New Perimeter Logo
January 2017 Edition
Happy New Year!
As of January 2017, The Perimeter you know and love will be delivered to your inbox on the first business day of each month. 


In December, I was awed by the outpouring of gifts and recognition our residents received from countless organizations, families, and individuals. We at Homes for the Brave, Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes, and Waldorf House could not be more appreciative.

We are now focusing on kicking off 2017 in strong fashion with our first-ever Comedy Night on January 20th. This event is truly "for veterans by veterans," in that it will feature a lineup of primarily veteran comics! In order to make the night a success for the men and women we serve, we are seeking support from sponsors, attendees, and prize donors. To learn how you can be part of this exciting evening, keep reading this edition of  The Perimeter.

Here's wishing you and yours a safe, healthy, and happy new year.

Creating Hope, Building Dreams...

Vincent Santilli
CEO
Comedy Night
Already feeling the post-holiday blues? Escape the winter doldrums at our first-ever Comedy Night!



Homes for the Brave
Comedy Night Fundraiser
January 20, 2017 @ 7 PM
Vazzano's Four Seasons, Stratford

Sponsored by:





The evening will feature dinner and a hilarious lineup of Treehouse Comedy pros, including two U.S. military veterans.

Event proceeds help Homes for the Brave achieve its mission of providing housing and support services to homeless individuals, most of whom are veterans. 


OR

Participate as a Sponsor
To explore our affordable sponsorship packages, download the Comedy Night Flyer or visit our Website!

If you are able to donate a gift in-kind to the Comedy Night auction/raffle, please contact Katie Marinelli.
Holiday Party 2016


Once again, the amazing Christel Truglia & Friends hosted an elaborate holiday meal for our residents, custom-prepared by the Connecticut State Capitol chefs.

After dinner, residents  past and present shared their experiences of being homeless and overcoming their personal obstacles. Alumni of our programs demonstrated to their peers that it is possible to build a vibrant future at any age.

Thanks to our generous donors, we were able to present each of the men and women we serve with a large gift bag full of new winter apparel, clothing, gift cards, and other necessities.

Thank you to everyone who made our 2016 holiday party the most memorable yet by providing delicious food, excellent company, and more generous gifts than we ever could have imagined.


Visits with Friends
It brought us great joy to visit with new friends and familiar faces this holiday season. Thanks to those who stopped by (and invited us over) with goodies, gifts, and warm wishes. Please enjoy a small sampling of the generosity we experienced last month.

Top-left: 
Bridgeport Bluefish / 
Bottom-left: National Charity League Westport / 
Center: AWARE CT families decorated the Madaras Home and planted gifts under the tree / 
Top-right: AARP Norwalk-Wilton / Bottom-right: Viking Construction 

Exchange Club of Shelton prepared and served an extravagant holiday feast for all of our residents

Top: 
UConn's Veteran Student Organization / 
Bottom-Left: East End Baptist Tabernacle Church / Bottom-Right: Legg Mason, which brought new kitchenware for both houses, and 142 additional gifts!

In 2016, HFTB & FS:FH residents received brand new coats, boots, and winter wear, thanks to individual donors and groups, including General Needs (
top-right), Southport Congregational, Synchrony Financial, Bearingstar Insurance, the HFTB Board of Directors, and others.
Fond Farewell
At the end of 2016, our beloved Office Manager Lorraine Fecteau retired after thirteen years of service at Homes for the Brave. 

Lorraine is leaving her post with mixed emotions. She looks forward to traveling but will miss being a part of our residents' journeys as they work toward greater self-determination and eventually "bloom."

She joined the agency as a volunteer in October of 2003, just one year after its official opening. Employing her banking background, Lorraine helped to manage the finances and day-to-day administrative operations. A few months later, the CEO and board approved to bring her on board as an employee.


According to Lorraine, all of her previous jobs grew dull after a couple of years. "But you don't get bored here," she said. "We're all constantly doing so many things and on top of that, it's so rewarding." 

On her last day of work, Lorraine grew emotional when she received a card from a resident, telling her what a difference her work, smile, and positive attitude have had on his transition back to an independent lifestyle.

That card is an example of the rewards that will continue to connect Lorraine to HFTB. In fact, she has already scheduled a date to visit and cook dinner for the residents. And so instead of goodbye, we say "thank you" and "see you soon" to a most dedicated friend and colleague!
Giving Back

Melville Charitable Trust



We thank the Melville Charitable Trust Employment and Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) for supporting our vocational program with a $7,500 grant. These funds will help our residents overcome barriers to employment by providing transportation, interview and work apparel, short-term training and certification programs, and fees to establish or replace identification documents.


