Representative Juan Candelaria With rKids Staff
'CT Nonprofits Week at the Capitol was an outstanding experience for my staff and representatives of rKids Family Center,' said Randi Rubin Rodriguez, Executive Director, rKids.
Hartford, Connecticut (PRWEB) March 08, 2013
During the recent "CT Nonprofits Week at the Capitol", 50 members of the Connecticut Association of Nonprofits (CT Nonprofits), the largest membership organization in the state dedicated exclusively to working with nonprofits in Connecticut, showcased the work they are doing to enhance the quality of life for all citizens of Connecticut. The event also provided nonprofit members with an opportunity to connect with key legislators and highlight the contribution they make to the State’s economy.
“Nonprofits play critical roles in both the community and the economy,” said Ron Cretaro, Executive Director, CT Nonprofits. “It is important for our members to have an open dialogue with legislators and to foster an understanding of how the services they provide impact those living in Connecticut. Through ‘CT Nonprofits Week at the Capitol’ our collective goal is for participating organizations to build new and expand existing relationships with these key players.”
Beyond serving as job creators, nonprofits provide necessary services to some of Connecticut’s most vulnerable residents. Having endured four years without a cost of living increase, prior to the one half of one percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) in January 2013, nonprofits are challenged to serve an increasing number of clients with limited budgets. While the bonding initiative proposed in Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s FY14-15 budget may address some of the issues nonprofits face in terms of funding projects to lower administrative costs, they are still faced with low pay and rising benefit costs, such as health insurance, that their operating budgets cannot support. (average cost of living increase is only 1 percent over the past twenty years.)
“CT Nonprofits Week at the Capitol was an outstanding experience for my staff and representatives of rKids Family Center,” said Randi Rubin Rodriguez, Executive Director. “Given the size of our organization, there is no way we'd have the ability to stay on top of legislative bills, the budget and items needing our advocacy without CT Nonprofits. We had the opportunity to meet with several of our Legislators and elected officials including Denise Merrill, Secretary of the State, Representative Juan Candelaria and Senator Toni Harp.”
The latest group of nonprofits who exhibited at ‘CT Nonprofits Week at the Capitol’ represented all aspects of the sector, including health and wellness organizations, people with disabilities, women and youth, arts and culture, and community service providers from 27 communities.
The next installment of ‘CT Nonprofits Week at the Capitol’ will take place April 22-26, 2013, where an additional 50 organizations will round participation to 100 nonprofit representatives in total for 2013.
Connecticut Association of Nonprofits (CT Nonprofits) is the largest membership organization in the state dedicated exclusively to working with nonprofits in Connecticut. As the voice of nonprofits, the association has advanced the social and economic impact of nonprofits for over 30 years. CT Nonprofits helps members focus their energy on the people and communities they serve by connecting organizations with information, education, advocacy and collaboration. For more information, please visit http://www.ctnonprofits.org.
Press Contact: Danielle Cyr Ι Co-Communications Ι 860.676.4400 Ι Danielle(at)cocommunications(dot)com.