Valley United Way

The Great Give starts May 1st (tomorrow!) We hope you will consider donating to Valley United Way as part of your giving plans. We know you have options (over 500 of them!) so we are extra appreciative to those of you who choose to support Valley United Way. Direct link to our profile: https://lnkd.in/eh_Y35Rn

Harvest House is on! Donate now to help support your ALICE neighbors through our five local food banks. https://lnkd.in/eijRpHF6

Harvest House is back! Join us on November 8th & 9th for a virtual Harvest House. How to participate: 1. On November 8th & 9th visit https://lnkd.in/e7zGBWXg 2. Shop from the items listed or enter an amount in the Cash Donations option 3. Spread the word and ask your friends and coworkers to support the cause According to the most recent Community Index Report, 27% of Valley residents face food insecurity. That number has risen, not fallen over the past few years. Your neighbors need your support. We hope that you will donate to Harvest House during our event on November 8th and 9th.

This morning your CVC Back-to-School sub-committee (Andrea, Maggie, Kayleigh, Tanaya, Carlene, & Nancie) was able to assemble & fill 63 backpacks which will be split up between the other 3 schools. There are many more backpacks that have already been stuffed and more arriving soon. Our Back-2-School program took on the mission to provide 50 backpacks to each of the four elementary schools in Ansonia and Derby.

Thank you, Office of Governor Ned Lamont, for investing in #Connecticut’s future by funding universal breakfast and covering the household cost of reduced-price meals for the 2023-24 school year so that all CT children can fill their bellies to fuel their minds! Hungry kids cannot learn, and your commitment to solving hunger is transforming the reality of nearly 200,000 kids by ensuring access to the nutrition they need to be their best in school.

Thank you to all of our Annual Meeting sponsors! Edgewell Personal Care Shelton CT Courtyard Marriott Cohen & Thomas Pitney Bowes Haynes Construction Company Ion Bank Valley Community Foundation Hubbell Incorporated M&T Bank Valley Bar Association And a special shoutout to our print sponsor Minuteman Press Shelton

Thank you, thank you, thank you! We have hit our goal and raised $50,000 and have over 160 people with tickets for Thursday's Annual Meeting! This event will showcase our past year and lay out the path that our board and President, Mike Pacowta, have been working on. The money raised will help our community in many ways through our partner agencies to Strengthen Families, Help People In Crisis, and Prepare Youth To Succeed. Thank you again. If you do not have your ticket yet, a limited number are still available. Visit the Valley United Way website for details.

Congratulations to Jim Gildea, who will be receiving the Charles H. Flynn Humanitarian Award at the VUW Annual Meeting on June 22. Here's a little bit about Jim: Jim Gildea is a lifelong Derby resident who is a graduate of Irving School, Derby Middle School, and Emmett O’Brien High School. Jim works at Bigelow Tea where he has been employed at since 1996. During his tenure Jim has served in roles ranging from Facility Supervisor, Maintenance Manager to Plant Manager. He has since worked his way to his current role as Director of Manufacturing where he oversees the tea blending and manufacturing operations in the Fairfield Plant. Throughout the years Jim has proven dedicated to the improvement of the community on a local and state level and has received noteworthy recognition for his efforts. In 2012, Jim was appointed by Governor Dannel Malloy and subsequently reappointed by Governor Ned Lamont to serve on the Connecticut Commuter Rail Council where he has served as Chairman since 2016. He once again received additional recognition from Governor Ned Lamont to serve on the Board of the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System. In the past, he had been appointed to the position of Co-Chairman of the Ansonia Derby Temporary Regional Study Committee and previously served on the Derby Zoning Commission, School Building Committee, and the Derby Water Pollution Control Authority. Most recently, Jim is on the Board of Directors for ManufactureCT where he serves as Secretary of the Board as well as Chair of their Government Affairs Committee. In addition, Jim is the Chairman of the Derby Board of Education (a position he has held for 18 years of the 26 years that he has been on the Board) as well as Vice President of the Derby Historical Society.

Our Annual Meeting is almost here. Get your tickets, sponsorship, and ad here: https://lnkd.in/e8zSfNP8