2019 Final Recap and Four Quarter Activities 

We exceeded our goal! To commemorate our 35th year in business, Burzenski & Company, PC launched a 35 for 35 Campaign in January 2019. This Campaign, which concluded on December 31, 2019, represented our commitment to completing small but powerful actions throughout the year at a number of nonprofit organizations in the greater New Haven area. The firm and our employees donated items, money and time for special projects at local charities related to these areas: animals, children, elderly, disabled/homeless and military/veterans.

According to managing partner, Bill Kalinowski, CPA, "Our 35 for 35 Campaign in the greater New Haven region helped us support local charities, brighten the lives of school children, families and the elderly, make a difference in the lives of animals and pet owners, and respond to the needs of the homeless, and veterans. It has been our pleasure to be able to support various initiatives as part of our 35th year celebration."

During 2019 we made these contributions to our community:

First Quarter

Read to Grow Book Drive

We hosted a Book Drive in collaboration with Read to Grow of Branford and collected a total of 398 books which will be donated to children and families in Connecticut to promote language skills and literacy for children.

Valentine's Day Gifts for Talmadge Park Residents 

On Valentine's Day, employees visited Talmadge Park, a 90-bed rehabilitation and nursing facility in East Haven with bags for all the residents that included handwritten cards written by our employees to each of the residents, as well as a deck of playing cards, hand sanitizer, tissues and other goodies.

35 Cat Collars for the Greater New Haven Cat Project

The firm presented 35 cat collars to the Greater New Haven Cat Project, a nonprofit volunteer staffed organization dedicated to improving the lives of stray, abandoned, and feral cats in the Greater New Haven area. The collars will be presented to people who adopt a cat.

Welcome Kit Given to Columbus House

This Welcome Kit was given to a person in need of basic necessities as they moved into new housing. It included cleaning supplies, bathroom items, toiletries, bedding and kitchen items such as towels, plates, cooking utensils and flatware. Columbus House serves people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless by providing shelter and housing and by fostering their personal growth and independence.

Bedding for New Reach 

We donated 10 beds in a bag and 10 pillows to New Reach who delivers a full spectrum of housing interventions to more than 3,500 Connecticut residents each year including over 2,000 children.

Warm Feet for Warriors 

Socks! That's one of the most requested items from service members and veterans! Burzenski & Company donated 56 pairs of socks to Soldiers' Angels Warm Feet for Warriors to benefit men and women in VA Hospitals and deployed service members.

Second Quarter

Gift Cards for Dogs Washes to Two Local Animal Shelters

Burzenski & Company delivered 35 gift cards to the East Haven Animal Shelter and North Haven Animal Haven Shelter. The cards will be given to new pet owners at the two local animal shelters so they can get their furry friend a dog wash at a PetValu store.

Easter Egg Hunt Hosted at The Children's Center

The firm hosted an Easter Egg Hunt at The Children's Center of Hamden. About 20 children participated in the festivities. The unique and interactive Easter Egg Hunt offered children simple and fun challenges found inside the eggs (hop on one foot, spell your name, do 10 Jumping Jacks etc.). After completing three challenges the children were given bags filled with candy, activity books, toys and other goodies. 

Gas Gift Cards for Interfaith Volunteer Care Givers

We donated 20 Shell gas station gift cards to Interfaith Volunteer Care Givers of Greater New Haven. The gas cards were given to the volunteers who provide free transportation for elderly and home-bound persons to medical appointments, outpatient procedures, outpatient treatments, dental visits, same-day surgery, physical and occupational therapy as well as counseling.

Employees Walk to Benefit Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Walk

Burzenski & Company employees walked in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation West Haven 2019 Great Strides walk on May 5. Team Burzenski & Company raised $135 for the fundraiser.

