The Connecticut Education Association awarded Renee DiNino, on-air personality and community affairs director for iHeartRadio Connecticut, the Charles B. Kelly Local Media Award for her support of teachers and public education.
“Renee is a true friend of public school teachers and students and a steadfast and vocal supporter of
CEA and its charitable arm, the Connecticut Education Foundation (CEF),” said CEA President Jeff
Leake. “She uses her media presence, her reach, and her warm, outgoing personality to bring muchneeded attention to causes near and dear to CEA.”
In recent years, DiNino has enthusiastically signed iHeartRadio on as a sponsor of CEF projects such as
Holiday Bear and Read Across America and has provided ongoing positive media coverage of these
initiatives.
She has interviewed CEA and CEF leaders, encouraged audiences to listen, learn, and lend their
support, and has broadcast interviews and information across iHeartMedia platforms—including
websites, social media, and radio stations KISS 95.7, KC 101, Country 92.5, The River 105.9, The Beat
97.9, and AM stations ESPN Radio 1300, News Radio 1410, and 960 WELI.
“Renee promotes good works not only through positive publicity, news stories, and sponsorship but
also on a personal level, contributing her own time, talent, energy, and funds to CEF’s causes,” said
Leake.
“She made an on-air pledge to sponsor children to receive holiday gifts, including books, toys, and gift
certificates, and essentials such as coats and hats,” said CEA Vice President and CEF President Tom
Nicholas. “She not only made good on her promise but also encouraged listeners to join her in
sponsoring other teacher-nominated children from pre-K through 12th grade whose families have
been hit with financial hardships.”
DiNino and iHeartRadio also play an active role in CEF’s annual Read Across America Reading Bus Tour.
As a community sponsor of the weeklong event, iHeartRadio helps make it possible to supply hundreds
of Connecticut children with bookbags, school supplies, and free books.
“Education is the key to creating our future leaders, and we are dedicated to supporting public school
teachers and committed to shining a light on the importance of literacy throughout our state,” DiNino
has said.
This year, she boarded CEF’s Read Across America Reading Bus in Manchester and read a book near
and dear to her heart, Daisy Mae Finds Her Way. The book was inspired by her own dog and carries a
message of anti-bullying and the importance of kindness to people and animals.
“The bus tour allows me to continue sharing my love of reading with students while introducing an
important message,” she said.
“On her own, Renee goes into Connecticut public schools to read to students and talk about kindness
and integrity in the way we treat others,” concluded Nicholas. “She is a true champion of education
and so deserving of this award.”
More information on Renee’s work with CEF and CEA can be found here:
https://blogcea.org/2019/11/12/still-time-to-make-the-holidays-brighter-for-ct-children-in-need
https://blogcea.org/2020/02/11/pups-help-teach-kindness-at-newington-school
http://www.cea.org/issues/press/2019/feb/24/all-aboard-reading-bus-tour-rolls-into-schools-tocelebrate-literacy.cfm
https://blogcea.org/2018/11/13/cea-and-iheartradio-team-up-for-a-brighter-holiday-for-children/
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The Connecticut Education Association is Connecticut’s largest teachers’ union, representing active and retired
educators across the state.
For further information contact Nancy Andrews at 860-725-6317, nancya@cea.org.
