Operation Fuel names new communications, program manager

HARTFORD — Operation Fuel has named Keyla Palala as its new communications and program manager.

Palala, who lives in Manchester, is responsible for all of Operation Fuel’s communications, including conveying the impact of Operation Fuel’s outreach. Her responsibilities also include developing and overseeing Operation Fuel’s strategic marketing plan to achieve year-round fundraising, volunteer, and engagement objectives and activities.

Palala currently is completing her bachelor’s degree in business management at Strayer University.

Operation Fuel is the only yearround emergency energy assistance program in Connecticut, providing help with electricity, water, natural gas, oil, and other energy bills to residents across the state. Thanks to supporters and donors, Operation Fuel is able to flip the switch for families, helping seniors, children, and people with medical conditions stay warm, keep the lights on, power devices for cooking and refrigeration, and have access to running water for drinking, hygiene, and laundry. If you need help, visit operationfuel.org/gethelp. To help families, visit operationfuel.org/ give and donate or text OPFUEL to 44321.

Draper Foundation Fund provides more than $800,000 in support of area nonprofits

The Northwest CT Community Foundation Draper Foundation Fund recently awarded area nonprofits $827,325. The Fund awarded $637,875 to 19 designated nonprofits and $189,450 in donor-advised grants to nonprofits that provide essential programs and services for residents of Northwest Connecticut.

Noteworthy donor-advised grants include:

$10,000 to Connecticut Foodshare to

businesses with corporate headquarters located in other states.

3. Keep our community unique — The one-of-a-kind businesses and establishments where we frequent and have fun while we conduct business make and keep us unique and distinctive.

4. Reduce environment impact — Through local business supporting local business, requiring less transportation, congestion, sprawl and pollution, the negative impact to our environment is reduced.

5. Create more jobs — Statistics show that smaller, local businesses provide more jobs to residents of our community.

6. Get better service — Local businesses who do hire local people find they possess a better understanding of the product, they take more time getting to know their customers and they take pride in the business.

7. Invest in community — Local businesses are owned by people to live in this community, pay taxes in this community, contribute to this community and are believers in this community.

8. Put Your taxes to good use — Local businesses require less infrastructure investment compared to nationally owned stores.

9. Buy What you want — Choices of merchandise and/ or services from a variety of small businesses promote innovation and creativity. Local businesses select products based on the needs of their local customers.

10. Encourage local prosperity — Statistics show that entrepreneurs and skilled

workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-ofa-kind businesses and distinctive character.

— Courtesy of sustainableconnections.org Thank you, Craig, for these thoughts that remain true especially as we enter the holiday shopping spree. Join the thousands of visitors to our beautiful region. You will discover a wonderful experience at the greatest establishments plus necessary services that support business. Hopefully, you will even make a purchase or two from a local business and keep the entrepreneurial spirit alive.

JoAnn Ryan is president and CEO of the NW CT Chamber of Commerce. You may reach her by email at joann@nwctchamberofcommerce.org or call 860-48-6586

Palala