Celebrating All Things ARTS Established in 1999, long-time Arts supporter, Derry D’Oench, established this fund to support the Arts countywide. The Arts Fund enriches the quality of life in Middlesex County by supporting programs and organizations offering participatory and audience-oriented artistic activities.
DonateGolf is a Game of Faith… (and a little bit of practice, of course)… on so many levels If you’re a golfer, you know that it takes faith that your next round will be good – even great. If you’re not a golfer, you probably know a golfer and understand that at the heart of every round is not only those great shots, but also the camaraderie generated both during and after the round. Yet what everyone understands – whether a golfer or a friend – is that golf takes commitment, passion, and a belief that each game will provide…
DonateA Family’s Legacy Takes A New Shape Journalist, community volunteer and former CFMC board member Elisabeth Petry received an amazing gift from her mother, acclaimed author Ann Petry — a cookie tin containing over 400 letters and photographs handed down through five generations of family. When Liz shared what she found with her cousins Ashley James and Kathryn Golden, co-founders of Searchlight Films, a new idea started to take shape. The trio saw more than family memorabilia in that tin; they also saw local history and legacy, and knew this story needed to be shared. They agreed on a documentary film…
DonateLiz Petry has many descriptors – Middlesex County resident, attorney, journalist, author, and community volunteer … early CFMC Board member and founding member of CFMC’s Sari A. Rosenbaum Fund for Women & Girls. Most importantly, though, Liz is a person who embraces her family history and appreciates the love her parents had for the arts. She established the Ann and George Petry Fund, a memorial named fund restricted to supporting the arts. She purposely chose a Fund that will pool with other Funds at CFMC to provide grants to local arts programs and activities through the annual competitive application process….
DonateTHOSE WHO SERVE A COMMUNITY’S VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDERS Your Neighbors – Your Friends – Your Wives – Your Husbands Who are they? They are the people who drop everything and respond when the emergency call goes out. They are members of the Middlefield Volunteer Fire Company – 50 of the strongest resources a town could have. And they would like your support. Middlefield Volunteer Fire Company (MVFC) has a long history of service, back to 1934 when a group, concerned with fire protection, established the company. “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” has become a tradition for some families, as many generations join…
DonateKathy and Willard have been involved with the Community Foundation since the very beginning – their love of community and belief in the ability of a group of people to address the issues and make a positive impact in the community have done so much for Middletown and Middlesex County. Willard, a founding Director of the Community Foundation, and Kathy knew that CFMC would bring the Middlesex County community together to address the issues of today as well as the future and support organizations serving our region. Through their love of community, belief that education is the best foundation for a successful life, and…
DonateA LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS You hear it all the time: “Do your homework.” “Stay in school.” Study hard and you’ll be a success.” How often do you actually see someone doing more than offering these platitudes? Well, in Mary Rawlins, many students found their champion. Mary Rawlins (1929-1995), a founder of the Connecticut Association of Affirmative Action Professionals (now Connecticut Association of Diversity and Equity Professionals or CADEP), was particularly interested in improving educational opportunities for minority students and encouraging them to stay in school. Some twenty years ago, she and her fellow members of CAAAP (now CADEP) established an…
DonateA new Fund has been established at the Community Foundation. The news was greeted by woofs, chirps, peeps, clucks, meows, gobbles, (and more)! In 2008, a family of animal lovers established ARF, Animals: Respect Friendship, an endowed, community based Fund dedicated to helping animals and their human friends in Middlesex County. This family believes that we have a strong responsibility and obligation to preserve the basic dignity that comes with sharing the world with all living creatures. They also believe that pets, in particular, provide unqualified love, true companionship and, in some cases, essential services to the disabled, elderly and…
Donate“This small building has been erected for you in hopes that it will not only be of benefit to you, but will stand and be of service to many generations. This small library has also been prepared for you in hopes that it will contribute to your happiness and the happiness of future generations.” (Levi E. Coe, 1893, upon the dedication of the Library) Imagine what Levi E. Coe would say today, some 120 years later, to know that not only has the Library named for him continued to be of benefit to Middlefield, but has taken the next step…
DonateThe Community Foundation idea is a simple one: anyone – or any group – can be a philanthropist; anyone may partner with the Community Foundation to give something back to the community: To Impact Lives To Help Others To Solve a Problem The Community Foundation of Middlesex County puts hearts into action and money to work. The Community Foundation’s role is to assist individuals achieve their philanthropic goals and objectives by providing support of the donors and expertise on ways to make our region a better place for all. CALL TO ACTION When the dedicated group of volunteers came to…
DonateAscend Bank has a long history of giving back and partnering with local organizations. Ascend Bank took their community involvement one step further and chose to honor their community work by establishing a Field of Interest Fund to support Old Saybrook and the surrounding area in Middlesex County.
DonateA Musical Legacy for Middlesex County For more than 30 years, the Community Music School (CMS) has been serving the musical education needs of shoreline residents and enriching the artistic life of the community. As a member of the Community Music School Board of Trustees and an avid fan of the school’s programs, Paula Merrick knew that the creation of an endowed fund would be a sound investment in the school’s future – even if it was fifteen years in the making. “I just love the Music School and my husband, Hap, and I always felt very strongly about ensuring…
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