Hartford gives and needs to keep giving
Before making the decision to move my family to Greater Hartford in July 2017, I was struck by how much it has to offer. The region has a strong corporate presence, a wide array of higher education institutions, excellent arts and cultural offerings, a robust nonprofit sector and scenic natural resources.
In the months since my arrival and in my role as president of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, I’ve seen new private sector investment and an improving economy, including in our capital city. I have had the privilege to listen to residents in all of the 29 towns served by the Hartford Foundation during our 2018 Listening Tour.
These conversations make clear that not all residents in all communities are reaping the benefits of the new and emerging opportunities. Our region’s success shouldn’t be a zero-sum game, where some benefit while others are left behind. Inclusive growth and leadership connects all residents to high-quality education and skills, safe and affordable neighborhoods, good jobs and the capital to launch and grow small businesses. It enables the entire region to reach its potential. What I see in Greater Hartford is the willpower, intelligence, compassion and conviction that places no limit on what we can achieve.
Every day, I work with generous donors, nonprofits, community organizations, policymakers and residents who all share a commitment to creating inclusive opportunities that will allow our region to thrive. They embrace a broad definition of philan- thropy — giving financially, but also devoting their time and talent.
Here’s an example: The Foundation is supporting a group of five small local nonprofit agencies that joined forces to create the Hartford Community Safety Coalition to address gun violence in Hartford. Working collaboratively for the first time, they are providing real-time crisis response, victim counseling, youth intervention strategies, community organizing, and other supports to those caught in the after- math of violent crime.
These organizations started simply as concerned citizens who wanted to make a difference in their community. This collective commitment to our neighbors is something we can all emulate.
Some people come full circle from being a beneficiary to donor. Dr. Robert J. Patterson, for example, was once a participant in Hartford’s Open Choice program and a recipient of a Hartford Foundation scholarship. Patterson took advantage of these opportunities and graduated from Georgetown University, where he now serves as chair of the university’s African American studies department. Recognizing how these opportunities shaped his life, Patterson established a scholarship fund at the Hartford Foundation to support Greater Hartford students much like himself who wish to pursue a college education. These types of investments create an enduring legacy that will benefit future generations.
In response to what we learned during our 2018 Listening Tour, the Foundation created the Greater Together Community Funds, which establish 29 separate $100,000 community funds, one for each town in the Foundation’s region. Each community fund will be led by an advisory committee of town residents that will be inclusive, representative and reflective of all of the residents of that community. This will not only help to address the unique needs of each community, but it will also foster broader awareness and engagement in philanthropy and encourage people to work together and learn about needs across our region.
As we prepare to begin a new year, it is my hope that we all find ways to contribute to the greater good, whether you volunteer for a community nonprofit, serve as a member of a local PTO, donate to a local charity, or start a donor fund at your favorite charitable organization. At a time when it seems that we are more divided than ever, it is my hope that we can all become greater together.