2023 Annual Appeal

 

Dear Friends of the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc,

Last year the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc (CTNGFI), provided direct financial assistance to sixty-seven service members, families and Family Readiness Groups, totaling $77,551.00. Additionally, $20,500.00 in scholarships was awarded to Connecticut National Guard service members and family members. 

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc. I wonder if the founding members of the CTNGFI thought that so many service members and families would still need financial help, twenty years after its founding. But the need does still exist!

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that these times of crippling inflation and economic turmoil have been an incredibly difficult time for all of us. 

But for those who are unemployed, or barely earning minimum wage, they are suffering more than others. Unfortunately, service members and families of the Connecticut National Guard, are among those suffering. 

Today, I am writing to you with a simple yet heartfelt plea. Will you step forward to help our service members and families during this especially dangerous and trying time by sending a charitable donation to the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc?

Your gift will make a real and practical difference in lifting up service members and their families, who are suffering. Your gift to our general fund will be used to help support our members suffering with such needs as weekly care and emergency relief, food assistance, rent or mortgage payments, utilities, home health care, medical expenses and funeral expenses.

Any one of us could find ourselves needing the support of friends and neighbors if life takes a sudden turn. Together, we can lift up our struggling service members and their families, and give them the hope and help they need. 

Yes, it is truly amazing the difference you can make today. By reaching out with your charitable donation, you will be supporting our mission of providing financial hands-on solutions to our struggling service members and their families. 

But direct financial assistance is not all that your donation will support. Operation ELF, Adopt-a-Military Family, Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, and Post Secondary Scholarships are also funded by your generous donations. These vital programs provide relief and happiness to military families who may be struggling with the pain of deployment separation, loss of employment and income, or how to pay for the escalating costs of higher education. 

Your donation, no matter how large or small, could be the lifeline to our military families and service members who have no where else to turn. Please make this special difference – a life-sustaining difference for many – by sending your contribution today to the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc. 

In order for us to assist these families, we need your help. Our hope is to continue to support our Guard family as long as the need exists, but we cannot do it alone. We need your help. Contributions can be made by check, credit card, PayPal, and now Venmo. You can donate by check or credit card, by using the enclosed reply card and envelope, or for PayPal by going to our website at www.ctngfi.org and clicking on the “how to help tab” and then the donate button. To donate by Venmo use our account name: @ctngfi. If you are using Venmo, please be sure to provide your name, address and/or email and cell number for proper acknowledgement of your donation. 

This is the season for giving thanks ... and in that spirit, thank you for all you do for our Foundation. Please send your most generous gift today.

 

Sincerely,

 

Christopher Mackenzie

Chief Warrant Officer Four (Retired)

President

 

 

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SGT Felix M. Del Greco, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Connecticut National Guard Foundation Scholarships

The purpose of the SGT Felix M. Del Greco, Jr. Scholarship is to honor his memory by awarding  annual scholarship(s) to children of Connecticut Army National Guard members who are attending an accredited undergraduate degree program. 

For the 2025 - 2026 academic year we are pleased to announce that four - $5,000.00 scholarships will be awarded. 

Applications for this scholarship must be obtained from the Connecticut Community Foundation (CCF), at their website:  http://www.conncf.org.   This is the only application accepted for this scholarship.  All completed applications must be returned to CCF by the date specified on their application.    

For students who are a son or daughter of a current member of the CT Army National Guard:

  • Applicant does not need to reside in the Foundation’s 21-town service area.
  • Applicant must be attending an accredited college degree or technical program
  • Additional reference letter required, which must specifically address character traits 
  • Merit-based: Financial information not required for this fund

Apply & Get More Information at this Link

The SGT Felix M. Del Greco, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

The SGT Felix M. Del Greco, Jr  Memorial Scholarship was established on April 16, 2004.  The purpose is to provide an annual scholarship(s) to dependent children of Connecticut Army National Guard members, to honor the memory of SGT Felix M. Del Greco, Jr., who was killed in action in Iraq on April 9, 2004.  He was the first member of the Connecticut National Guard to die in Iraq.

Felix was born on July 18, 1981 to Felix M. Del Greco, Sr., and Claire Del Greco.  A lifelong resident of Simsbury, he graduated from Simsbury High School in 1999.  Felix was active in many school activities to include playing trumpet in the jazz band and working as part of the backstage technical crew on school plays and performances.  He was also a Boy Scout, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, of which he was very proud.

As a teen, Felix always had an interest in the military and enlisted in the Connecticut Army National Guard on March 30, 1999, while still in high school.  He joined Headquarters Company, 242d Engineer Battalion, and shipped to Basic Training in June 1999. 

In January 2001 Felix transferred to Company B, 1st Battalion, 102d Infantry where he volunteered to deploy to Bosnia on a peacekeeping mission.  While serving in Bosnia for six months, he earned the distinction of Soldier of the Rotation amongst over 10,000 multi-national forces.  He returned from Bosnia in March 2002.

In April 2003, SGT Del Greco volunteered to deploy again, this time in support of Operation Nobel Eagle III as part of the homeland defense ordered by President Bush.  He was stationed at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY.

After nine months at West Point, SGT Del Greco returned to Connecticut in December 2003 only to immediately volunteer to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II.  He transferred to Company C, 1st Battalion, 102d Infantry in Bristol as an Automatic Rifleman.  Company C left Connecticut for Fort Hood, Texas, on January 8, 2004 and became part of the 39th Infantry Brigade, Arkansas Army National Guard.   

The unit arrived in Kuwait in March 2004 and began patrolling in Baghdad, Iraq in April.  SGT Felix Del Greco was killed on April 9, 2004 when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb and gunfire. 

His military awards include:   The Bronze Star,  Purple Heart,  Army Commendation Medal,  Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster,  Army Good Conduct Medal,  Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal,  National Defense Service Medal,  Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal,  Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal,  Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,  Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device (2d Award),  Noncommissioned Officer’s Professional Development Ribbon,  Army Service Ribbon,  NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge.