Lincoln Financial Foundation Helps Hartford Human Services Agencies Fight Winter

HARTFORD, Conn., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Months before the Montreal Express swept down from Canada with chill arctic temperatures this winter, Lincoln Financial Foundation partnered with local nonprofit agencies to provide shelter for the area's homeless and relief for low-income residents. Of more than $490,000 in human services grants the Lincoln Foundation awarded late in 2006, more than $150,000 went to organizations that help the poor and homeless survive the bitter winter months.

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"These grants help meet our human services goal of responding to critical needs in our community," said Lisa Curran, Lincoln Foundation's Hartford program officer, "and few things in this region are as critical as having enough nutritious food and a warm place to shelter against the winter cold."

One $20,000 Lincoln Foundation grant to Operation Fuel is providing emergency assistance to families who cannot pay a fuel or utility bill, but have exhausted, or are not eligible for, government aid. Operation Fuel works through 61 community organizations to help the working poor, newly poor, elderly, and disabled who are struggling to provide for life's basic needs.

Lincoln Foundation also made a $42,700 leadership grant to Foodshare to help provide more than two million pounds of food this winter to the poor of 42 communities in the region. "Many families on limited incomes must face the tough choice between paying rent and buying food or fuel," said Gloria McAdam, President and CEO of Foodshare. "The winter months, with their cold weather, further challenge health and energy concerns, and families are under greater strain to put food on their tables."

The Foodshare grant also will help provide a second Mobile Foodshare Unit to deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to at-risk neighborhoods.

Center City Churches' MANNA program, supported by a $15,000 grant from Lincoln Foundation, works with low-income, elderly, and homeless people to assess and prioritize their needs, connect them with other agencies that can help them, and negotiate with landlords and utility companies to forestall evictions or power shutoffs. MANNA is a lifeline for thousands of people struggling to survive the day-to-day crises caused by poverty that are exacerbated during winter months.

An additional $15,000 from Lincoln Foundation went to Loaves & Fishes Ministries for its soup kitchen program, which reaches nearly 35,000 clients. In addition to hot meals, Loaves & Fishes provides bagged meals for the weekend, warm clothing, weekly pantry bags for families, HIV testing and counseling, social service contacts, and other programs.

The Lincoln Foundation awarded $492,225 in human service grants to 24 nonprofit organizations in the greater Hartford area in 2006.

Notable human service grants: -- United Way of the Capital Area -- An $85,000 grant to the annual community campaign, helping to support more than 230 health and human services programs that touch 300,000 people across the region. -- Camp Horizons -- A $48,000 grant to help build "The Crossroads at Camp Horizon," a new 8,000-square-foot, handicapped accessible, year-round cabin that includes a medical health center and dormitory space. -- Hartford Interval House -- A $30,000 grant to support the Shelter & Children's Program that provides emergency shelter and crisis intervention services to up to 1,500 battered women and their children. -- Greater Hartford Association for Retarded Citizens -- A $21,513 grant to create a mailroom job training lab for the developmentally disabled. Other organizations receiving grants: -- $20,000 to Community Health Services for its Adolescent Medicine Program. -- $20,000 to Connecticut Institute for the Blind to support the Hartford Artisans' Center for the disabled. -- $20,000 to Open Hearth Association to purchase a truck for the organization's wood products venture for men struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. -- $20,000 to the Salvation Army for its 21st Century Educational Performing Arts Program. -- $15,000 to Ebony Horsewomen for its Learn to Ride after-school program. -- $15,000 to Immaculate Conception Shelter and Housing Corporation for Casa de Francisco Supportive Housing. -- $15,000 to Knox Parks Foundation for the Greater Hartford Green Team. -- $15,000 to Urban League of Greater Hartford for its Comprehensive Human Services and Transition to Employment Program for low-income Hartford residents. -- $15,000 to VNA Health Care for visiting nurse services to uninsured, underinsured, and underserved populations. -- $15,000 to Y-US for the Better Horizons Program. -- $10,000 to South Arsenal Neighborhood Development Corporation for STRIVE/SAND. -- $8,000 to Connecticut Radio Information Service for its Radio Reading Service for blind and print-handicapped people. -- $7,000 to West Hartford Seniors Job Bank for Web site enhancements. -- $5,000 to American National Red Cross for its Elderly and Ambulatory Disabled Medical Transportation Program. -- $5,000 to Bristol Community Organization to launch its Community Kitchen Program. -- $5,000 to Special Olympics Connecticut for the 2006 Eastern Region Bowling Qualifier.

The Lincoln Financial Foundation, established in 1962, is the charitable giving arm of Lincoln Financial Group. Under Lincoln Foundation guidelines, grants are made in the areas of arts/culture, education/workforce development, and human services. Lincoln Financial sets aside up to 2% of its pre-tax earnings for charitable causes that support philanthropic endeavors in the communities where its employees work. The Lincoln Foundation allocated more than $2.3 million to support nonprofits in the greater Hartford area in 2006. Since establishing a presence in Hartford in 1998, the Lincoln Foundation has contributed more than $14 million to local nonprofits. Lincoln Financial Group is listed on THE BCA 10 2006: Best Companies Supporting the Arts in America sponsored by the Business Committee for the Arts.

Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation and its affiliates. With headquarters in Philadelphia, the companies of Lincoln Financial Group had assets under management of $234 billion as of December 31, 2006. Through its affiliated companies, Lincoln Financial Group offers: annuities; life, group life, and disability insurance; 401(k) and 403(b) plans; savings plans; mutual funds; managed accounts; institutional investments; and comprehensive financial planning and advisory services. Affiliates include: Delaware Investments, the marketing name for Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries; Lincoln Financial Media, which owns and operates three television stations, 17 radio stations, and the Lincoln Financial Sports production and syndication business; and Lincoln UK. For more information please visit http://www.lfg.com/.