Foundation Events

Charter Oak State College Foundation

Creating Brighter Futures, One Degree at a Time

 

Thank you to all who contributed to the 50th Anniversary Celebratory Year!

Once in a lifetime, we have the opportunity to celebrate a milestone such as this,
the 50th Anniversary of Charter Oak State College! 

Charter Oak State College & the Foundation
are building a solid foundation for the Future.

You Can Be A Part of our that Future ...simple Give a Gift Today
to help us Raise MORE to GIVE MORE to STUDENTS Tomorrow!

To mark the milestone anniversary, Charter Oak State College Foundation hosted a 50th Anniversary Gala on June 10, 2023, and has set a big goal to Raise More to Give More. View the photo gallery here.

Through the generousity of many community members, we raised over $20,000 at the Gala! 

Grateful to our Sponsors and Advertisers

Anne Elwell '01
B&B Threaded Components Inc.
BIG Thunk
Billie M. Levy '78 and '79
Blanche Parker '86
Brian Romano '11
Calculus of Talent
Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce
Charter Oak State College Alumni Association
Curtis Lungrin
Don & Carole Carso
Eversource
Fiducient
Guru Enterprise Group
James Gibbs '15 and '17
John Meyer
Krystyna Gorniak-Kocikowska, Faculty
Liberty Bank
Liberty Bank Foundation
Main Street Community Foundation, Inc
Marcia Anderson-Esson '93, Alumni and Foundation Board Member
Mayor Erin Stewart
Mrs. Carith Dean '12 and '16
New Britain Downtown District
Regina Miller, Faculty
The Goddard School of Westport, CT
Waypoint Wealth Solutions
William J. Malone, ‘76, Schooner Jolly II Rover

and YOU!

SPRING 2024 - Dates and Events To Be Announced

 ARCHIVES - View Previous Event Photos (below):

>>>50th Anniversary Recap

 

Charter Oak State College Foundation Golden Acorn Employer of the Year Winner for 2022 Catherine Vanicky, Owner of the Honey Bear Learning Center in Stratford, CT

Annual Employer Appreciation Breakfast


November 16, 2022, 7:30 am - 9:00 am
TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut

Thankful for Employers!

As we enter the Thanksgiving Season, Students and Graduates thanked their Employers
who make a difference, are a source of encouragement, and support student success.

Thankful for our Sponsors!
The
4th Annual Employer Appreciation Breakfast was made possible by our Sponsors,

Fiducient

BigThunk, Dave Calibey

Calculus of Talent, Joyce Petrella

Neal Cunningham, COSC Class of 2000

Guru Enterprises Group, Joe Waxman

Ed Klonoski, COSC President

Breakfast Details, Winners, Nominations, and More ... view the PDF here.

Thankful for Your Degree? 

Support Student Success, Help Reduce Student Loan Debt simply Donate
to the Charter Oak State College Foundation TODAY!

Donation Link [click here] to Support Employer Appreciation and Student Success.

 

Our students and graduates are bringing their Boss to Breakfast as a show of appreciation! The Foundation will honor and acknowledge the employers & bosses who have contributed to student success.We will also honor President Ed Klonoski and his 25 years of service to Charter Oak State College, and Nancy Martone, COSC Class of 1996 on her notable career and service as an Alumni Ambassador! [full agenda and program book pdf here]

Led by Joyce Petrella, President COSC Foundation and Managing Partner of  Calculus of Talent, the Foundation is launching a bold big effort to raise more to give more! Many of our students show their appreciation but, the need is greater than our resources. [read more by opening the pdf here]

[Give to Student Success and Support Employer Appreciation [online here].

Please consider honoring President Ed Klonoski's 25 Years of Service, the employers, award winners, and the Foundation's all-volunteer board with your gift of any size today! Help the Foundation raise $250,000 in Fiscal Year 2023 To Double our GIVING!

The Charter Oak State College Foundation (COSCF) is committed to helping make degree completion attainable, enabling better and brighter futures. It is a fact that education leads to economic stability, helps eliminate inequality, and improves our workforce and communities – one degree at a time. An educated workforce also improves our communities!

In 2022, the Foundation gave $150,000 to 120 students however, we received over 200 requests for financial aid.

The need is bigger than our resources.

Give Today for Brighter Futures Tomorrow!

Receive Recognition as a Proponent of Equity and Access in Higher Education.

Sponsor the Breakfast or Make a Donation to the "Where it is Needed Most Fund" - HERE!

History of Foundation Events

BIG NEWS! 

 

Liberty Bank Community Kind LogoNEW BRITAIN, CT - October 27, 2021 - Liberty Bank and Charter Oak State College Foundation have joined forces to fund a new Scholarship program aimed at parents, single or married, living at or near poverty in Connecticut.

