Less than two weeks temain to save Winterfest Hartford, and businesses and individuals from West Hartford and throughout the area are stepping up with donations.

Submitted

The iQuilt Partnership has just two weeks left to raise enough money to open and operate Winterfest Hartford, the free outdoor skating rink in Bushnell Park, for the 2017-2018 season.

They have raised 74 percent of the funds needed to date. If fundraising efforts are successful, the eighth year of free daily skating, free skate rentals, and free learn-to-skate classes will begin on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017, and run through Jan. 2, 2018.

For the past two years, due to cuts in the city’s budget, the rink lost a significant portion of its funding. Last year corporations, foundations, and individuals chipped in to save Winterfest and organizers are hopeful that the same will happen again this year.

So far, the following corporations and foundations have donated, in addition to more than 70 individuals: Travelers, LAZ Parking, The Hartford, Hartford SteamBoiler/Munich Re, Niagara Bottling, United Technologies Corporation, Aetna, Bank of America, Jim Lyon, Lincoln Financial Group Employees, MetroHartford Alliance, Roggi’s Automotive, UnitedHealthcare, Metropolitan District Commission, Robinson & Cole, Freed Marcroft LLC, Champions Ice Management, Greater Hartford Arts Council, Peter Stevens, Phoenix/Nassau RE, SINA, The Betty Knox Foundation, BlumShapiro, Carter Realty, Coltsville, Coursey & Company, JCJ, Larry Dooley, Salute, Sullivan & LeShane, VHB, Szilagyi & Daly, and Gould Killian.

“We would like to thank all the individuals, corporations and foundations that have given to Winterfest this year. We encourage people to show their support of these wonderful organizations and individuals who have stepped up to help,” said Jackie Mandyck, managing director of the iQuilt Partnership. “They are Hartford’s heroes.”

To donate go to www.winterfesthartford.com or mail a check to Winterfest Hartford, c/o The iQuilt Partnership, 31 Pratt St., 5th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103.