Testimonials

February 13, 2018

Dear Cactus Jack Foundation,

On behalf of the Lathrop family, we wanted to send this letter of appreciation for the support you have given our family with our fundraising efforts. Without the Cactus Jack Foundation helping us to disburse the funds raised, we would not be able to accomplish our goals of helping people in memory of our parents, Jack & Carol Lathrop.

Thank you again for your support and we look forward to helping more people within our community in the future.

December 16, 2018

Dear Dan & Crew,

Thank you for helping make the first year a success for The Dylan Konakowitz Memorial Foundation, Inc. (DKMF). Our board members have done an incredible job spreading awareness on the severity of Type 1 Diabetes while providing scholarship opportunities to high school seniors in our community.

In our first year, we were able to fundraise a total of $23,000. Here's a more detailed look of what we were able to accomplish because of sponsors like you:

Organizing our first annual walk/run at Ocean Beach Park where we received 38 baskets donated for our basket drawing. Additionally, we had a total of 377 participants.

We held an awards dinner to honor our scholarship winners at Filomena's. We were able to provide five $2,500 scholarships and two $1,000 scholarships to deserving applicants. Our recipients include Alexander Pearl of East Lyme High School, Daltyn Butler of Montville High School, Emily Smith of Saint Bernard School, Madison Keefe of New London High School, Madison Sanborn of Ledyard High School, Michael Buscetto, IV of Waterford High School and Sean Flynn of New London High School.

For our first annual steak dinner fundraiser at the Birdseye Cafe, we sold 222 tickets and were able to fundraise $1556.

We were also able to hold several support groups/meet and greets for children with T1D and their caregivers as well as provide SUN NEVER SETS ON T1D care packages to 4 luck followers of our Facebook page. Our generous sponsor, Simply Pharmacy, donated blood sugar testing kits, which we will continue to give to those in need.

We continue to forge our relationships with JDRF as well as the College Diabetes Network among other organizations.

Our ongoing goal is to continue to educate the community about Type 1 Diabetes and provide the opportunity for graduating high school seniors to continue their education in Dylan's memory. The Dylan Konakowitz Memorial Foundation will continue to grow strong with our continual support from our expanding community who has come together to donate time and resources in support of carrying on Dylan's legacy.

As we approach 2019, we look forward to continuing to uphold Dylan's legacy by helping, including and remembering the community that knew and loved him. Just a few of our upcoming events include:

1st Annual DKMF Coastal Classic Basketball Tournament, February 17, 2019 at Waterford High School

2nd Annual DKMF Walk/Run on May 12, 2019 at Ocean Beach Park

Scholarship applications will be accepted January 1, 2019 - March 15, 2019

More information is available at www.dk-mf.org

Thank you for wholeheartedly being a part of the DKMF's mission. We are looking forward to an even greater 2019! Please enjoy the enclosed magnet as a thank you for your support!

With gratitude,

The Dylan Konakowitz Memorial Foundation, Inc.

January 28, 2020 Words alone can not tell you how thankful me and my wife are for all of your help. This past year has been such a struggle for both of us and our family. Again thank you and everyone involved with the Cactus Jack Foundation.  Thank you.

February 23, 2018

Hi! My husband and I are in an extreme financial hardship due to serious health issues. A friend of ours reached out to you. We want to thank you SO very much for your kind & generous donation. It's very appreciated & helped us! THANK YOU!

"Hello Cactus Jack Foundation Board Members:

Each year, Oswegatchie School holds a Talent Show to raise money for a cause. This year, it was decided that the proceeds from the Talent Show would be given to the Cactus Jack Foundation. You have helped several members of our Oswegatchie family over the years and we are so grateful for all the good things that you do for others.

We would like to ask that a member of the foundation, be present at the time of the show, as we will present you with a check at the intermission. Please be in touch with me, when able, so that I can fill in some other details.

Many thanks,

Oswegatchie School Nurse"

October 2023

Please accept my donation of $100 for the Cactus Jack Foundation. I received this gift for my high school graduation and wanted to give back to the community in which I was raised in. After much research, I believe this foundation reflects my ambitions for SE CT.

"Dear Cactus Jack Foundation:

I don't know how to thank you enough for all that you did to help my family. The end of treatment was really hard on me and the stress of not being able to work and the worry of how I was going to provide for my kids to go back to school was so overwhelming, on top of being so physically & mentally run down. Your support to my family allowed me to heal, took away the stress, and gave my kids a great start to the school year. As hard as this has been on my kids to have me not able to fully function as the mom that I am, they have learned and felt what it means to show kindness and support towards others. As I continue to recover and learn to live life as a cancer survivor, we will always remember your kindness and support and will do the same for others.

I could not have done this alone. Thank you."

March 22, 2019
Dear Cactus Jack,

Words cannot express my gratitude to your foundation, and its members, for your generosity and ongoing support to its community. Safe Futures is grateful for all that you do to protect our most vulnerable residents.
Sincerely,
The Staff at Safe Futures

September 15, 2016

Dear Dave,

Thank you so much for the aid from the Cactus Jack Foundation. For years I have participated in events never once thinking I may be the one in need. My husband is doing well yet remains unable to work. His plan for treatment saps most of his energy. The aid we received was greatly appreciated. We had no idea how we were going to tackle those bills. Thank you once again from the bottom of our hearts.

