award-winning ‘For the People’ that it’s inspiring to hear how many children, distressed families, disabled residents, students, and even Connecticut farmers will benefit through the inaugural year of Love CT grants.

“The positive ripple effects each of these agencies generate in the neighborhoods and communities they serve is just incredible, and these grants are well-deserved,” Voket said. “I hope we see more local nonprofits and causes partner with Love CT by registering their presence and activities on our station websites so Connoisseur and our partners can go to work helping them.”

LOVE CT is the corporate citizenship partnership developed by 99.1 WPLR, 95.9 The Fox, 94.3 WYBC, and STAR 99.9.   LOVE CT provides marketing support for nonprofit organizations and programs that do not have the funding for advertising.   In the past year, Connoisseur CT radio stations with LOVE CT sponsors provided marketing campaigns with public service announcements, online community calendar listings, and onsite fanfare to gain public awareness and rally for onsite participation for more than 70 nonprofit organizations and programs.   Love CT is seen throughout Connecticut at fairs, races, fundraisers, and radio station events raising awareness and community support.   LOVE CT now includes Talk of Connecticut and 102.9 The Whale.

Visit Love CT at a community activity near you, learn about partnership opportunities for cause marketing, or register your nonprofit by clicking on:

http://www.wplr.com/LoveCT.aspx                       http://www.star999.com/LoveCT.aspx

http://www.943wybc.com/LoveCT.aspx                               http://www.959thefox.com/LoveCT.aspx

Connoisseur Media owns 42 radio stations across the country and is Connecticut’s largest owner-operator of broadcast radio stations in the state.

Cardinal Sheehan Center, Harmony4kidz, Milford Rape Crisis Center, Black Rock Farmers Market

All Beneficiaries of Love CT Citizenship Program