United Way campaign raises more than $5.9 million
Mashantucket — Electric Boat and the EB Employees Community Services Association raised more than $2.1 million for the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut's 2015 campaign, which raised a total of more than $5.9 million, United Way officials announced Thursday.
The overall sum — $5,924,400 — was up 2.3 percent over the nearly $5.8 million raised during the previous campaign.
The announcement came during United Way's annual Campaign Celebration, held in Foxwoods Resort Casino's Grand Pequot Ballroom.
During the event, which hundreds attended, awards were presented to dozens of businesses, organizations and individuals whose efforts will benefit a network of more than 70 health and human service programs and initiatives in New London County.
Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, which owns Foxwoods, served as master of ceremonies, presenting EB representatives with United Way's top honor, the Chairman's Award of Excellence.
"Submarines have been the backbone of the U.S. Navy," Butler said. "You are our backbone, too."
EB's total gift of $2,175,000 represents an 11.2 percent increase over its giving the previous year.
The EB Employees Community Services Association raised $1,825,000 of the total, while the company provided a corporate gift of $350,000.
EB food drives held throughout the year at shipyard entrances and elsewhere led to the collection of 53 tons of food, providing the needy with 90,000 meals.
Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods, two of the region's other largest employers, also earned accolades.
Mohegan Sun was named Community Leader of the Year in recognition of a performance that included a 71 percent year-over-year increase in employee giving and a 36 percent increase in participation.
Foxwoods and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe received recognition as the Innovative Partner of the Year, having linked its giving to events and promotions at the casino and the Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods shopping mall.
Foxwoods' employee giving was up 78 percent.
One of the United Way's beneficiaries, John Gilliland, a resident of the Martin House in Norwich, received the Ambassador of the Year award.
Gilliland addressed the audience, earning rousing applause after he described his battles with mental illness and the support he's found at the Martin House.
Next year, he said, he hopes to have his own apartment and own his own car.
Nikki Gullikson, assistant superintendent of Stonington Public Schools, and Donna Yother, president of the SAVA Insurance Group, co-chaired the United Way's 2015 campaign.
The annual fundraising effort peaked in 2004 at nearly $9.4 million.
United Way award recipients
Recipients of the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut's annual fundraising awards were:Chairman's Award of Excellence, Electric Boat and the EB Employee Community Service AssociationCommunity Leader of the Year, Mohegan SunUnited Way Partner of the Year, Norwich Public UtilitiesInnovative Partner of the Year, Foxwoods/Mashantucket Pequot Tribal NationSpirit of the Community, Zachry Nuclear EngineeringHeart of the Community, Dime BankCampaign Volunteer of the Year, Kim DeschampsCommunity Investment Volunteer of the Year, Penny StanleyLeadership Giving Campaign Committee of the Year, Charter Oak Federal Credit UnionAgency Campaign Committee of the Year, Madonna PlaceSchool Campaign Committee, New London Public SchoolsCampaign Committee of the Year, PfizerEmployee Campaign Performance of the Year, NLC Insurance CompaniesCorporate Support of the Year, Applied Physical SciencesLoyal Company of the Year, DominionOustanding Achievement Awards, Scient Federal Credit Union; Norwich Free Academy, Comcast; MonsantoMedia Partner of the Year, The DayLabor Partnership of the Year, Southern Connecticut Central Labor Council, AFL-CIOSmall Business of the Year, SAVA Insurance GroupNew Partner of the Year, Frontier CommunicationsNonprofit Partner of the Year, Martin HouseTown Partner of the Year, Town of StoningtonCity Partner of the Year, City of GrotonSchool Partner of the Year, Norwich Public SchoolsManufacturer of the Year, Freeport-McMoRan Inc.Retail Partner of the Year, Macy'sAuto Dealer of the Year, My Whaling CityCollege Partner of the Year, Connecticut CollegeLaw Firm of the Year, Faulkner & GravesBank Partner of the Year, Chelsea Groton BankNew Campaign Coordinator of the Year, Jennifer LeMay, Montville Public SchoolsSchool Campaign Coordinator of the Year, Cindy Beauregard, Norwich Public SchoolsAgency Campaign Coordinator of the Year, Nancy Cowser, United Community & Family ServicesCampaign Coordinator of the Year, Michele Addabbo, Norwich Public Utilities
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