Liberty Bank Foundation Receives Award From Connecticut Commision on Children

MIDDLETOWN, CT — The Liberty Bank Foundation has been named the recipient of the 2011 Robert Haller Memorial Award for Outstanding Community Service. This award is given annually by the Connecticut Commission on Children to an individual or organization that has distinguished itself in supporting the education and wellbeing of children in the state. The presentation took place Wednesday evening at the state Legislative Office Building as part of the statewide graduation ceremony for the Parent Leadership Training Institute, a program that the Liberty Bank Foundation has supported for the past decade.

“The Liberty Bank Foundation shows a keen commitment to community,” said Elaine Zimmerman, executive director of the Connecticut Commission on Children. “We have seen their passion, attention to detail, and authentic concern for children, particularly in this current economy. Recently we have worked with them both on parent leadership and on assessing the potential for an
emergency fund for families in this recession. We honor their steadfast leadership, ardent commitment to community strength, and their humble nature.” Joining Zimmerman in making the presentation was David Haller, son of Robert Haller, for whom the award was named.


The Robert Haller Award for Outstanding Community Service was established after Robert Haller’s death in 2006 to honor his contributions to the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI), which teaches parents about how their schools and governments work and provides them with the skills to become leaders and advocates for children in their communities. Haller, a successful Glastonbury businessman and family man, spent several years volunteering his business acumen to help enhance the The Liberty Bank Foundation was presented yesterday with the 2011 Robert Haller Award for Outstanding Community Service. The presentation was made by Elaine Zimmerman (right), executive director of the Connecticut Commission on
Children, and David Haller (center), son of Robert Haller. Accepting the award was foundation senior program officer Betty Sugerman Weintraub (left). PLTI program. Recipients of the award are selected on the basis of their passion, commitment, and ability to humbly lead on children’s issues.


“We are thrilled to receive this award,” said Betty Sugerman Weintraub, senior program officer, who accepted the award on behalf of the Liberty Bank Foundation. “You hear a lot of talk these days about public/private partnerships. The work that we’ve done with the Commission to help restart and propagate the PLTI program is a great illustration of how they can really work. The opportunity to join with the Commission on Children to support this program’s growth is enabling both of our organizations to fulfill our missions. And we have our reward right here in front of us: parent leaders who are now PLTI graduates.”

Since its inception in 1997, the Liberty Bank Foundation has provided almost $6 million in grants to nonprofit organizations within Liberty Bank’s market area. The foundation seeks to improve the quality of life for people of low or moderate income by investing in the areas of preventive programming for children and families, affordable housing, and non-profit capacity building. In addition, the foundation is providing support to address basic human needs during these difficult economic times. Along with its grantmaking, the foundation strives to foster the convening and collaboration of non-profits, funders, business, and government to address community issues.


Created with bipartisan support in 1985 by the Connecticut legislature, the 25-member Commission on Children brings representatives of all three branches of government-legislative, executive, and judicial-together with representatives of the private sector to promote public policies in the best interests of children. The agency is mandated to provide information and conduct research regarding the status of children and children's programs in the state of Connecticut; enlist the support of leaders in business, education, and state and local governments, along with the news media, to improve services and policies for children; review coordination and assess all programs and practices in all state agencies as they affect children; serve as a liaison between government and private groups concerned with children; and make recommendations for children annually to the legislature and the governor.


Established in 1825, Liberty Bank is Connecticut’s oldest mutual bank, with more than $3.3 billion in assets and 42 banking offices throughout the central, eastern, and shoreline areas of the state. As a full-service financial institution, Liberty offers consumer and commercial banking, home mortgages, insurance, and investment services. Rated outstanding by federal regulators on its community reinvestment efforts, Liberty maintains a longstanding commitment to superior personal service and unparalleled community involvement.