Breakfast of Champions – An Inside Look at Corporate Philanthropy and Social Responsibility; Sponsored by BlumShapiro
About Our Breakfast
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the latest trends in philanthropy from a large corporate viewpoint. Our expert panel is composed of community relations professionals from forward-thinking Fortune 500 companies. These firms recognize the importance of including mission-centered goals as part of their bottom line results.
We will discuss the most current issues in corporate citizenship and how each of these companies defines social responsibility. Topics for exploration include:
- How businesses select social causes and how these are tied back to the corporate mission;
- What challenges do firms face internally to build consensus and act charitably;
- How funding levels and spending processes are determined;
- What factors determine a cause marketing approach or sponsorship, versus a straight grant;
- How companies evaluate their relationships with nonprofit organizations;
- How for profit and nonprofit organizations can best interact and collaborate; and,
- Ideas to encourage volunteerism and corporate employee engagement.
Come prepared with questions and learn how your own organization can engage corporate partners more effectively.
Our Panelists
Moderator: Holly Doherty-Lemoine, CFRE, Chief Development Officer, Inspirica, Inc.
Panel:
- Sandy Bria, Manager Corporate Citizenship, GE Capital
- Danielle Robinson, Director Alcohol Policy & Corp. Reputation Management, Diageo
- Ruthann Walsh, Director Corporate Citizenship, Pepperidge Farm
Bios:
Sandy Bria
San
dy Bria is the Manager Corporate Citizenship for GE Capital Americas, located in Norwalk, CT. In this role, Sandy leads philanthropy, community relations and volunteerism both nation-wide and locally. This encompasses oversight of 19 volunteer councils and supporting, through the GE Capital Americas Corporate Citizenship Center of Excellence, over 1000 local employees. She also manages the over $2MM charitable contributions allocation focused on public education, supporting disadvantaged youth and serving the communities where employees live and work.
Sandy joined GE in 1983 with the GE Capital Human Resources function, where she served as an HR Coordinator in the corporate benefits department and later as the Coordinator of Corporate Travel Incentive Programs. In 2001, Sandy joined the Corporate Financial Services business as the Community Relations Program Manager. In this capacity she led local volunteer and community relations efforts. She took on the expanded role of Manager Corporate Citizenship in 2009, implementing policy and corporate social responsibility initiatives for GECA.
Sandy has lived in Norwalk with her family for over 30 years
Danielle Marlene Robinson, Ph.D.
Dr. Danielle Robinson has more than 22 years of experience in domestic and global human resources covering the consumer goods, beverage, entertainment and pharmaceutical industries. Danielle is currently Director, Alcohol Policy and Reputation Management at Diageo where she leads all Responsible Drinking Programs and Partnerships. Formerly, she was the Director, Diversity and Early Career at Diageo. She lectures across the United States at conferences and universities on Diversity and Inclusion management within Corporations.
In her former position, Diageo received numerous awards, including Top 100 Companies for Working Mothers (2013,2012, 2011, 2010, 2009), Top 50 Out Front Companies by Diversity MBA (2013,2012), Top 100 Companies to Work by the Human Rights Campaign (2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008) and Top 25 Diversity Councils (2012, 2011, 2010, 2009).
Prior to Diageo, Danielle worked for Unilever, Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals, and Simon & Schuster where she had responsibility for domestic and international human resources.
Danielle has an undergraduate degree in Communication from Rutgers University, a Masters Degree in Corporate Communication from Seton Hall University and a Doctorate degree in Public Administration from Warren National University.
Ruthann Walsh
Ruthann Walsh is Director, Corporate Citizenship for Pepperidge Farm a position she has held for the past five years.
During this time she has been responsible for creating and developing a rich network of relationships within Pepperidge Farm’s local communities in order to support the company’s efforts to tackle issues of obesity and hunger, particularly amongst children. She has spear-headed a range of initiatives in conjunction with local schools, health facilities and hospitals, including designing and implementing Project LEAN , a program designed to teach children the importance of good nutrition and physical activity. The program is currently offered in five Norwalk elementary schools. Ruthann also led the expansion of the Back Pack program in Norwalk, where underserved children are provided with free nutritious food for weekends and holiday periods.
