Teddy Bears to Provide Comfort for Children

[Editor's note: Read this article at the Hartford Courant's website.]

Ed Danek, President and CEO, Beth Markowski-Roop and Talisa Palmer of The Hartford Federal Credit Union made a gift of teddy bears to the Village for Families and Children. Each year Connecticut Credit Unions organize an Adopt-a-Bear program in which members help purchase the cuddly toys which are donated to local police departments, hospitals, and other organizations. This year, the Village was the happy recipient of the teddy bears, which will be a welcomed treat for children in the Village's residential programs.

(l-r) Beth Markowski-Roop, Talisa Palmer, Village President and CEO Galo Rodriguez, Hartford Federal Credit
Union President and CEO Ed Danek, and Village Senior Development Director Denise Bagg.   

Children often come to the Village under stressful circumstances, sometimes with no more than the clothes on their backs. The small gift of a teddy bear, which they can name and call their own, often provides a small measure of comfort to these children who are particularly vulnerable. Similarly, for children leaving the Village, the gift of a bear can serve as a reminder of their time in a nurturing, safe and supportive environment.

Mr. Danek, a Village Corporator and enthusiastic supporter of the agency, understands the importance of giving back to his community. In addition to his work with the Village, Mr. Danek, a long time resident of the region, has served on the boards for Catholic Family Services and the St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center Foundation. His is also a Lector at the Holy Family Parish in Enfield, a position he has held for over 20 years.

Hartford Federal Credit Union is a community chartered credit union serving all of Hartford, Middlesex, and Tolland County. The Credit Union is non-profit financial cooperative owned by its members and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors elected from the membership. The Credit Union has served its members' financial needs since 1961 and is committed to providing members with diversified, high quality, competitively priced financial products and services.

The Village for Families and Children, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1809 that provides services for families and children in the Hartford region. Two centuries later, the Village has evolved to become one of the largest community services organizations in the greater Hartford region, helping families and touching the lives of over 6,200 children, women, and men annually through adoption and foster care programs, outpatient and residential health services, and community support services.