The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Comcast to get corporate award from Middlesex United Way
MIDDLETOWN — In just a few weeks, we will take the morning to honor local companies and their employees for their outstanding support of Middlesex United Way at our annual campaign awards breakfast.
A number of awards will be presented, honoring companies who achieve high rates of employee participation in the United Way campaign, companies that have experienced five consecutive years of growth in their campaign, and companies that have increased their dollars raised by at least 10 percent.
This year, our highest campaign honor, the Corporate Spirit Award, will be presented to Comcast. This award recognizes a company that has established a strong culture of philanthropy and support of Middlesex United Way.
Comcast and its employees have been committed United Way supporters for decades — both locally and nationally. They are a founding corporate sponsor and always organize a highly successful employee giving campaign. In addition, the company runs a Middlesex United Way PSA on its television service to subscribers in the Middlesex community. It has also invited us to be featured on “Comcast Newsmakers,” the longestrunning news and public affairs platform of any cable operator in the country.
Comcast and Middlesex United Way are very closely aligned with our shared values. Comcast understands that some families may have a tough time affording internet, so they developed the Internet Essentials Program, bringing internet to thousands of low-income households.
Comcast hosts one of the nation’s largest single-day corporate volunteer efforts, Comcast Cares Day. Over the years, Middlesex United Way volunteers have worked directly alongside Comcast employees on projects such as revitalizing the Veterans Memorial Park/Palmer Field in Middletown, building the first born learning trail at the MacDonough Elementary School, and cleaning, painting and getting Camp Ingersoll in Portland ready for summer camp.
We are so fortunate to have many volunteers who come to us from Comcast, including past and present board members and our 2016-2017 Campaign Chairwoman Kristen Roberts. Comcast is truly a great partner to United Way, both locally and nationally. We hope you will join us to honor this extraordinary company, as well as many others who are investing in our community.
Other top awards include coordinators of the year. This year, Paul Turenne from Wesleyan University and Julisa Velasquez and Bob Millerd, from Pratt and Whitney, will be honored for their excellent work in arranging and organizing successful workplace campaigns. Chandler Howard of Liberty Bank will receive the Leadership Award, and Middlesex Hospital and East Hampton Schools will be honored with the Funding Partner Achievement Award.
Clifford O. Straub will receive Middlesex United Way’s highest volunteer honor, the Community Service Award.
All of this excitement is happening May 8 at 8 a.m. at the Middletown Elks Lodge, and we invite you to join us! Register at middlesexunitedway.org/RSVP. There will be a delicious breakfast and a morning filled with appreciation for local people and organizations who support our community and Middlesex United Way.