The Association of Retired Teachers of Connecticut

The Association of Retired Teachers of Connecticut (ARTC) was founded in 1946 to protect and improve the welfare of Connecticut’s retired teachers. ARTC’s membership of nearly 10,000 members is spread across 14 affiliated local groups, all of which work toward the goals of financial security, quality health benefits and fellowship. GBPR’s work with ARTC included media outreach, assisting with membership drives and helping the organization successfully advocate for ground-breaking legislation that brought much-needed stability to the state’s retired teacher pension fund.

Connecticut Charter School Network

The Connecticut Charter School Network (CCSN) promotes public charter schools, providing information, resources and services to its membership. In 2012, proposed school reform legislation in Connecticut created challenges for CCSN. GBPR created media opportunities to ensure that CCSN’s viewpoint was included in the legislature’s debate on fair funding for public and charter schools. GBPR worked with CCSN to help coordinate message development, editorial and op-ed coverage, and media outreach. As a result, CCSN saw an unprecedented increase in funding for Connecticut’s public charter schools.

The Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now

The Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now (ConnCAN) is an advocacy organization dedicated to closing the achievement gap in Connecticut’s education system. ConnCAN approached GBPR for assistance in raising the organization’s profile in Connecticut, as well as creating public awareness and support of its mission. GBPR designed and executed an extensive media relations campaign with the goal of educating public policy decision-makers and the general public about the importance of charter schools in closing the achievement gap. GBPR helped ConnCAN articulate the case for charter school expansion and publicly celebrate the success stories of individual students, neighborhoods and communities. With support and counsel from GBPR, ConnCAN successfully drove legislation that increased the per-pupil amount of state funding given to charter schools, and for the first time allowed Connecticut’s public charter schools to qualify for state school construction funding.

Connecticut Food Association

The Connecticut Food Association is a non-profit trade association dedicated to fostering the growth of the state’s food industry by proactively initiating new laws and regulations, as well as defending the industry against detrimental laws and regulations. GBPR was asked to assist the association in defeating legislation to expand the Connecticut “Bottle Bill” to cover bottled water. GBPR created a strategic, integrated media relations and grassroots advocacy campaign highlighting the potential negative financial impact that an expansion of the “Bottle Bill” could have on consumers. With GBPR’s counsel, the Connecticut Food Association defeated efforts to expand the bill.

Connecticut Housing Investment Fund

The Connecticut Housing Investment Fund, Inc. (CHIF) is a private, non-profit organization established to finance affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization projects throughout Connecticut. CHIF retained GBPR to raise awareness of two underutilized programs available to Connecticut residents – the Energy Conservation Loan Program (ECL) and the Multifamily Energy Conservation Loan Program. To educate the general public about the availability of these funds, GBPR prepared and executed a public relations campaign including the distribution of press releases re-introducing the fund to Connecticut residents, and proactive outreach to Connecticut-based journalists at daily newspapers, business journals and public affairs-focused radio and television programs. GBPR’s public relations efforts helped CHIF encourage participation from eligible Connecticut residents and maximize the funds available through both of these programs.

Connecticut Student Loan Foundation

The Connecticut Student Loan Foundation (CSLF) is a state-chartered, non-profit agency that administers and finances federal student loans and other alternative student loan programs.  When CSLF was faced with a sudden, unplanned change of leadership, a smooth transition was imperative to preserve the foundation’s relationships with both borrowers and institutions of higher education across the country. GBPR worked with both outgoing and incoming leadership to ensure that the foundation’s key messages of affordable, accessible loan products were reinforced during this period of change with key audiences including state policymakers, the media and institutions of higher education across the country. With GBPR’s strategy and support, the foundation was able to retain public focus on the success of the organization’s mission.

Connecticut Water Works Association

The Connecticut Water Works Association, Inc. (CWWA) is an association of public water supply utilities serving about 2.5 million people throughout Connecticut. Membership in the association is open to all Connecticut water utilities: investor-owned, municipal and regional. When the Connecticut State Legislature directed the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop new streamflow regulations, the proposed regulations raised concerns with CWWA’s members. GBPR was retained to prepare key messages, develop collateral materials and organize a press conference to express their concerns over the detrimental impacts of the proposed regulations, which CWWA believed did not strike a balance between ecological and human needs. As a result of GBPR’s efforts, significant media coverage was achieved, increasing overall awareness of the issue and CWWA’s concerns among journalists, legislators, business leaders and the general public. Ultimately, the proposed regulations were rejected by the state legislature’s Regulations Review Committee.

National Volunteer Fire Council

GBPR was hired by the National Volunteer Fire Council, the leading non-profit membership association representing the interests of volunteer fire fighters, EMS workers and rescue service workers in the United States, to assist in corporate fundraising efforts. Through proactive national media relations and direct outreach to major corporations, GBPR helped increase fundraising efforts from private and public sources to support the council’s programming and training initiatives.

YMCA- New Britain

Founded in 1883, YMCA- New Britain helps its members to maintain healthy minds, bodies and spirits thoughts its wide range of cultural, intellectual, physical and social programs. Called upon to promote YMCA programs and fundraising events and generate further interest in the facility, GBPR implemented a proactive public relations campaign including message and materials development, facilitation of tours for elected officials and the coordination of guest MCs for YMCA events. By executing these tactics, GBPR was successful in raising awareness about the YMCA and its programs with the media, existing and prospective members and local elected officials.