110 Teddy Bears Purchased for Children at Camp Erin CT

We purchased 110 teddy bears for the children who attend Camp Erin Connecticut, a program of The Cove Center for Grieving Children. A teddy bear is placed on the bed of each camper as a comforting, welcome gift to the camp. Camp Erin® Connecticut is a free overnight bereavement camp for children ages six to 17 who are grieving the death of a significant person in their lives. Five company employees also went to The Cove Center's headquarters to cut off the ribbons and tags from the bears and to pack them up for the camp. 

Goodie Bags for Life Haven Shelter at Mother's Day

Burzenski & Company donated 20 cosmetic bags with nail polish, tissues, lotion, hand sanitizer, facial mask, lip-gloss and Dunkin Donuts gift cards to Life Haven Women's Shelter in New Haven. Life Haven, a part of New Reach, Inc., provides temporary shelter to families with a female head of household and women who are eight months pregnant. 

Four Large Care Packages Sent Overseas to the Military 

To coincide with Memorial Day, the staff at Burzenski & Company wrote letters to men and women serving in the military overseas. The firm also purchased a number of items to add to the shipment. In total, four large packing boxes filled with beef jerky, protein snack bars, GU packets, nuts, sunflower seeds, Dunkin' Donuts coffee, gummy candies, chewing gum, Life Savers, Starburst, Skittles, Sour Patch candies, Little Debbie snacks, Goo Gone and super glue were shipped off to the military on Friday, May 24. At the end of June, we received two thank you letters from Afghanistan. 

35 Pet Vaccinations at Local Veterinary Hospital

We gave money to a local veterinary hospital to pay for 35 vaccinations for people who are unable to afford them for their pet.

Picnic for Veterans

Burzenski & Company hosted a picnic for veterans at Harkness House in New Haven. The staff cooked burgers, hot dogs and sausages and brought salad, picnic fixins' and of course dessert. The veterans were grateful not only for the home cooked meal but for the conversations with staff. Harkness House provides housing and support for 14 homeless male veterans, connecting them to services, expanding their social and employment skills, and encouraging reconnection to their communities.

Painting Projects at Immanuel Baptist Shelter 

Staff members did a large painting project at Immanuel Baptist Shelter in New Haven. The firm donated the paint and supplies for this project. Staff on site that day painted one very large room and two small rooms at the shelter.

Third Quarter

1st Annual Pet Adoption Event

We sponsored the 1st Annual Pet Adoption Event on August 24. The event was free and open to the public. Pets for adoption were available from the North Haven Animal Shelter, East Haven Animal Shelter, Where the Love Is Animal Rescue in Wallingford and Labs4Rescue. All of the cats and dogs brought to the event by the participating animal shelters were adopted! The event was also featured on News Channel 8 WTNH.

https://www.wtnh.com/community/east-haven-business-hosts-pet-adoption-drive/ 

Back to School Supply Drive 

The firm and staff purchased donated more than $350 worth of school supplies to the Hamden Youth Services Bureau School Supplies Closet! This program assists families with financial need and those who have difficulty providing their children with the necessary school items. 

Volunteer Afternoon at The Cove

A Burzenski employee spent Saturday afternoon, August 3rd volunteering at Lenny & Joe's in Madison to benefit The Cove Center for Grieving Children handing out information about The Cove and staffing a donation box. There was also an arts & crafts table for children to color pictures and/or paint things that "make them happy" for them to keep. 

Staff Spend Two Days at The Children's Center

Staff members put in two full workdays at The Children's Center in Hamden on August 6 and 7, organizing historical documentation - photos, documents and ledgers (some dating back to the early 1800's)! The firm also hired a Good Humor truck each afternoon to provide the children with their choice of ice cream treats!

Day of Volunteerism at Orchard House

On August 23, staff from Burzenski & Company spent the day at Orchard House in Branford organizing and participating in various activities with the men and women at Orchard House. Activities included board games, card games, Bingo, walks around the grounds, bowling, etc. 

Staff Volunteers with Vista Life Innovations

Burzenski & Company participated in the first annual retreat with Vista Life Innovations, which included many team-building exercises that focused on their core values. Activities included a number of games such as Bingo game, beach ball game, a dice roll game, a tarp hole game and rock painting.

