United Way kicks off 46th annual campaign at Shelton event

Members of Valley United Way’s Campaign Cabinet were introduced at Tuesday's kickoff. Pictured from left are: Lauren Price-Kazzi, Jimmy Tickey, Mike Gnibus, Janice Sheehy, Fred Ortoli, Bill Purcell, Bill Pucci, Alan Mogride, Robert Gambardella, Ron Villani, and Suzanne Major. / Contributed photo

SHELTON - Valley United Way kicked off its 46th Annual Community Campaign Tuesday at Hubbell Inc. in Shelton. 
This year's campaign goal is $1,050,000.
Though relatively new in the Valley, Hubbell Inc. is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year - just one year younger than United Way.
Hubbell has been a longtime supporter of United Way and that support has only grown stronger since its move to Shelton where its campaign is in the top three in the entire Valley.

Remarks were made by Fred Ortoli, Chair of the Board of Directors, Mayor Mark Lauretti, John McFarland, United Way Board Member from Hubbell, Tom Steeves, 2013-2014 Campaign Chair, and Jack Walsh, President and Chief Operating Officer, Valley United Way. 

This year’s Campaign Underwriters are Webster Bank, Dworken, Hillman, LaMorte & Sterczala, P.C., Edward F. Adzima & Riverview Funeral Homes, Fred Ortoli Photography, Griffin Hospital, Iroquois Pipeline Operating Co., Ned Miller Agency, A Division of Starkweather & Shepley Insurance, Townline Self-Storage LLC, and Venman & Co. LLC.

The Campaign Cabinet includes Alan Mogridge, Bill Pucci, Bill Purcell, Chris Hill, Frank Michaud, Fred Ortoli, Janice Sheehy, Jimmy Tickey, Lauren Price Kazzi, Melissa Pucci, Mike Caleca, Mike Gnibus, Robert Gambardella, Ron Villani, Suzanne Major, Tom Steeves, and Tom Sutnik. 

New Special Issues grant

At the kickoff the Board of Directors at Valley United Way announced a new Special Issues grant opportunity in the amount of $25,000. 
The issue that the board is focusing on is Early Childhood Education in the Valley. 
This area was identified in the Valley Cares Quality of Life report as an area where the Valley could do better, and there has been a growing movement (Early Childhood Task Force & Graustein Memorial Fund Discovery Grants) in the Valley creating an infrastructure that has been facilitating progress.
Valley United Way will give a preference to collaborative efforts that can demonstrate measurable outcomes. 
Preference will also be given to programs that have parental involvement. Applications will be accepted immediately, and an announcement of the successful grant(s) applications will be made at the end of October.

Series of workshops

Valley United Way also announced it is instituting a periodic series of workshops and seminars designed to help individuals and families with financial planning.
United Way will be partnering with leading experts in all areas of economic importance to provide the free series of programs. The first sessions in the series will be hosted by Barnum Financial at its offices, 6 Corporate Drive. 
The first program on Oct. 22 will focus on the importance and benefits of financial planning. On Oct. 29 there will be a second program designed for people in their 20s and 30s on the typical financial decision that they would be dealing with at that time. 

A program to be held at United Way on Nov. 19 will be presented by United Way Board member Thomas Sutnik, a former judge of probate and expert on estate planning,  who will speak on estate planning.
Future topics in the series will include buying a home, planning for college, retirement planning and Social Security among others.

          For more information about Valley United Way visit www.valleyunitedway.org, visit on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ValleyUW or call 203-926-9478.


This is a press release from Valley United Way.