This week, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) granted a citation to Carter Gowrie of Essex, recognizing the decades of community service and dedication that Gowrie has committed to the surrounding shoreline towns and organizations. Most notably, Gowrie and his business, Gowrie Group, have raised more than $2.1 million for The Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries over the last fourteen years through the Gowrie Challenge. Gowrie and his company are also longtime sponsors and supporters of many local institutions including the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Mystic Seaport Museum, Ivoryton Playhouse and New England Science & Sailing, among many other local institutions.
“Carter Gowrie’s remarkable spirit of community service is evidenced by the support and leadership he has shown to so many worthwhile and charitable causes,” said Sen. Needleman. “It is because of that spirit his friends, family and colleagues hold him in the highest esteem. Mr. Gowrie has impacted countless lives in our community for the better and the effects of his generosity will be evident for decades to come.”
“Thank you so much for this CT State Citation,” said Gowrie. “The Shoreline Soup Kitchen delivered 1.6 million pounds of food to folks in our eleven shoreline towns. What an incredible undertaking! The need was up 50% in this pandemic year, and it is with sincere pride that we worked together at Gowrie Group all these years to help this great cause. Thank you to all of you who stepped up in 2020 to greatly exceed our goal. We look forward to continuing our matching challenge in 2021.”
Carter Gowrie and his insurance firm Gowrie Group have, for decades, supported local charitable causes with a strong belief in giving back to the surrounding community in Westbrook and beyond. The annual Gowrie Group Challenge involves Gowrie Group donating $30,000 to The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries (SSKP), and challenging local businesses and friends to help meet an aspirational goal of raising $175,000 of more to support the SSKP. This year, given the significant increase in demand for food services because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Challenge was even more important. The local community and sponsors stepped up to meet this need in a huge way, and The 2020 Gowrie Challenge surpassed all previous records and raised an astonishing $284,000 for the benefit of the SSKP.
The long list of foundations and causes supported by Carter Gowrie and Gowrie Group include: the Mystic Seaport Museum, the New England Museum Association, the Mystic Museum of Art, the Robie Pierce Regatta for people with disabilities, the Connecticut River Leukemia Cup Regatta, the Diocese of Norwich, Vista Life Innovations, US Sailing, New England Science & Sailings, Raise The Roof, Habitat For Humanity, the Connecticut Sports Foundation, the National Sailing Hall of Fame, the Connecticut and Rhode Island Marine Trades Associations, the Veteran Angler Charters, the Providence Animal Rescue League and local chambers of commerce, rotary clubs and many public safety entities.
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