The First Tee of CT vs. Community Mental Health Affiliates

It comes down to this. Community Mental Health Affiliates and The First Tee of Connecticut have reached the final match-up among Connecticut nonprofit organizations in the state’s first-ever Brackets For Good. Overall, Connecticut nonprofit organizations have raised $134,538 in the competitive fundraising tournament that began just five weeks ago with 58 participating nonprofit organizations.

The two finalist nonprofits are in the running for a $10,000 Championship grant – the championship round ends this Friday, April 6, at 8:00 PM. Individuals can contribute to either nonprofit organization at https://connecticut.bfg.org/.

In Brackets For Good, participating nonprofits rally enthusiastic donors to out-fundraise their opponents in order to advance. Competing nonprofits keep donations received during tournament play, no matter how many rounds they advance. The field narrows each week. The winning organization receives an additional $10,000 Championship grant, provided by presenting sponsor Stanley Black & Decker.

• Community Mental Health Affiliates, Inc. (CMHA) is a private non-profit treatment provider headquartered in New Britain, with 12 locations in 3 cities throughout northwest and central Connecticut. CMHA partners with clients and the community to promote recovery from mental illness and addiction, treating more than 6,100 adults and children each year. CMHA is Connecticut’s first fully Joint Commission accredited Behavioral Health Home. www.cmhacc.org
• The First Tee of Connecticut impacts the lives of young people throughout Connecticut by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices. Through programs at 22 outdoor locations, in 163 schools and in partnership with local youth service agencies, The First Tee helps shape the lives of over 74,000 young people from all walks of life by reinforcing values like integrity, respect and perseverance through the game of golf. www.thefirstteeconnecticut.org/

A total of five local nonprofit organizations have each raised more than $10,000 thus far. The Connecticut tournament has the fifth largest total amount raised, out of the 13 city or state tournaments that are running this year. To reach the finals, The First Tee of Connecticut raised $7,245 since the semi-final round began last Friday night; Community Mental Health Affiliates raised $5,708 in the four days. Overall, The First Tee of Connecticut has raised $17,740 to date, and Community Mental Health Affiliates has raised $17,261. They are the tournament’s top two fundraisers. Community Mental Health Affiliates won last year’s Hartford-area tournament.

Among the other Connecticut nonprofits raising the most funds are Hartford City Mission, $15,001; Cove Center for Grieving Children, $10,370; The Mark Twain House & Museum, $10,232; Connecticut Humane Society, $6,507; The Children’s Law Center of Connecticut, $5,348; CT Council for Interreligious Understanding, $5,282; Capital City Education Alliance $5,194; Hartford Food System, $5,182; and Community Partners in Action, $4,701.

“Partnering with Brackets For Good in Connecticut is a fun and impactful way we can support numerous organizations that are serving the communities, where many of our employees call home," said Tim Perra, Stanley Black & Decker Senior VP of Public Affairs.

Based on the success in Hartford in its first year in 2017, the local charitable fundraising tournament has expanded to statewide this year. Thirty-three percent of the donations received in 2017 came from first-time donors to the participating organizations.

Thirteen cities and states across the country are conducting Brackets For Good tournaments this year, with the support of local businesses. In addition to Connecticut, states with Brackets for Good nonprofits fundraising tournaments in 2018 are Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, and Minnesota. City tournaments are being held in Atlanta and Dallas, both for the first time this year, as well as in Cincinnati, Denver, Nashville, Indianapolis, Miami and St. Louis.

Brackets For Good, a 501(c)3 charitable organization based in Indianapolis, hosts online, bracket-style fundraising tournaments every March in communities around the United States. To date, Brackets For Good has raised more than $6.4 million for charitable nonprofits since 2012 with an average of 30 percent of donations coming from first-time donors to the participating organizations.