Pratt & Whitney and The Connecticut WHALE presented a check for $3,320 to the United Way Community Campaign at XL Center on Saturday night. The donation comprised proceeds from Pratt & Whitney’s sales of coupons to The WHALE’s home games. Above, left to right: Howard Baldwin Jr., president and chief operating officer of The Connecticut WHALE; Ginger Crawford, Pratt & Whitney’s 2010 Employee United Way campaign manager; Steve Stephan, a Pratt & Whitney proposal manager and event lead for the 2011 fundraiser; and Bonnie Royster, vice president of relationship management at United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut. 

Pratt & Whitney employees and The Connecticut WHALE joined forces Saturday night to support the United Way Community Campaign. Hundreds of employees from Pratt & Whitney and other United Technologies Corp. companies attended The WHALE’s home game against the Providence Bruins as part of a game coupon program that raises money for local charitable causes.

Each $10 game coupon sold through the program generated $5 for the Community Campaign. Although UTC’s Night at The WHALE event was January 1, charity game coupons are flexible and can be used at any regular season WHALE home game during the 2010–11 season. Pratt & Whitney presented a check for $3,320 from the proceeds during an on-ice break between the game’s first and second periods.

Steve Stephan, a proposal manager at Pratt & Whitney, coordinated United Technologies employee attendance with the help of The WHALE’s senior account executive Dave Romeiko.

“As a hockey fan and father of two high school hockey players, I know how passionate and generous hockey fans can be,” said Stephan. “So when my co-worker and event co-lead Mike Flatley, who has been overseas on active duty since July, suggested a hockey-related United Way fundraiser, I knew it would be successful.”

Contributions to the United Way Community Campaign help provide opportunities for a better life for everyone in the 40 towns of central and northeastern Connecticut. They support student achievement, financial education and safety net programs provided by a broad network of health and human service organizations.

“We’re delighted that Pratt & Whitney has once again selected the United Way Community Campaign as its charity of choice for hockey ticket proceeds,” said Susan B. Dunn, president and CEO of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, which partners with Community Health Charities of New England to raise resources through the Community Campaign.

“UTC and its business units have been tremendous supporters of United Way for many years,” Dunn added. “They make it fun for employees and their families to give back to their communities.”

This year’s campaign raised more than $25 million to support health and human service programs in the region. UTC and its business units contributed $6.54 million, or 26 percent of the total.

“It was an honor and joy to work with Pratt & Whitney and the United Way,” said Romeiko. “It’s a great feeling inside when you know the money is going to such a great cause and you have a fun and entertaining night on top of it. It’s a win-win.”

Fundraising opportunities with The Connecticut WHALE are available to benefit any nonprofit organization, and the United Way Community Campaign welcomes contributions throughout the year.

To learn more about the United Way Community Campaign, contact Rochelle Kingsley at (860) 493-6869. To learn more about UTC’s community outreach, contact the UTC Community Affairs Department at (860) 728-7922. For more information about fundraising opportunities with The Connecticut WHALE, call Dave Romeiko at (860) 728-3366, x26.