MEDIA COVERAGE and Photos of our Volunteer initiatives Below

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We created #VolunteerItsWhatWeDo during a coffee break with the three of us - Judy Barron, John "Caddyman" Saville, and myself in Common Grounds cafe in Branford CT.  The three of us received Beacon Awards for our volunteer work within our community.  During that meeting, the three of us spoke these words, and I put them together to start an advertising campaign to inspire others to Volunteer.

Take A Vet Fishing's mission is simple…to get veterans out of the clinical environment for a relaxing day of fishing. Everything is provided including equipment, food and drink and hosted by the Branford yacht Club. Captain Frank Savino and I take Veterans out every year aboard The Lucky Day.

The "Night to Shine", a prom night style event for 95 people with special needs, ages 14 and above, with 95 "buddies", 175 volunteers and 80 parents and caregivers at Bill Miller's Castle in North Branford created locally by Vanessa Redd and Rachel Kalman, and sponsored by Shoreline Community Church of Branford through the Tim Tebow Foundation. 

The Melissa Marottoli Hogan Foundation was founded by the estate of Melissa Marottoli Hogan to honor her life, promote lung cancer awareness and raise money for ground breaking cancer research.  Lisa Liscio and friends in photo above.

We created Animal Carnival, a black tie Venetian style fundraiser at the Pine Orchard Yacht Club for the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter in Branford.  Daniel the Beagle, the "Miracle Dog" was our special guest.  Daniel's owner spoke of their goal to educate all 50 states lawmakers to eliminate mass ethnicization of shelter pets.

The BCC was founded in 1997 to care for a growing number of feral cats in the community and helped create the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter. Through TNR (trap, neuter, return) policies, countless feral cats have been sterilized and vaccinated and returned to their colonies.  This photo is from their annual fundraiser Animal Awareness Day.

Bark-A-Luau was developed and implemented at Owenego Beach Club in Branford for the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter.  This all day fundraiser included professional hula dancers teaching lessons, music performed by Rock Bottom!

Macey’s initiative benefits the Branford Compassion Club, the non-profit feline rescue organization that provides for the feeding, shelter, and care of homeless, abandoned, and feral cats. Macey earned over $2,000.

Students Volunteering for the Community Dining Room in Branford help load a vehicle to deliver meals to those who need assistance.  Students volunteer on a daily basis including weekends.

The children, teachers, and Director Diane Pappacoda of the Branford Early Learning Center made craft creativity bags for the Community Dining Room, for Family Fun Night!

Destination North Branford Sunflower Solar Project. Kim Dawson is filling Tall and Dwarf Annual Sunflower Seeds. Sunflowers feed Pollinators through the tiny florets that house nectar and pollen and help Detox Contaminated Soil by absorbing toxic heavy metal contaminants and poisonous chemicals in the soil to name a few.

Via researching designs to help create the official #VolunteerItsWhatWeDo sticker. Building off the 1st version which is on her computer above, Via suggested the hashtag, and Jamie Fraenza of All U Design & Print suggested the orange color 'We', which made the logo 'pop'!

This photo includes some of the most passionate volunteers anyone has ever met.  This crew inspired me to start Community Volunteers of America, and to help many more community nonprofits around the United States.  Thanks team.

John McColl's Branford High School Advanced Graphics Class met with Cosgrove Animal Shelter representatives to finalize five new graphic designs students are donating to the shelter. At the meeting were (from left, front) students Hannah Kraszewski (with shelter rescue pup Cupid), Amy Bachhuber, Taylor Mitchell (holding shelter rescue pup Angel) and Summer Harvey and (back) teacher John McColl, student Bridget Page, shelter volunteer Ken Engelman, Lead Animal Control Officer Wendy Joyce, and Director Laura Burban 

There is no greater power in this world than volunteerism. Volunteerism brings together people from all walks of life who work to improve, heal, restore and bring hope to so many who may not have access to opportunities and resources— and volunteering one’s time, energy, talents, and financial support benefits all involved. I’m grateful to Ken Engelman for inviting me to volunteer to develop the logo identity for Community Volunteers of America.   (Update - had to change the name/logo in 2022 unfortunately).

This holiday toy drive for children receiving assistance form CT DCF services is supported by Lisa Liscio of Century 21 and Community Volunteers United, and hosted by Erin Logan and Vinnie Penn. Over 1,000 toys were donated through this fundraiser at DOMA on Main in Branford Connecticut.

Our community neighbors welcomed a new family that just relocated to America.  Our community leader helped organize a welcome kit, maps, computers, phones, culture guide, and so much more.  Great job everyone! 

Member Profile: Macey Flores (9 years old) joined CVU in 2020 and has developed fundraisers for the nonprofits Animal Haven, Branford Compassion Club, and Boxes to Boots here in Connecticut ($900+ to help pay for care packages to be mailed to deployed troops overseas for the holidays). Congratulations Macey!