According to Diana Appleton, Director of Communications at HARC, an organization serving people with intellectual and related disabilities,CTBusiness Networkers, the West Hartford Chapter of Business Networking International, has been outstandingly generous during this 2012 season of giving.
HARC’s Director of Communications, Diana Appleton, is surrounded by toys donated by members of the CT Business Networkers
Appleton says, “This season has been exceptional at the CT Business Networkers meetings in West Hartford. Our members and their businesses have had a solid season of donating to HARC, and they have certainly risen to the challenge. HARC’s largest fundraising event, the Annual Auction was held on November 10. We received a huge number of auction gifts and gift certificates, and members also volunteered at the event and purchased ads in the ad journal, helping us to raise over $211,000 net.”
After the Auction, it was time for HARC’s food drive to provide Thanksgiving dinners to 13 families and participants in need. Thanks to food and monetary donations from CT Business Networkers and other donors, HARC was able to provide not only Thanksgiving dinners to the 13 families, but Christmas and Chanukah dinners and possibly even Easter dinners as well!
Now during the Christmas / Chanukah season, CT Business Networkers have conducted a toy drive to provide holiday gifts to the children during the Holiday Party at HARC’s Camp Bulova and the children at HARC’s Woodland Avenue group home. Santa, played by John Birch, owner of The Birch Group inFarmington, a former CT Business Networker, will be in attendance, handing out toys and visiting with the children. Birch says, “I’ve played Santa at HARC parties for over 16 years and I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I feel like I’m the one getting the holiday gift!”
An ongoing theme at the CT Business Networkers meetings is “Givers gain.” In fact, a few minutes of each meeting is devoted to this concept and individual members are encouraged to give examples of how the concept has played out for them.
Lisa Polce, President of CT Business Networkers says, “I’m very proud of the help our BNI members are giving during this holiday season. HARC is a great organization and to give without expecting anything in return is what this season, and the whole year through, is all about.”
Appleton says, “HARC has belonged to CT Business Networkers since 1997, filling the non-profit seat. We do business with several members of the group, but with all these donations, the group really is living the ‘Givers gain’ concept!”
About CT Business Networkers
CT Business Networkers is one of the strongest business networking groups in Connecticut. The group gathers every Friday morning at historic Beth Israel Synagogue in West Hartford to exchange business referrals and leads from the previous week. Belonging to CT Business Networkers is like having dozens of energetic sales people working for you.
About HARC
HARC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with intellectual disability and their families. It was founded in 1951 by families, long before community services were available and institutionalization was the only option. HARC remains a strong advocate for civil rights and opportunities, and a major provider of clinical and supportive programs that span the entire lifetime: early intervention (Birth-to-Three), family support, respite care, employment and day services, residential, recreation, behavioral health and elderly services.
HARC is a Community Investment Partner of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut and serves Greater Hartford.