Rotary pg 5 7-5-12
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- Category: Past Issues
captions, clockwise from upper left:
Left to right: James Morton, Betty Hale, Cynthia Dunne. Courtesy photos.
DKH's Pamela Watt and Dunne
Arc's Susan Desrosiers and Dunne
PSA's Rita Burns and Dunne
NEPS' Rick Roy and Dunne
Putnam Mayor Peter Place with donation check.
Makes 5-year pledge
to Regional YMCA
By Ron P. Coderre
Concluding her term on a high note, Putnam Rotary Club outgoing President Cynthia J. Dunne presented several checks to local groups and non-profit organizations.
The largest grant distributed by the Rotary Club was five-year pledge of $15,000 toward the construction of the Regional Community YMCA, which is planned for land off Kennedy Drive near Exit 95. Dunne presented the initial $3,000 payment to James O’S Morton, president and CEO of the Greater Hartford YMCA, and Betty Hale, trustee of the Newell D. Hale Foundation, which is donating $3 million to the project.
“This pledge by the Rotary Club is very much appreciated. It moves us ever closer to our community goal of $2.5 million,” said Morton.
“In making this pledge to the Y, the Rotary Club is demonstrating its belief in what I call the ‘Three C’s’, charity collaboration and community. This gift is sign you’ve placed your trust in our Y mission,” he added.
The $15,000 Rotary pledge is being matched on a one-to-one basis by an anonymous donor who has pledged $250,000, if an equal amount is raised through community donations by July 7. According to YMCA sources, more than $210,000 has been raised as of June 28.
“I’m pleased that the Rotary Club has decided to make this wonderful gift,” said Hale. “It will be a major accomplishment for our area when the Y is operational.”
The other recipients of the Rotary donations were Day Kimball Hospital, The Arc of Quinebaug Valley and NEPS. Pamela Watts, director of Development, accepted $2,500 as the Rotary’s final payment of a $5,000 pledge, which was made in support of the “Care in a Heart Beat” capital campaign. The money will be used for major renovations to the Day Kimball Emergency Department.
“The support we received from the community for this campaign has been amazing. The campaign raised more than $3 million in 10 months. I thank the Rotary Club for the important role it played in the success of the campaign,” said Watts. Watts added that construction of the ER should start in the fall.
Susan Desrosiers, executive director of the Arc of Quinebaug Valley, accepted a check of $4,000 to its capital campaign, ‘Elevating Education” in support of its $250,000 goal. The Arc is constructing an elevator to serve its people with physical and developmental disabilities. They are also planning on renovating existing space for additional education and therapy programs.
“The response Arc has received in this campaign has been phenomenal. Your gift will be of great help to those individuals entrusted to our care. Thank you to the Rotary Club from everyone we serve,” said Desrosiers.
Northeast Placement Services, NEPS, also serves individuals with developmental disabilities. Rick Roy, the agency’s executive director accepted a check of $500 in support of the organizations programs.
In addition, a fifth presentation was made to the town of Putnam, with Mayor Pete Place, accepting a check for $5,000. Dunne said $1,000 of it is for a dressing room at the Rotary Park bandstand and $4,000 is for a restroom there.
The Putnam Science Academy Robotics program received a $500 check.