Men's Initiative
Men Make A Difference, Men Against Domestic Violence™Since 2009, the year Interval House and US Senator Richard Blumenthal co-founded Men Make a Difference, Men Against Domestic Violence™ the group of prominent Connecticut men have distributed thousands of educational brochures and training materials, raised money for the cause against domestic violence, and spoken to thousands of area residents — mostly boys and young men. Their message and mission is clear: there is never an excuse for domestic violence. In 2019 we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Men Make a Difference.
September 22, 2009: The Founding members of Interval House’s Men Make a Difference, Men Against Domestic Violence™ pose with then-Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, co-chairman of the group,
for the first time at the State Capitol to dedicate themselves in the cause against domestic violence.
On February 14, 2019, President and CEO Mary-Jane Foster gathered with members of Men Make a Difference at the State Capitol in recognition of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Members of the press gathered to hear Foster, Team USA Olympian Donnie Cabral, State Rep. Dr. William A. Petit, Jr., and Attorney General William Tong deliver the message that there is no excuse for abuse.
Men’s Initiative Members:
Senator Richard Blumenthal, Co-Founder of Men Make a Difference, Men Against Domestic Violence™
Col. William Adams, US Army/CT National Guard
Dr. Kenneth Alleyene, Eastern Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Timothy Bergstrom, Regional President, Webster Bank
Donnie Cabral, Team USA Olympian
Nick Caito, Freelance Photographer, Nick Caito Photo
State Representative Julio Concepcion
Rich Coppola, Award-Winning Sportscaster
Charles Coursey, Principal, Coursey & Co.
Eric Daniels, Managing Partner, Robinson & Cole
Jim Donahue, President, Winam Wines
Brad Drazen, Vice President, Communications and Marketing, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Fire Chief Reginald Freeman, City of Hartford
Don Frechette, Partner, Locke Lord
Joe Furey, Co-Chief Meteorologist, WTNH Channel 8
Jon Hitchcock, General Manager, Fox 61
Dennis House, News Anchor, WFSB-TV Channel 3
George Jepsen, Partner, Shipman & Goodwin
Rich Kehoe, East Hartford Town Council Chairman
Garry Lapidus, Director, Injury Prevention Center, CCMC
Brandon Lorey, Former Executive Vice President, United Bank
Trooper Andy Mathews, Executive Director, CT State Police Union
Bill McGurk, Former President, Rockville Bank
Prasad Menon, Simsbury-Granby Rotary
Eric Newell, Former Chief Financial Officer, United Bank
State Representative Dr. William A. Petit, Jr.
Professor Paul Resetarits, CCSU
State Representative Jason Rojas
James Sanchez, Hartford City Council Majority Leader
Harold Sparrow, CEO, The YMCA of Greater Hartford
Attorney General William Tong
John Turgeon, Partner, Cohn Reznick
Stephen Vaughan, Vice President, Liberty Bank
Ed Wrobel, Managing Director, Towers Watson
“Unless we, as men, are willing to stand up and speak out, this whirlwind of tragedy and devastation will be passed from one generation to the next,” said Senator Blumenthal. “I have pledged to do everything I can to break the cycle of domestic violence. Please stand with me to do the same.”