 “Liberty Bank is excited to award an additional $4,000 to the Parents Intent on Improving Tomorrow (PiiT) program...[read more]...Announced Glenn Davis, COSC Foundation Treasurer and First Vice President, Community Development/CRA Officer at Liberty Bank, “We challenge the community to match our donation, as we strive to provide scholarships for parents in need, particularly African American and Hispanic men.

2021 Liberty Bank Check Presentation

The Challenge ended at the Foundation’s Employers Appreciation Breakfast on November 18, 2021 –and raised $8,000!” [Press Release]

- Join the Charter Oak State College Foundation in our journey to create brighter futures, one degree at a time.

 

 

 

Dinner Dance Party and Fundraiser
Saturday, June 25, 2022, 6:00 pm
Farmington Club, Farmington, CT

In-Person - Outdoor - Dinner Dance Party (under tent cover)

Save the Date Saturday June 25 2022 BIG 80s Dinner Dance Party

2021 Employer Appreciation Breakfast

 Maureen Hogan with Early Child Care Students and Their Employers 2021  COSC Alum Mervin with three of his colleagues including his boss

The Charter Oak State College Foundation announces Winners of the Golden Acorn Employer of the Year Award for 2020 and 2021. Employers were honored at the Foundation’s Annual Employer Appreciation Breakfast held on Thursday, November 18, 2021 at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell.

2020 Golden AcornEmployer of the Year winner, Russ Arnold, Director of Public Works/Town Engineer for the Town of Farmington; nominated by David Parent, 2021 COSC Graduate.

 

2021 Golden Acorn Employer of the Year winners include:
Stephen Clark, Newington Police Chief
; nominated by Henry Rodriguez, COSC student;

Police Chief Stephen Clark 2021 Employer of the Year with COSC Student Henry

and Svitlanna Czernee, Nadia Marynovych, and Kristen Bodenstein, The Goddard School of Westport; nominated by Nicole Vezina, COSC student.

Employer of the Year 2021 Winner The Goddar School owner, director, and staff with COSC student nominator

Details along with photos of award winners and a list of all fifty-two nominees are attached. [Announcement]

 

Shea Lecture CALL-TO-ACTION VIDEO & PRESS RELEASE & WHITE PAPER REPORT

Shea Lecture 2020 Guest speakers

What is the Shea Lecture?
The Shea Lecture Endowment was established in 1987 upon the retirement of Bernard D. Shea, Charter Oak's first President. This Endowed Fund enables the Foundation and College to sponsor public lectures which further the College's mission to engage students and the community in lifelong

The 2020 Shea Lecture Topic:
A panel of distinguished guests will discuss economic disparity within our state and country, the origins, barriers, limitations, and solutions. Subject matter experts will provide insights on economic disparity, housing inequity, higher education, career / workforce planning as well as societal. 

 

Beat the stay-at-home-blues

Charter Oak State College Foundation, along with Program Sponsors Sheffy Mazzaccaro and the Charter Oak Student Association, invite you to join in for some free fun!

Storytelling Live Virtual Event!

Professional Award-Winning storyteller, Terry Wolfisch Cole of Tell Me Another, provided a lineup of COSC alums, students, faculty, board members, and friends to share their personal stories - because our stories matter!

View on Facebook or YouTube:
https://www.facebook.com/tellmeanotherstories/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJGixP4kzn-PWguXbMCmK5g

Storytelling event

Employer Appreciation Breakfast - Friday, November 8, 2019

Charter Oak State College Celebrated Employer Benefactors and Student Success at the 2nd Annual Employer Appreciation Breakfast, Friday, November 8, 2019, 7:30 am - 9:00 am at the TPC River Highlands Club House, Cromwell, CT

Employer Appreciation Breakfast 2019  Employer Appreciation Breakfast 2019 2  Employer Appreciation Breakfast (3)

The event featured a variety of speakers including Charter Oak Alum, Seila Mosquera-Bruno, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Housing. Nitza Rivera, Aetna, VP of Talent Management, who thanked Charter Oak for the 20-year partnership and the over 200 employees that have earned degrees from Charter Oak and continue to work at Aetna. 

Also, the event included the awarding of the prestigious 2019 Golden Acorn Employer of the Year Award. This year’s recipient was Middlesex HealthCare. Suzanne D’Amato, Operations Manager, Health Information Services, of Middlesex Healthcare was nominated by current Charter Oak student Kelly Carlson.

Gold Sponsors,Liberty Bank, blumshapiro, Scalia & Associates, and Sheffy Mazzaccaro, made it possible for Charter Oak's community of learners to bring their boss to the complimentary breakfast. Hall said, "The Foundation appreciates and thanks employers who recognize the importance of higher education, and our community sponsors who helped to create this opportunity to honor many of them."

