275 Schoolhouse Road, Cheshire, CT 06410
Office: (203) 250-5661
Email: info@hometownfoundation.org
Our Mission
The Hometown Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit charitable organization committed to supporting those in need in conjunction with Bozzuto’s, Inc., its family of retailers and community business partners. Established in 2002, The Hometown Foundation raises money to support a broad range of programs that meet community needs. The Foundation’s focus and commitment center around five key program areas: Animal Welfare, Emergency Response Personnel, Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities, Major Illness or Those in Need, and the Military. Our year-round programs are devoted to strengthening our local communities to create a more cohesive and inclusive society.
Five Pillars of Charitable Focus
Together, we can make dreams come true!
ABOUT US
Together, we can make dreams come true!
OUR HISTORY
The Hometown Foundation began in 2001 as the “Hometown Wheels” event, where twelve motorcycles revved their engines to ride for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. An optimistic vision, a passionate hope for the future of those in our community living with intellectual or developmental disabilities, Michael Bozzuto created The Hometown Foundation, Inc. and established it as the central support system for his goals of assisting the community. This event was a charity motorcycle ride that took place to raise money for Special Olympics. Over the past 20 years, this event has grown to be The Hometown Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser, The Dream Ride Experience. The Dream Ride Experience is the primary fundraising event of The Hometown Foundation and its Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities or In Need pillar.
Our Board of Directors
Michael Bozzuto
President and Director
Joseph Calvanese
Vice President and Director
Bert Condren
Treasurer and Director
Juliana Esposito
Secretary
Daniel DeSantis
Director
Domenic Papa
Director
Our Team
Jennifer Clark
Scott Smith
Beth Wood
Clem Kasinskas
Meghan Fay Sullivan
Anna-Maria Lee
Sarah Lucian
Serena McFarland
2024 Highlights
- Raised $2.5 million at our first annual Cars & Cigars Under the Stars event benefitting animal welfare
- Raised $62,000 for our major illness pillar in partnership with Connecticut Children’s Hospital at then Concurso Ferrari & Friends Event
- Held our first Puppies & Horsepower event which raised over $5,000 for animal welfare and helped 10 animals get adopted
- Honored 70+ K-9 officers and raised $60,000 in funds at the second annual Hearts & Paws Gala
- Hosted the 4th Annual Par for the Stars Golf Tournament raising $60,000 for the military
- Hosted the 5th Annual Birdies & Horsepower raising over $363,000 for major illness
- Donated medical equipment to Connecticut Children’s Hospital and Hartford Hospital
- Welcomed Dream Riders from 9 countries to the Dream Ride Experience
- Hosted the 24th annual Dream Ride Experience raising $7 Million for The Hometown Foundation
- Brought together 65 K-9 Officers at The Dream Ride Experience’s annual K-9 Expo and Challenge
- Hosted the 46th annual Adam J Bozzuto Memorial Charity Classic raising over $166,000 for The Hometown Foundation
- Welcomed 9 fire departments in competition at The Dream Ride Experience’s annual Firefighter Chili Cook-off
- Donated 30,000 turkeys and 980 cases of produce to individuals suffering from food insecurity during our HungerLESS Holidays Program
- Hosted the 6th annual Shoot for the Stars Clay Shoot raising over $85,000 for our emergency response pillar
- Gifted 1,500 toys to children in need as part of the Hometown Holiday Toy Drive
- Partnered with more than 100 retailers across the Northeast to raise more than $170,000
- Placed 3 K-9s in police departments Nationwide
- Donated more than $40,000 in necessary equipment to keep K-9s safe
2023 Highlights
- Honored 50+ K-9 officers and raised over $25,000 in funds at the inaugural Hearts & Paws Gala
- Hosted Peanut Butter and Burpees to encourage wellness in the community for Veterans, raising more than $4,000 that provided Homes for the Brave with a 6-month supply of groceries and essential items and donating 1,000 jars of peanut butter to Veteran’s Base Camp's food pantry.