2/20/2017

The Cactus Jack Foundation,

You Made Our Day! We can't tell you how much we appreciate your generous financial support for heating system and installation. Here at Disabilities Network of Eastern CT, our goal is to help individuals with disabilities live independently in the community. Thank you! You have made a real difference in life.

Precious Putnam

Disabilities Network of Eastern CT

January 1, 2018

To the Cactus Jack Foundation

I’m sending a heartfelt THANK YOU and so much gratitude for the help you provided me during a very traumatic time in my life. With your help and generosity, I was able to pay off many other outstanding debts without losing everything, especially my home.

I will gladly be paying this generous act of help and kindness forward as often as I can. Thank you again.

You have made a huge difference in the outlook of the upcoming months for me, and I will be forever grateful for your foundation and each and every member in it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Dear Cactus Jack Board,

I cannot begin to express how thankful I am for the recent assistance you provided to a former client of mine. You people are beyond wonderful. God Bless you. I am so happy to have met you all.

Easter Seals - Norwich

April 8, 2020

To Whom It May Concern,

I was moved by the support you are providing to our local health professionals. Please use this small donation for the health professionals or a particular needy family you may know of.

January 21, 2019

Thank you so much for your generous donation to the Girls on the Run chapter at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School. I look forward to sharing my love of running and fitness to help girls grow up with positive examples and develop self-confidence.

"Thanks for the quick response! I’ll have a check mailed to you directly from our bank and designate Great Neck in the memo line. We are a new resident of Waterford, and I have been so impressed by your organization and the simple, useful, and rapid response to real need in our community. I’m so glad you do what you do.

Merry Christmas!

"You have no idea how incredibly grateful his mother will be. When I told her on Monday that I wanted to donate she immediately began crying. She stated that money is so tight, but that his riding is one of her number one priorities for her to make sure that he continues with because of the benefits that she is seeing...both physical and emotional. Once again, you guys are amazing."

Teacher of 5-year old who has a rare terminal condition called MPS III.

March 6, 2018

Dear Friends at Cactus Jack Foundation,

Thank you so very much for your generous donation to our patient. I wish you could see how happy he was, even in the midst of his difficult cancer journey. Thank you for all you do!

December, 2018

Dear Cactus Jack Foundation,

I can't express in words the joy you have given us through your generosity! My family and I are so grateful for this gift and the people it takes to make gifts like this possible. I have been in and out of treatment for 4 years now, and although celebrating the fact that I'm still here 4 years later, it's not easy financially. We have two boys (6) & (4) and this will make their Christmas wishes come true!! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

March 6, 2018

Dear Cactus Jack Foundation,

Words can't express how much it means to me that you gave me the gift cards. I was able to get my phone cards as well as other things I really needed. Thank you for going above & beyond.

Your friend always,

Cactus Jack Foundation, March 2023

Thank you so much for your continued support. We are so grateful for the kind donors who choose to support us. We will use the donation to fund medical care and equipment. Please pass along our gratitude to your donors. Thank you!

Cactus Jack Foundation

Dear David,

From all of us in the High Hopes Family, thank you, the Cactus Jack Foundation, for your gift to $760 to fund tuition.

We thank you for your very generous contribution, and belief in our mission.

For 42 years, High Hopes has strived to make a difference in the lives of the people who pass through our doors. There have been many special moments throughout the years - the child who speaks for the first time in his life, the adult who finds peace in a world filled with the tormenting voices of mental illness and the volunteer who expresses the great satisfaction she or he gets from their time spent at High Hopes.

The are many stories of hope and success, none of which would be possible without our community of incredible people and horses that give so much in support of High Hopes mission. Thank you again for your thoughtful support.

Sincerely,

Kitty Stalsburg, Executive Director

December 19, 2018

Dear Board Members,

Thank you for sharing the joy of the season with families in our community experiencing the devastating effects of domestic violence and abuse.

Your generous donation of a $5,000 matching challenge, which we received on 12/19/2018, is extremely appreciated during the Safe Futures Holiday Appeal event. We are so inspired by your generosity to Safe Futures, the only agency in Southeastern Connecticut supporting victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking.

Each year Safe Futures serves over 6,000 women, children, and men through the many different free and confidential programs and services. Some of these include the 24 hour hotline, emergency shelter, Criminal and Civil Court Advocates in Norwich and New London, two walk in counseling offices in Norwich and New London, and so much more. Thanks to your generosity you have become part of a survivor's healing process towards a life without abuse. You have saved their life, you have restored their hope in themselves, and you have changed their future.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Sincerely,

Katherine Verano

Executive Director

December 18, 2018

Dear Cactus Jack Foundation,

Thank you so very, very much for your generous and thoughtful donation to our Special Education Aquarium/Gardening fund. The funds will be used to purchase an aquarium and other gardening items to beautify our main entrance and foyer.

Students who participate in our Support Center will benefit from these funds and materials in that they will design and maintain the aquarium and some features of our foyer. Maintenance and other aspects of presentation and care will be implemented into their program.

We have recently received matching funds as well - which is always a great surprise for the school and students. Thank you once again Cactus Jack Foundation!

Sincerely, James M. Sachs, Principal

Clark Lane Middle School

December 21, 2018

Dear Cactus Jack Foundation,

Thank you so much for donating that generous amount to the Gemma Moran Food Bank in honor of our second grade class. I was so touched to have my dad there to surprise me and the Gemma Moran Food Bank. Keep doing wonderful things and inspiring my class and me!

Deans Mills Second Grade Class