Follow the links to see photos on Facebook, or read more and view photos with captions. Proceeds to benefit the Student Crisis Fund.

COSC 45th Anniversary Celebration

Thank you Just Isn’t Enough! We had a record number of attendees, sold-out the mystery wine wall, enjoyed the music by DJ Love, Julio Casiano, and just had a real ball (disco style!). The Charter Oak celebration included old and new friends, staff, faculty, and volunteer leadership.  Awards were presented and testimonies were given as we celebrated the life changing work and mission of Charter Oak and the Foundation - degree completion. Please take a moment, view below and follow the links - help us acknowledge our sponsors and donors, plus see the story of the evening in words and photos!

45th Anniversary Celebration : [Program Book] | [Press info] | [photo gallery] | Charter Oak Changes Lives! Testimonial Video

 

sponsor15

 

 

 

Thank you to all of our supporters:

 

disco ball 1

 

Thank you to our Faculty/Staff Emeriti Award Members

Photo below includes: From right to left, Emeriti Award Winners with President Ed Klonoski, Linda Larkin, Dr. Merle Harris, Pat Derech, Robert Zabek, Shyamala Raman, Irene Clampet, Provost Shirley Adams, Donald Brodeur, and  David Sloane. 

disco photo

 

The First Annual Employer Appreciation Breakfast was held on Nov 30th 2018 at River - Waterfront Restaurant, in Wethersfield, CT.

Thank you to our Gold Sponsor:

FIA LogoOther Sponsors can be viewed in the Event Program!

Alums and Students were encouraged to "bring their boss to breakfast" and the 2018 Golden Acorn Employer of the Year Award was presented. Click Here to view our photo gallery!

The 2018 Golden Acorn Employer of the Year - Hartford Healthcare!  From left to right, Shelly Johnson, Kwame Asamoah, COSC Student and Scholarship Recipient, Debbi Wright, RHIA, System Director of Health Information Management and Guest Speaker. (Missing from the picture is supervisor, Celia Rodriguez.)

The 2018 Golden Acorn Employer of the Year - Hartford Healthcare!  From left to right, Shelly Johnson, Kwame Asamoah, COSC Student and Scholarship Recipient, Debbi Wright, RHIA, System Director of Health Information Management and Guest Speaker. (Missing from the picture is supervisor, Celia Rodriguez.)

Proceeds from the breakfast will be used for the Student Crisis Fund, to help students overcome unforeseen financial hardships in realtime, keeping students on track for degree completion. It is not too late to make a donation to the Student Crisis Fund! Simply follow this link: http://bit.ly/StudentCrisisFund. Thank you!

Entrepreneurial Workshop

Monday, November 26, 2018, FREE Entrepreneurial Workshop Step Three: Go

Monday, October 15, 2018, FREE Entrepreneurial Workshop Step Two: Set

Tuesday, September 25th, FREE Entrepreneurial Workshop Step One: Ready

Career Development Workshops

Complimentary Career Workshop [1, 2, and 3] Presented by Calculus of Talent!

Spring Fundraiser and 2018 Shea Lecture, May 1, 2018

Thank you to our 2018 Shea Lecture - Art of Wellness Panel!

Sheal lecture Panel, Maureen Andy and Andrea

Andy Lee, M.A., Chief Mindfulness Officer, Aetna
Maureen McIntyre, M.A.
, CEO, North Central Area Agency on Aging (NCAAA)
and Andrea Mullin, B.S., Client Manager, United Healthcare, and WIT Program Graduate

2018 Shea Lecture Panel Andy, Nancy, and Andrea

and (centered) Nancy Billias, Ph.D., Professor, University of Saint Joseph, and Core Consulting Faculty, COSC,

 

2017 Foundation Fall Fundraiser - Celebrating Forty Years!

Cyber Safety Video Presented by Liberty Bank and Charter Oak Foundation

Watch Jeff Lanza's How Cyber Safe are YOU?

Read Jeff Lanza's Simple Safeguards: Preventing Identity Theft

Sponsored by Liberty Bank and the COSC Foundation Rankin Chair

2017 marked 40 years of the COSC Foundation's active service for students of Charter Oak State College

A dinner celebration was held Monday, November 13, 2017 at the Back Nine Tavern on Stanley Golf Course. Charter Oak Foundation Board Members, Alums, Staff, and faculty gathered for dinner and a presentation of the scholarship awards, plus the feature presentation on cyber security safety by Jeff Lanza, retired FBI agent.

Proceeds benefited the Student Crisis Fund Endowment and also provided a free public service presentation.

Thank you to all for making our event a success and providing for students in crisis.

 

Questions? Contact Carol Hall, Associate Director of Development at chall@charteroak.edu or (860) 515-3889