American Eagle Financial Credit Union (AEFCU) announced the top vote recipients and winners from the latest round of Cash Back to the Community. The fourth quarter winners—three nonprofits from American Eagle’s service area—will receive $26,926 in total donations from the Credit Union for receiving the most support during 2022’s last round of voting.
In 2022, American Eagle distributed $106,090 in total donations to twelve Cash Back to the Community winners and the Credit Union has donated $297,879 since the program’s inception in 2020.
The 2022 fourth-quarter winners, who will each receive $8,975 from American Eagle, include:
- The Meriden Humane Society of Meriden, CT
- Hartford Performs of Hartford, CT
- Open Doors Outdoors, based in Glastonbury, CT
“Our team continues to be overwhelmed by the positive public engagement and direct financial impact of American Eagle’s award-winning ‘Cash Back to the Community’ program,” said Howard Brady, President & CEO of American Eagle Financial Credit Union. “’Cash Back to the Community is a fantastic way for our Credit Union to connect our membership to our philanthropic efforts and we’re so pleased to have provided financial support to and built new partnerships with another twelve local non-profit organizations this past year.”
The Meriden Humane Society
“The Meriden Humane Society is a no-kill shelter that is celebrating its 130th year,” said Karen Annis, Vice President of The Meriden Humane Society’s Board of Directors. “When an animal enters our care, we promise that we will provide the same high-quality care that we would want for our pets and that the animal can stay with us as long as necessary for them to find the right family match. Those are big promises and ones which the ‘Cash Back to the Community’ program will help us fulfill.” You can learn more about The Meriden Humane Society and how you can support their mission at www.meridenhumanesocietyrescue.com.
Hartford Performs
“Hartford Performs brings teaching artists into Hartford Public School classrooms to help students learn English, math and other subjects joyfully and creatively through the arts,” said Rie Poirier-Campbell, Executive Director of Hartford Performs. “Through this grant, kids will learn how planets and molecules move by dancing like them, and they’ll practice using exponents by creating rap rhythms. We will also bring students out to area arts venues to expand their world with professional dance, music, theater and museums. This grant is helping us bring highly engaging educational programming to more than 10,000 Hartford students this year, giving them an extra reason to want to attend classes and enjoy their school day.” You can learn more about Hartford Performs and how you can support their mission at www.hartfordperforms.org.
Open Doors Outdoors
“We are so humbled to receive this grant after knowing so many people voted,” said Davey Edwards of Open Doors Outdoors. “It makes us realize that our impact in our community is truly being recognized. Open Doors Outdoors works closely with several town entities in Hartford County that focus on Veterans, inner-city youth and young people with autism. We will use these funds to increase our reach to these target groups sharing hiking, UTV'ing, kayaking and snowshoeing adventures.” You can learn more about Hartford Performs and how you can support their mission at www.opendoorsoutdoors.org.
(Pictured left to right) Matt Udal, Fundraising Director of Open Doors Outdoors, Davey Edwards, Founder/Executive Director of Open Doors Outdoors, Howard Brady, President & CEO of American Eagle Financial Credit Union, Steve Porcaro, Veteran Outreach of Open Doors Outdoors, and Bill Geist, Treasurer of Open Doors Outdoors.
(Pictured left to right) Karen Annis, Vice President, Meriden Humane Society Board of Directors (with Sam the Cat), Howard Brady, President & CEO of American Eagle Financial Credit Union, and Kim Sauer, Secretary, Meriden Humane Society Board of Directors (with Chance the Puppy).
(Pictured left to right) Rie Poirier-Campbell, Executive Director of Hartford Performs and Howard Brady, President & CEO of American Eagle Financial Credit Union