In addition, she is an active member of a range of community organizations within the Norwalk community, working alongside politicians, businesses, charities and private philanthropists to make a sustainable difference.
Ruthann assumed her current role after a twenty year career in business and marketing. She joined Pepperidge Farm in 2000 and held the role of Business Director of the company’s multimillion dollar bakery portfolio. Prior to joining Pepperidge Farm Ruthann worked at Dr. Pepper / 7Up for ten years in a variety of sales and marketing roles of increasing scope and responsibility.
She holds an MBA in Marketing from the University of Connecticut and a Bachelor of Arts from Ohio Wesleyan University.
Our Breakfast Sponsor
BlumShapiro is the largest regional accounting, tax and business consulting firm based in New England with offices in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. We have grown to over 400 accounting, consulting and administrative professionals, making us one of the top 60 largest accounting firms in the U.S.
Drawing upon our breadth and depth of experience in our primary service areas — privately held businesses, non-profit organizations and government entities–we strategically tailor and consistently deliver tested solutions for unlocking the full potential of your organization. Our highly valued team members bring their diverse backgrounds and strengths to the table resulting in you receiving a true blend of national firm experience and local firm delivery. We offer a wide range of services under one roof, including audit, tax and business consulting. Our team shares a common passion: a personal commitment to each client’s success as well as to the communities in which we live and work.
Lori M. Budnick, Partner
29 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT 06107
PH: 860-561-6828
www.blumshapiro.com
Reservations:
The Fairfield County Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) will hold its monthly educational program on Thursday, April 2, 2015 from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. at The Norwalk Inn & Conference Center, 99 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT. Registration/networking opens at 7:30 a.m., and the buffet opens/meeting starts promptly at 8:00.
- Contact Marianne Hickey at 203-834-1910, or by e-mail at
- Breakfast fee: AFP Members – $25; Non-Members – $45.
- We accept checks, and online credit card payments. If you wish to register online using your credit card, click here for the link or use https://www.chi-cash-advance.com/sforms/appeal942/Contribute.aspx
- Make check payable to “AFP-FC” and mail to:Marianne Hickey, 29 Black Alder Lane, Wilton, CT 06897
*Payment is appreciated in advance
*Anyone who has made a reservation and cannot attend the breakfast must cancel by 12 pm on the Wednesday preceding the breakfast. If no cancellation has been received, there will be no refund or carry over of the breakfast fee. If pre-payment has not been made and no cancellation has been received by 12 pm on Wednesday, that person will be billed for the amount due for the breakfast.
CFRE Credits:
You earn 1.5 CFRE credits toward certification for each Luncheon Meeting you attend. For more information about CFRE certification, please visit: http://www.afpnet.org/Professional/CertificationList.cfm?navItemNumber=554
We thank the following 2015 Sponsors
for making our Programs available:
January 8, 2015 Luncheon
For wealthy individuals and families with complex wealth management needs, U.S. Trust offers innovative and customized financial solutions to help meet unique lifestyle, family, business and philanthropic goals.
A coordinated team backed by more than 200 years of experience and the resources of one of the world’s largest financial institutions works with each client to understand and address their needs.
U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management
1 Gorham Island, Suite 202, Westport, CT 06880
For more than a quarter century, StaleyRobeson has provided professional fund-raising counsel and guidance to hundreds of not-for-profits. Our clients include independent schools, colleges and universities, medical centers and hospitals, libraries, human service agencies, and character-building organizations.
Regardless of your organization’s size, constituency or circumstance, StaleyRobeson’s professionals are prepared by training and experience to respond to the unique challenges of the not-for-profit community.
www.staleyrobeson.com
800-659-7247
Craig Rosenberg, CRPC, CDFA
S & R Associates
First Vice President-Wealth Management, Senior Financial Advisor
Portfolio Manager, PIA Program
Merrill Lynch
1499 Post Road, 2nd Floor
Fairfield, CT 06824
T 203.254.6987 T 866.797.9289 F 203.648.4754
April 2, 2015 Breakfast
BlumShapiro is the largest regional accounting, tax and business consulting firm based in New England with offices in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. We have grown to over 400 accounting, consulting and administrative professionals, making us one of the top 60 largest accounting firms in the U.S.
