CEMA Donates to Toys for Tots and Operation Fuel
Operation Fuel received a $5,000 donation, with potentially up to another $10,000 or more to come, as a result of a partnership among Connecticut Energy Marketers Association (CEMA), GoodWorks Insurance, and the Arbella Insurance Foundation. At the CEMA holiday party, Dec. 12 at the New England Carousel Museum in Bristol, Conn., Operation Fuel’s acting director, Brenda Watson, accepted a check from GoodWorks Insurance President Paul Brian. Those attending the holiday party also contributed new, unwrapped toys to the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots campaign. (CEMA Chairman Peter Russell of, appropriately, Santa Energy in Bridgeport, Conn., is pictured on the home page with U.S. Marines representing the Corps and its annual toy drive.)
Operation Fuel, which is based in Hartford, Conn., is a statewide nonprofit organization that provides emergency energy assistance year-round to lower-income working families and individuals, the elderly, and disabled individuals who are in financial crisis. The funds will be used to help lower-income Connecticut families stay warm this winter. For more information on Operation Fuel, or to donate, visit www.operationfuel.org.
GoodWorks Insurance donated $2,500 and is adding a $2,500 matching grant from Arbella. GoodWorks also will match up to $5,000 in donations from CEMA’s members, so the total could exceed $15,000 by April.
“The generous support from GoodWorks, Arbella and CEMA members shows that we are all in this together. Without the support of the community, we could not do what we do,” Watson said.
PICTURED: Operation Fuel Acting Director Brenda Watson, with GoodWorks Insurance President Paul Brian, speaking at the CEMA holiday party. Photo by Stephen Bennett/Fuel Oil News.
“CEMA is proud to join GoodWorks, Arbella and home heating oil dealers across Connecticut to contribute to Operation Fuel’s mission to give people in need access to energy assistance,” said CEMA President Chris Herb. CEMA, based in Cromwell, Conn., consists of some 585 Connecticut home heating oil dealers and gasoline distributors.
“Operation Fuel does wonderful work throughout Connecticut, where one in five residents has a hard time paying for energy. We’re glad to join with CEMA and Arbella to support them,” Brian said. Headquartered in Glastonbury, Conn., GoodWorks Insurance has other offices in Milford, Avon and Columbia, Connecticut; in Western Massachusetts; and in Walnut Creek, California. It offers home, auto and business insurance, surety bonds and group health insurance. GoodWorks donates 50% of its operating profit to local charities. Its mission of “Purpose Beyond Profit” is fulfilled through GoodWorks Community Grants and strategic partnerships with leading nonprofit groups.
Since 2005, the Arbella Insurance Foundation has been committed to supporting local, nonprofit organizations that work to help the people of New England. More information is at www.arbella.com/arbella-insurance/why-arbella/arbella-insurance-foundation.