One of the most rewarding achievements as mayor, both personally and professionally, has been forging lasting partnerships – and friendships – with our city’s business and nonprofit community.

While making a difference in people’s lives, they have also made important and meaningful contributions to our way of life in West Haven. Moreover, their good work has bolstered our reputation as Connecticut’s Friendliest City and our most recent distinction by BusinessWeek magazine: “The Best Place in Connecticut to Raise Your Kids.”

During that time, Bayer has been a stalwart advocate of numerous public and private initiatives in West Haven, giving hundreds of thousands of dollars, including more than $200,000 this year alone.

Although Yale University purchased the Bayer campus in West Haven and Orange in June 2007 to expand and augment its medical and scientific research programs, the German drugmaker has remained a force for philanthropic work in our community.

The company’s charitable contributions include the Making Science Make Sense grants; employee donations to food banks; the Partners for Excellence school scholarships; and donations to the Memorial Day parade, fireworks, summer concert series and West Haven High School auditorium’s “Take a Seat” refurbishment program.

Since January, Bayer has also donated to the West Haven Emergency Assistance Task Force, Chamber of Commerce, Community House, Historical Society, Junior Woman’s Club, Youth & Family Services and West Shore Fire District.

Since its acquisition of the Bayer complex, Yale has stepped up its commitment to West Haven, giving $150,000 to help buy a new firetruck for the West Shore Fire Department and $50,000 to the high school’s Take a Seat program.

It gives me great pleasure to recognize Bayer and Yale for their unwavering dedication and generosity to our city as outstanding community and corporate partners. They are truly a credit to West Haven, and we cherish and honor the high standards they bring to our community.

For the third straight year, Team West Haven won the “Live and Learn” Municipal Cup for raising the most money out of the area’s municipalities in the American Heart Association’s Start! New Haven Heart Walk at Lighthouse Point Park in May.

The city, which gets to keep the glass cup until next year’s three-mile walk, has netted nearly $50,000 the past three years, including about $15,000 this year, as part of the Municipal Cup Challenge. We also received an award as one of the event’s top fundraising teams.

Not to be outdone, walkathons for breast cancer, cystic fibrosis and diabetes have also raised thousands for their charities to increase awareness of those diseases. I had the privilege of serving as honorary chairman of the American Diabetes Association this year.

As you know, the city strives to help those in need. In September we held a food drive for pantries that serve the less fortunate at WHEAT on Washington Avenue, Alex’s Kitchen at the First Congregational Church on Church Street and Project Hope at the First Lutheran Church on George Street.

The weeklong effort, organized by Personnel Director AnneMarie Paone-Mullin, was part of the United Way’s “Days of Caring” campaign and collected food and monetary contributions from City Hall as well as the Board of Education, Police Department and three fire departments.

Under the leadership of Executive Director Rose Majestic, WHEAT feeds about 350 needy families a month and provides more than 70,000 meals annually for indigent residents, including senior citizens and veterans. The nonprofit organization also provides energy assistance for qualified residents, along with clothing and furniture.

The city also is registering qualified residents for the federally financed Connecticut Energy Assistance Program, which began in September for oil, gas and electric customers, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays in the Harriet C. North Community Room on the second floor of City Hall, 355 Main St.

The city serves the first 15 residents each day. Residents who cannot make it those days or times can call the Community Action Agency of New Haven Inc., 781 Whalley Ave., at 387-7700 for an appointment.

For details, call 937-3572 or visit our Web site, www.cityofwesthaven.com, and click on the Department of Human Resources’ link on the left column of the site’s home page.