We also thank the following major supporters:

Laske Law, Verde Energy, and Viking Construction for donating funds raised at their company celebrations, totaling over $8,000!

The Delaney Memorial Foundation , which supports our  Female Soliders: Forgotten Heroes program.

The Joseph P. & Colleen M. Brandon Family Foundation, The Huntington Foundation, and  The Reynolds Family Charitable Fund for supporting our areas of greatest need, including operating expenses that enable us to provide our residents with the best possible transitional living experiences.
In This Month's Issue...
Comedy Show
Holiday Party 2016
Visits with Friends
Fond Farewell
Giving Back

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Shout Outs

AARP Norwalk-Wilton #3929

Adult Rides

Altrusa International of Central CT

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 16

American Legion Women's Auxiliary Sippin-Winspur Unit 176

Bearingstar Insurance

Benevity Community Impact Fund

Bridgeport Elks Lodge 36

Bridgeport Fire Department - "D Shift"

Brooklawn
 Seventh Day Adventist Church

Central CT Carpenters
Local Union 24

Christel Truglia & Friends

Close to Home

Community Plates

Connecticut Junior Women, Inc.

Connecticut Military Corvette Club

Connecticut Seido Karate

Crystal Restoration Services of CT 

Daughters of the American Revolution - Eunice
Dennie Burr Chapter

David Dubinsky & DAV Milford

Delaney Memorial Foundation

Derby Public Schools

DIL

Donut Crazy

Dos By TT

East End Baptist Tabernacle Church

Exchange Club
of Norwalk

Exchange Club of Shelton

Fairfield Half Marathon, Inc.

Federated Women's Club of Glastonbury

First Congregational Church of Madison

General Needs

Girl Scouts of CT

Girl Scouts of East Windsor

Greater Bridgeport Medical Association

Greenfield Hill Congregational Church

Hartford Association of Insurance Professionals

HCC Global

Hearts of Hope

Hope Academy

The Huntington Foundation

IMPACTrumbull

Jim Miele

Jimmy's Army  and Navy

Joseph P. & Colleen M. Brandon Family Foundation

Kiwanis Club of Fairfield

Knights of Columbus Msgr. James F. Murphy Council 4716

Knights of
Columbus Park City Council 16

Knights of Columbus Philip Sheridan Assembly 107

Knights of Columbus St. Catherine of Siena Council 5806

Ladies Philoptochos Society

Laske Law

Legg Mason  
VETS ERG

Madison Radiology PC

Martin/Rivera Family

McDonald's  Derby

Middlesex County Blue Star Mothers CT3

Mohegan School

Morrissey, Morrissey & Mooney, LLC

National C harity League Westport

New Beginnings Family Academy

North End Middle School

North End Middle School Student Activity

OdysseyRe Foundation

Orange Community Women

People's United Bank Leadership Team

Sawyer Consulting Services

Senator Marilyn Moore

Shelton Retired Teachers

Skyline Exhibits and Graphics

Southport Congregational Church

Spiro Family Charitable Fund

St. Andrews Church Social Concerns Committee

St. Vincent Ferrer Church

Synchrony Financial

Teamsters Local Union 1150

The Reynolds Family Charitable Fund

The Spiro Family Charitable Fund

The Staff and L adies of Beacon Communities

The Worlds Finest Chocolate

Trumbull Community Women

Trumbull VFW  Ladies Auxiliary

Trumbull Self Storage

Trumbull Woman's Club

UConn Veterans Student Organization

Unilever

United Methodist Women of Stamford

Verde Energy

Viking Construction

SPC Wilfredo Perez Jr. Memorial Fund

Women Marines Association CT-1


Tributes

In Honor of Chris and Dave Bissonnette

In Memory of Gordon Clark

In Memory of Matt DeLuca

In Memory of Richard Egilio

In Honor of Andrew Fink

In Memory of William Gagnon

In Memory of Alan Goodale

In Honor of Milton Griffin

In Honor of the Retirements of Joy Kiss & Lorraine Fecteau

In Memory of PFC Nicholas A.
Mada ras

In Memory of Francis Paul

In Memory of Frank L. Richards

In Honor of Joseph Russo

In Memory of John Sunbury

In Memory of Michael
 Whitaker