Bridgeport-based The WorkPlace, acting in concert with a broad-based committee representing state and federal veterans”™ programs, recently saluted veterans and those who help them at its third annual “Service to Country and Community” awards at Port 5 Naval in Bridgeport.
The event attracted 130 veterans and their supporters, including representatives of Bridgeport”™s 75-year-old Santa Energy Corp., a sponsor; U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, ranking Democrat on the Senate”™s Committee on Veterans Affairs; state Sen. Carlo Leone, D-Stamford/Darien, who formerly headed the state”™s Veterans”™ Affairs Committee, and the committee”™s current head, state Rep. Jack Hennessy, D-Bridgeport.
In addition to Santa Energy, sponsors included the state Department of Labor and Department of Veterans Affairs; Bridgeport-based Career Resources Inc.; Housatonic Community College; Alpha Community Services in Bridgeport and the Port 5 Naval Veterans in Bridgeport.
“The object is to raise awareness on the veterans”™ services that are available,” said Tom Long, WorkPlace”™s director of communications and development. “We lucked out with some great weather. It”™s always nice when you get the chance to recognize people who have served and say, ”˜Thank you.”™”
Three armed-service-themed awards were presented, one for the first time.
Alfred Meadows of Shelton, who served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and who remains involved in veterans affairs, was cited as “Outstanding Veteran.” Meadows is a Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient. Ten years ago, he started Operation Gift Cards, which, to date, has given 12,000 thank-you kits to wounded veterans at the Walter Reade National Military Medical Center in Maryland. Those kits, in turn, held more than $275,000 in in-store gift cards.
Meadows”™ award specifically targeted nonprofits that support veterans, according to Long. “The for-profits and government agencies that support veterans are doing what you”™d expect them to do,” he said. “This award honors those who are taking the steps maybe only a volunteer would think to take and they”™re not getting paid to do it.
“Alfred also helps to educate military patients about help that is available to them,” said Long.
The Connecticut Patriot Guard Riders was also recognized at the event for its work on behalf of veterans and their families at funeral services.
- From left, Christopher Caruso, project manager, office of the commissioner, state Department of Labor; Sean Connolly, commissioner, state Department of Veterans”™ Affairs; state Rep. Jack Hennessy; Gregg Barratt, assistant vice president for training and development/veterans affairs, Frontier Communications; state Sen. Carlo Leone; Dennis Murphy, deputy commissioner, state Department of Labor; and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
The Patriot Guard Riders group attends the final services for fallen military heroes, first responders and those veterans who have died after being honorably discharged. Mac McArthur, state captain of the Patriot Guard Riders, accepted the award. The group also sponsors a chili cookoff, helps with a food pantry and delivers wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery.
Frontier Communications, a national telecommunications company headquartered in Norwalk, was cited for its “outstanding commitment to America”™s veterans in their hiring practices and services offered to their veteran employees and their families.”
Long said 13 percent of Frontier”™s workforce are veterans and/or their spouses. The company pays 100 percent of employees”™ salaries while they train and provides flexible work schedules. When deployed, Frontier employees receive full life insurance. The company also runs an internal Frontier website just for veterans.
Gregg Barratt, Frontier”™s assistant vice president for training and development for veterans affairs, received the Outstanding Employer Award on behalf of company efforts.
The WorkPlace has a $20 million annual budget, Besides Bridgeport, it maintains offices in Stamford, Derby and Ansonia. It also goes mobile, taking programs to libraries and other public places.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently awarded Bridgeport-based The WorkPlace a $14 million grant ”” $2.8 million per year for five years ”” to continue to grow its regional health care academy.
Since receiving its first grant in 2011, the academy has served more than 900 low-income and long-term unemployed participants. More than 450 have completed the training for a health care job and more than 80 percent of those graduates have secured training-related jobs.
Another 1,500 will get training through the new grant.