- Hosted the 3rd annual Pars for the Stars Golf Tournament
- Hosted the 4th annual Birdies & Horsepower raising $382,000 to support the Foundation’s Major Illness Pillar
- Donated custom prosthetics to a quadruple amputee individual and state of the art wheelchair for enhanced mobility
- Provided funding to donate a speech assist eye monitor allowing for enhanced communication to a non-verbal child
- Supported the Nicole Cartier Fund to honor Nicole’s legacy of education and philanthropy
- Supported the fight against pediatric cancer through Connecticut Children's Advanced Cellular & Gene Therapy Unit
- Partnered with Save A Suit to provide 100+ veterans with a free suit, professional clothing attire, and other accessories as well as on-site resources such as professional headshots
- Welcomed five countries to The Dream Ride Experience, including Sweden for the first time
- Hosted the 23rd Annual Dream Ride Experience
- Assisted in the adoption of nearly 100 animals during the Dream Ride Pet Adoption
- Brought together 60+ K-9 Officers at The Dream Ride Experience’s annual K-9 Expo & Challenge
- Welcomed 9 fire departments in competition at The Dream Ride Experience’s annual Firefighter Chili Cook-off
- Hosted the 46th Annual Adam J Bozzuto Memorial Charity Classic
- Hosted over 200 motorcyclists at the Back the Blue: A Ride for Remembrance in honor of our fallen heroes
- Fed nearly 200,000 individuals suffering from food insecurity during our HungerLESS Holidays Program
- Donated 27,500 turkeys and over 100,000 lbs of produce to food insecure families
- Hosted the 5th annual Shoot for the Start Clay Shoot
- Gifted 1,500 toys to children in need as part of the Hometown Holiday Toy Drive
- Partnered with more than 85 Retailers across the Northeast to raise more than $160,000 as part of our year-round Retailer Fundraising Programs
- Placed 14 K-9s in police departments Nationwide
- Donated more than $20,000 in necessary equipment to keep K-9s safe
2022 Highlights
- Welcomed 4 countries to The Dream Ride Experience, including Ireland and Great Britain for the first time
- Hosted the 22nd Annual Dream Ride Experience
- Assisted in the adoption of nearly 100 animals during the Dream Ride Pet Adoption
- Rescued and rehomed 13 dogs that were abused and found at a Police K-9 Training Facility
- Fed 192,000 individuals suffering from food insecurity during our HungerLESS Holidays Program
- Gifted 1,500 toys to children in need as part of the Hometown Holiday Toy Drive
- Placed 14 K-9’s in Police Departments Nationwide
- Hosted the 2nd annual Pars for the Stars Golf Tournament
- Donated a Panda Warmer to Hartford Hospital for their Labor & Delivery Unit
- Supported funding for two wheelchair accessible vans for families with disabled children
- Hosted the 45th Annual Adam J Bozzuto Memorial Charity Classic
- Partnered with over 75 independent retailers across the Northeast in our year-round Retailer Fundraising Programs
- Donated 25,000 turkeys and over 100,000 lbs of produce to food insecure families
- Hosted the 3rd annual Birdies & Horsepower raising $315,000 to support the Foundation’s Major Illness Pillar
- Honored the two fallen and one surviving officer from Bristol Police Department through a Back the Blue Ride
- Welcomed 11 fire departments in competition at The Dream Ride Experience’s annual Firefighter Chili Cook-off
- Donated $5,000 to Cure Rare disease and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute through proceeds from Fishing for a Cure
- Hosted the 4th annual Shoot for the Start Clay Shoot
- Welcomed 1,000 motorcycles for Dream Ride during the Dream Ride Experience
- Helped facilitate a food and household goods distribution to 100 active duty Military men and women alongside Operation Homefront
- With the Western Connecticut HOG Chapter, donated, prepared, and served Thanksgiving dinners to veterans in Bristol and Brian’s Angels Homeless Shelter
2021 Highlights
- Hosted the 21st Annual Dream Ride Experience
- Raised over $70,000 during Police K-9 Awareness Month
- Donated 12 K-9s to departments nationwide
- Delivered and donated over 250,000 meals to individuals suffering from food insecurity across the Northeast, Alabama, Florida, Illinois, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
- Assisted in the adoption of 300 animals
- Gave 1,000 children in need a holiday gift
- Donated $100,000 worth of essential medical equipment to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Partnered with over 100 independent retailers across the Northeast in our year-round fundraising initiatives
- Donated 10 laptops to active duty soldiers in Boston, MA and Connecticut
- Donated 100 toys to children in military families
- Donated 25,000 turkeys and 130,000 pounds of produce during the holiday season to individuals in need
- Hosted weekly adoption sites at the Farmington Polo Club with our rescue partners
- Hosted the 2nd Annual Birdies & Horsepower Golf Tournament raising $350,000
- Hosted the 44th Annual Adam J. Bozzuto Memorial Charity Classic
- Hosted the 3rd Annual Fishing For A Cure raising $24,000
- Hosted the 1st Pars For The Stars Golf Tournament
- Hosted the 3rd Annual Shoot For The Stars Clay Shoot
- Brought together over 1,000 motorcycle riders in support of the New Haven Fire Department and heroes, Ricardo Torres Jr., Samod Rankins, and William McMillian at our charity motorcycle ride, A Hero's Ride
2020 Highlights
As a supporter of our local communities, The Hometown Foundation, Inc. is a champion for community engagement. We proudly support a wide array of community-focused events, campaigns, and organizations along with fronting our year-round programs and initiatives. As a Foundation, our goal is to touch the heart and soul of the community. Our 2020 highlights give a glimpse into our giving throughout the year:
- Hosted the 20th Annual Dream Ride Experience raising $2.5 million
- Donated over $80,000 to support Police K-9 Safety Awareness Month, including donating four K-9s to departments nationwide
- Delivered and donated over 124,000 meals to individuals who suffer from food insecurity in the Northeast and as far as Texas
- Assisted in the adoption of 350 animals
- Donated 11,000 masks, hand sanitizers, cleaning supplies, and two pallets of non-perishable food to essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Gave 100 children in need a holiday gift
- Assisted 250 active soldiers in Baghdad with needed products
- Donated 15,500 turkeys during the holiday season to individuals in need
- Educated 75 students through Project Blue Paw
- Hosted weekly adoption sites at the Farmington Polo Club with our rescue partners
- Hosted the 8th Annual Cars & Cocktails
- Hosted the 43rd Annual Adam J. Bozzuto Memorial Charity Classic
- Hosted the 2nd Annual Fishing with Fisch raising $20,000
- Hosted the 2nd Annual Shoot for the Stars Clay Shoot