An Afternoon at Artis Senior Living 

Several employees spent an enjoyable afternoon at Artis Senior Living in Branford talking with the residents and assisting in painting beautiful flowerpots! 

Fourth Quarter

Two Days Organizing Historic Documentation at The Children's Center

Staff members put in two full workdays at The Children's Center in Hamden on August 6 and 7 organizing historic photos, documents and ledgers (some dating back to the early 1800's)! The firm also arranged for a Good Humor truck each afternoon to surprise the children with ice cream.

Volunteer Morning at the VA Hospital 

Employees spent four hours on October 16 volunteering at the VA Hospital in West Haven organizing materials in the supply closet. It was a productive effort for the veterans in our community.

Halloween "Trunk of Treat" event at The Children's Center

Staff from Burzenski & Company participated in a "Trunk or Treat" Halloween event at the Children's Center in Hamden by handing out candy to the children. 

Donation to Healing Hoofbeats to Help Veterans 

A Patriot Sponsorship donation was made to Healing Hoofbeats, LLC as part of our 35 for 35 Campaign. Healing Hoofbeats offers a program for veterans - Operation Warrior Horse - which helps veterans heal from the effects of their time in the service through a human/horse healing connection.

Items Donated to the Women & Children's Shelter at New Reach

Employees donated items for the women and children's shelter at New Reach. A number of items including laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, toiletries, feminine needs, children's socks, diapers, baby wipes, shampoo, conditioner, soap, and other items were delivered to the New Haven office on November 6.

Union Street Dog Park in New Haven gets Spruced Up

On Saturday, November 9, staff spent the day cleaning up the Union Street Dog Park in New Haven. It was a great success and the park looked great at the end of the day! The group filled 82 bags of leaves and debris. They also cut back bushes and greenery and cleaned up the sidewalk along the park perimeter.

Volunteer Event at the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen

Staff from Burzenski & Company volunteered at the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen in New Haven on November 13. Some staff handed out canned foods, others were greeters and helped people who couldn't walk down the stairs or carry their bags of food while other staff helped organizing donated food.

Giving Tree to Benefit Local Community

This year the firm has chosen to do a giving tree to infuse the spirit of giving into the holiday season. We chose to give 35 gifts to seniors at Whispering Pines Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in East Haven, children associated with 'R Kids Family Center in New Haven, and a New London based Sailor in the U.S. Navy and her five children. Employees at Burzenski & Company will select a tag from our giving tree and purchase a requested gift for that person.

Giving Tree Benefits Navy Veteran and Her Family

Individual employees at Burzenski & Company, PC purchased gifts for a U.S. Navy veteran and her five children as part of our 35 for 35 Campaign.

Residents at Whispering Pines Rehabilitation & Nursing Center Benefit from our Giving Tree

Employees purchased gifts for seniors at Whispering Pines Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in East Haven. The gifts were delivered on Christmas Eve.

Children at 'R Kids Family Center in New Haven Receive Personalized Gifts

Children associated with 'R Kids Family Center in New Haven received gifts specifically requested by the boys and girls from the firm's giving tree. The staff was most appreciative of our Christmas presents for the children.

Staff Donates to East Haven Food Pantry

Employees donated food items to the East Haven Food Pantry. This act of kindness has been a long-standing tradition at the firm.

Pet Food Drive

Employees recently sponsored and donated items for an annual Pet Food Drive. The items were delivered to the Wallingford Animal Shelter.  

Blankets for Three Animal Shelters

Firm employees donated blankets, pillows, throws and towels that were delivered to the East Haven, North Haven and Wallingford Animal Shelters on December 3. 

Holiday Cheer for the Military

Burzenski & Company sent a bit of holiday spirit to the men and women in our military. We sent four boxes filled with coffee, candy, socks, protein bars, little Debbie snacks and nuts to our military overseas. Employees also wrote holiday cards to the soldiers.

Founded in 1983, Burzenski & Company, PC is an established leader in the accounting, tax and financial services fields. 

www.burzenski.com