City of New Haven Kicks off 2010-2011 Annual Fundraising Campaign for the Community

The City of New Haven has kicked off their Annual Fundraising Campaign for the Community for 2010-2011. On October 27th, 2010 at the new Metropolitan Business Academy, various city department heads and public school leaders gathered together for a short program led by Mayor John DeStefano, Sean Matteson, Chief of Staff, and Dr. Reginald Mayo, Superintendent of New Haven Public Schools.

Mr. Matteson welcomed, encouraged and thanked attendees for taking a leadership role in this year's campaign. Mayor DeStefano spoke about the importance of making choices and that we all have a civic responsibility to our community. Dr. Mayo highlighted a new partnership with the City of New Haven, United Way of Greater New Haven and New Haven Public Schools to create a new program called "Boost!". Boost will serve as new system to coordiante services to support children's overall development and enhance their ability to focus and learn in the classroom. It is an element of the New Haven School Change Initiative and complements high caliber cirriculum and instruction in the schools, "wrapping around" the school day and the individual child with necessary supports to promote success.

In addition, the Civic Leader Award was presented to the New Haven Fire Department on behalf of the lead federated charities, Community Health Charities, the United Negro College Fund and United Way of Greater New Haven. Over the past 5 years the NHFD has raised over $60,000 for the community and continue to generously support the campaign. Dawn Lewis, Assistant to the Fire Marshall, has been the coordiantor at the NHFD for a number of years and it is through her leadership and the suuport of Chief Michael Grant that the campaign is the such a success! 

We would like to thank all the coordinators, department heads, teachers, and city employees for their support and leadership and we encourage all to make a difference and LIVE UNITED!