EAST HAVEN, Conn–American Eagle Financial Credit Union has provided support to a number of organizations.
Since being established in 1985 by a dedicated group of volunteers at the Old Stone Church, the East Haven Food Pantry has grown to serve 340 families, totaling over 1,000 individuals, distributing a substantial 8,500 food items per month.
Those volunteers just received a major boost, thanks to a grant of $9,175 the Pantry received from the most recent round of American Eagle Financial Credit Union’s (AEFCU) Cash Back to the Community program.
Since 2020, AEFCU has donated 1% of its credit and debit card interchange income—the fees paid for credit and debit card transactions—to three nonprofit organizations each quarter through this program. To date, the program has generated more than $405,000 in donations to nonprofit organizations in the communities served by American Eagle.
“Supporting nonprofits like the East Haven Food Pantry is what makes our Cash Back to the Community program so impactful,” said Howard Brady, President & CEO of American Eagle Financial Credit Union. “Cash Back to the Community is 100 percent community-nominated and chosen and we could not be more proud to support groups like the East Haven Food Pantry.”
Sanford said the funds received from American Eagle will be instrumental in furthering the pantry’s commitment to providing a three-day emergency food supply to East Haven residents in need. These resources will directly impact the well-being of our community, ensuring that individuals facing food insecurity receive the support they require.
Support for Gay Men’s Chorus
Separately, the Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus (HGMC) has received an unrestricted grant of $9,175 from American Eagle Financial Credit Union’s (AEFCU) Cash Back to the Community program. HGMC is one of three community organizations to receive a donation in the latest round of this signature community giving program.
“On behalf of the Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation,” said Robert Reader, Executive Director of Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus. “Your support plays a crucial role in our mission to promote the arts and enrich our audiences through the power of choral music. The funds from American Eagle Financial Credit Union’s Cash Back to the Community program will be used to help support our production costs associated with our spring concert in May at The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, in Hartford. Over 900 people will attend and benefit from the spring concert.”
Support for Felines
In 2023 Protectors of Animals placed over 700 cats and dogs into permanent homes. This year, the organization garnered a financial boost to help them along, having been chosen as one of three Connecticut nonprofits awarded a grant of $9,175 from American Eagle Financial Credit Union’s (AEFCU) most recent round of their Cash Back to the Community program.
The funds from American Eagle’s Cash Back to the Community program will support shelter and veterinary care costs for cats and dogs until they can be matched with responsible owners. The funds will also help reduce the number of stray animals in Connecticut through Protectors of Animals spaying/neutering programs.
Protectors of Animals focuses on humanely reducing the populations of community and feral (unsocialized) cats through the strategy of Trap-Neuter-Return.
“This donation will make it possible for us to help more animals such as Codi, a six-month-old Boston terrier/pit bull puppy who had been hit by a car late last year,” said Jody Macrina, President of Protectors of Animals. “His x-rays showed a fractured right hind leg, requiring lots of rest and weekly cast changes. Codi's foster family patiently kept this high-energy puppy on restricted activity and from chewing off his cast for the eight weeks he was bandaged and an additional four weeks after his cast was removed.
“Codi's veterinary care and training sessions cost $2,000, but the outcome was worth it. Now named Teddy, this sweet boy has found his forever home, he can run like the wind and has no shortage of adventures, walks, hikes and attention from his new family and three human siblings.”