Drawing upon our breadth and depth of experience in our primary service areas — privately held businesses, non-profit organizations and government entities–we strategically tailor and consistently deliver tested solutions for unlocking the full potential of your organization. Our highly valued team members bring their diverse backgrounds and strengths to the table resulting in you receiving a true blend of national firm experience and local firm delivery. We offer a wide range of services under one roof, including audit, tax and business consulting. Our team shares a common passion: a personal commitment to each client’s success as well as to the communities in which we live and work.
Lori M. Budnick, Partner
29 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT 06107
PH: 860-561-6828
www.blumshapiro.com
May 7, 2015 Luncheon
Dylewsky, Goldberg & Brenner, LLC was founded approximately twenty years ago by certified public accountants committed to providing the highest quality services to not-for-profit organizations, individual taxpayers, business owners and their businesses. We believe that attentive, personal service is the basis for a successful accountant-client relationship. We view this professional bond as an ongoing commitment to our clients’ financial, management, and tax matters – not merely an examination of data. Our dedicated staff of qualified professionals is committed to providing you with diverse services and benefits.
Our experience with not-for-profit organizations is extensive and up-to-date as it is a significant practice area for our firm.
For more information, please contact Scott M. Brenner, CPA at 203-975-8830 or .
June 4, 2015 Luncheon
Who We Are
Since 1995, we have helped leading nonprofits across the United States and Canada remove their biggest planned giving obstacles and double the results of their planned giving efforts with limited time and money. We listen to nonprofits—and their donors—and take what we hear to continually perfect the planned giving bridge between nonprofits and their donors. The result is the most cost effective, time efficient planned giving presentation system—donor motivation “in a box.”
Through The Donor Motivation Program® and The Donor Motivation Professionals of North America, a network of trained professionals, we have helped North American charities “motivate planned giving!” Tens of thousands of donors have engaged in our Donor Presentation Experience and rated it either “one of the finest” or “absolutely the best” of its type. Why? It “speaks donor!”
Executive Director
84 West Park Place, Stamford, CT 06901
September 3, 2015 Luncheon
As a nonprofit organization or philanthropic individual, you serve your community and the causes that are important to you with care and compassion, and seek to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
At Wells Fargo, we are dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations, individuals and families achieve their strategic charitable goals and missions. By working together to understand your unique needs, we can provide innovative solutions to help meet your objectives and help bring your charitable vision to life.
To learn more about how Wells Fargo Philanthropic Services can help serve the needs of your nonprofit organization or meet your individual charitable goals, please contact:
Wendy Miller
Vice President – Philanthropic Specialist
Wells Fargo
90 State House Square, 11th Floor
Hartford, CT 06103
860.692.7202
October 1, 2015 Breakfast
Day Pitney LLP is a full-service law firm with close to 300 attorneys throughout Boston, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, DC. With one of the largest and most sophisticated individual clients practices in the country, the firm has extensive experience advising individuals and their families, and helping fiduciaries and tax-exempt entities plan for the future. The firm also offers clients strong corporate and litigation practices, with experience on behalf of large national and international corporations, as well as emerging- and middle-market companies.
Day Pitney lawyers routinely represent charitable organizations, business and industry associations, schools, hospitals, museums and private foundations. These entities are subject to unique tax and regulatory requirements that necessitate experienced counsel. In addition to providing tax and regulatory advice, our lawyers often act as general counsel to these organizations, advising them on contractual matters, governance, mergers, acquisitions and affiliations, employment matters, governmental regulation, environmental issues, and real estate transactions, among other matters, all the while keeping in mind the unique requirements applicable to maintaining tax-exempt status.
Jennifer M. Pagnillo, Partner
24 Field Point Road | Greenwich, CT 06830
| (203) 862 7875
BOSTON CONNECTICUT NEW JERSEY NEW YORK WASHINGTON, DC www.daypitney.com
December 3, 2015 Luncheon
CompuMail has provided marketing communication services for over 21 years, specializing in data processing; graphic design services; digital, offset, and thermographic printing; purl, gurl and QR code development; direct mail services and more – all in our facility in central Connecticut. Whether it is printing your business cards or developing and managing your fundraising campaign, we engage industry leading technologies in order to bring our clients the best products and results.
Call us today to address any of your marketing or fundraising needs!