CRT Celebrates the Graduating Class of 10th Annual Financial Literacy Institute

On December 8, 2020, CRT hosted the graduation for the students who successfully completed the 10th annual Financial Literacy Institute. Complete with caps and gowns, all of the students were celebrated for their hard work during the 14-week, 50-hour course. In a first this year, the entire course was conducted online to ensure social-distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this included the graduation ceremony.

The keynote address was given by Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, who told the graduates last night:

“[You] have turned financial literacy from being an obstacle into an opportunity.
An opportunity to invest in yourself.
An opportunity to invest in your education or business.
An opportunity to invest in your loved ones.
And an opportunity to invest in your future.
Knowledge is power and one of the best investments you can make is in yourself.”

Mike Hydeck from NBC Connecticut shared the good news with their viewers.

/by

Do All You Can to Help Someone in Need on ‘Giving Tuesday’

Today marks “Giving Tuesday” and CRT invites donors to do all they can to help one person in need to stay healthy and safe this holiday season. Thanks to an anonymous donor, each donation this month will be matched dollar for dollar!

Jenn Bernstein from Fox 61 News shared the story with their viewers.

You can also see details on the Fox 61 website.

You can make a secure donation to CRT now.

 

/by

Just in Time for Thanksgiving: A New Tradition Begins at CRT Generations

This year, one of our neighbors at CRT Generations, Mr. Kerry Foster Sr. of Clark Street, and his family have decided to bless Generations residents with Thanksgiving essentials. Mr. Foster, a retired Hartford firefighter, alongside his family have been giving back to their community for several years. After losing their son, Kerry Foster Jr., some years ago, Mr. Foster and his family strive to keep their son’s spirit alive through their community work. During the holidays, the Foster’s typically give back in a major way by serving meals to local shelters & soup kitchens and providing clothes to the homeless and those in need.

However, due to COVID-19, their Thanksgiving tradition must be altered a bit this year! So, they decided to donate to the seniors closest to them at the CRT Generations campus. Mr. Foster and his family provided all our residents (seniors included) free turkeys and food baskets this week, just in time for the holiday!

The Hartford Courant was there to record the moment. (Shown above – photo by Brad Horrigan.)

/by

Local Businesses and Volunteers Making Thanksgiving Special for Families and Their Pets in Hartford

As the holidays approach, there are a lot of families struggling to put food on the table this year during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Mike Massaro from NBC Connecticut shares details about the work of some local businesses (including Hartford-based Gold Bond Mattress) and volunteers from Dog Star Rescue who provided Thanksgiving meals this past weekend to 24 families helped by CRT, along with special food and treats for their pets, too.

The story was also shared by Jim Altman on Fox 61.

/by

Sweet as Pie! BouNom Bakery Donating 100 Pumpkin Pies to CRT Shelter Residents on Thanksgiving

,

CRT is so grateful for the generosity of the owners at BouNom Bakery in Avon, Conn., who are donating 100 hand-made pumpkin pies on #Thanksgiving Day to homeless residents livings at CRT’s shelters in Hartford and East Hartford (including the East Hartford Family Shelter and Veterans Crossing).

All of the personal-sized pies will be baked and delivered on Thanksgiving Day. Watch this report by Leslie Mayes on NBC Connecticut to learn more about this wonderful act of kindness that is truly “Sweet as Pie!”

More details in this full report from NBC Connecticut.

Note: During the Coronavirus pandemic, CRT’s McKinney Shelter for Men in Hartford is officially closed, and the residents have been safely relocated to an area hotel.

/by

Help Seniors Living at The Retreat Celebrate a “Festival of Wreaths” this Holiday Season

CRT is collecting 100 holiday wreaths – one for EVERY senior living at CRT’s The Retreat assisted-living facility in Hartford – to help bring a little more joy to all of the residents during the holidays.

Keisha Grant and Mike Hydeck from NBC Connecticut share the story and explain how YOU can help create a true “Festival of Wreaths” this year! Check it out!

#festivalofwreaths #seasonofgiving #spreadjoy

/by

CRT Working with Access Health CT to Help You Sign Up for Health Insurance

CRT is proud to partner with Access Health CT to help people with open enrollment for health insurance coverage in Connecticut. People can sign up now through December 15 and coverage begins January 1, 2021. CRT can help you sign up today!

Find out more in this report on Fox 61 News.

Now is the time for you and your family to enroll (or renew) in a Qualified Health Plan!

If you need help, contact CRT and our Access Health Navigator or call Access Health CT at 855-805-4325.

/by

CRT Helps Those Struggling with Addiction During Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

Hartford resident Pedro Robles shares his life-long struggle with drug addiction, and how it has become even harder for him during the Coronavirus pandemic. He has received intensive outpatient therapy with the Community Renewal Team (CRT), but every day brings new challenges. As Margaux Farrell from Fox 61 notes: “Addiction is a health crisis on top of the pandemic, but hope is the key.”

Watch this exclusive report to learn more about how CRT is helping people with programs like Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) to move toward a life of recovery.

You can get more details in this story from Fox 61 News.

#RecoveryisPossible

/by

CRT Video PSA for 2020 U.S. Census Wins Silver ‘Davey Award’

CRT is proud to announce that its video PSA about completing the 2020 U.S. Census has won a Silver prize in the prestigious international “Davey Awards.”

Our deepest thanks to our videographer, Abby Garger the Creative Director from Lean Media Creative Agency, for all of her hard work and commitment to this important project.

You can learn more about our work with the videographer here.

/by

In Memoriam: Paul C. Puzzo, former President and CEO of CRT

It is with deep sadness that CRT must share the passing of our former President and CEO Paul C. Puzzo.

Paul’s work at CRT began in 1964, where he started as a field worker in the community services division. During his lengthy career with CRT, Paul assumed increasing responsibilities for the agency in a variety of program and administrative positions. He was appointed President and CEO in 1983, and served in that role until he retired in 2005.

Paul was the driving force behind a capital fund drive that led to the construction of CRT’s headquarters at 555 Windsor Street in Hartford, in the heart of north Hartford’s Enterprise Zone. The 60,000 square foot facility, which opened in 1991, includes a state of the art food production kitchen for our Elderly Nutrition Program (including Meals on Wheels), along with administrative offices for the state’s largest community action agency.

He instituted fiscal management practices that produced an unbroken record of unqualified, “clean” opinions of CRT’s fiscal soundness from independent auditors.

During his 40 year tenure with CRT, he saw the agency grow from a budget of a mere $75,000 into a $50 million organization that positively impacts the lives of thousands of people throughout Central Connecticut each and every day.

In his final letter for the 2004 CRT annual report, Paul wrote:
“I believe the future is bright for CRT. My final message to the Agency is, ‘Be bold, be innovative and be creative. Do not fear change, but embrace it, for the best is yet to come.’”

His obituary is available on the Hartford Courant website.

RIP, Paul Puzzo.

/by