GIVING IS A FAMILY AFFAIR Rachel Wiltsie is no stranger to the Community Foundation. She, and her late husband, Chuck, believed in giving back. They felt so blessed and had a strong desire to share their good fortune with those in need. They found a way to put their hearts and passions into action by starting a fund in 2001 at the Community Foundation. Ten years later, Rachel discovered that the next two generations of Wiltsie Family were interested in continuing the legacy of giving that she and Chuck started. While she has long been an advocate for those who…
DonateSallie and Robert Boody celebrate all their community has to offer. They know that even the smallest gift can make a big difference in the lives of their neighbors. They believe giving is simple – a box of cereal to a food pantry; a sweater to a shelter; a ticket to a community art show; or a gift through the Community Foundation. They understand that one person cannot do it alone. They know that when gifts are combined with those of others, a real difference can be made to improve the quality of life in our communities. When Sallie and…
DonateWho hasn’t enjoyed a breakfast or lunch at O’Rourke’s Diner, an institution of Middlesex County! Brian O’Rourke is an institution, too, and is known for his extraordinary generosity and giving ways. Brian vividly remembers how his community came to his aid in a time of crisis. Brian knows how a group of dedicated caring, individuals can really make a great community. Recognizing a like-minded purpose in the Community Foundation, he selected CFMC as his “Partner in Giving” with his unendowed donor advised fund, The Shamrock Fund. Brian has seen firsthand, through friends and neighbors, the hard work and dedication of…
DonateLIVE LOCAL BUY LOCAL LEADS TO LIVE LOCAL GIVE LOCAL Many companies offer rewards programs but Dutch Oil Company in Moodus is truly unique. A family-owned and operated business, Dutch Oil believes in supporting their customers through services and in thanking them for their business with a customer loyalty program. Customer/business loyalty took a new and innovative turn when a customer decided to “pay forward” their 10 cent a gallon discount. The customer donated the equivalent of his savings to a local fuel bank to help his neighbors. Dutch Oil appreciated the customer’s willingness to help others, and they set…
DonateWhere we work. Where we live. Where we play. Every donor and every organization has a tremendous impact in sustaining our quality of life. Nancy Fischbach and Martin Wolman of Deep River live local and give local. They believe in supporting the organizations which have a direct and significant effect on the community in which they live. Nancy and Martin support the Community Foundation in so many ways, and in 2009 they added a Named Fund to that list of ways to support CFMC, support Middlesex County, and continue giving to the community which gives so much to them. “We…
DonateSupporting the Community Foundation can take many forms. The Griffin Family of Durham has found countless ways to support the Community Foundation of Middlesex County, including being our cheerleaders and promoting the work CFMC does throughout the county. The Griffin family established a Donor Advised Endowed Fund at Community Foundation of Middlesex County in 2010. Endowed funds provide for the future as well as today, and this fund meets the Griffins’ investment in Middlesex County, highlighting both their desire to share the purpose of charitable giving with their children and with future generations. The Griffins had yet another purpose in mind:…
DonateDEBORAH T. MEHR: DEDICATED TO OTHERS – IN SO MANY WAYS Those who knew Debbie marvel at her dedication to her family, friends and students at Wesley School in Middletown. They say things such as “what a caring, warm, nice, decent human being” she was. They remember her passion for books and reading and how she passed that love of reading on not only to her daughters, Alison and Amanda, but also to her third grade students. She bought thousands and thousands of books for her students! It’s no wonder that Wesley School dedicated a corner of the library to…
DonateThe Whelen family are great supporters of Middlesex County and those in need. They recognize that the Community Foundation is a leader in understanding their commitment to the nonprofit organizations working throughout the community and in providing support and resources for those organizations. Sonny and his family chose to establish a fund in 2011 at the Community Foundation which could engage their entire family in giving back. They also want to encourage others in our region to give by offering challenge grants for various projects. Partnering with the Community Foundation for their charitable giving provides all of the Whelen family…
DonateMiddleOak stands out as a great corporate citizen. The company and its employees are active in volunteering and in helping out in a multitude of ways throughout the county. Company leaders came to the Community Foundation to see how they could actively engage their employees in doing “just a little bit more”. They were spurred into action by some of their own staff who wanted to assist fellow employees in their times of need. The Family Assistance Fund was established for two simple reasons: to give back to others and to lend a helping hand. The staff and management of…
DonateIn Appreciation of Volunteers Volunteers do so much for so many and are the life blood of Middlesex County’s nonprofit and service organizations. The extraordinary commitment they display toward various causes and programs is inspiring and their enthusiasm for helping others spreads throughout our region as they share their time and talent. The NEWBERG FAMILY FUND has been established by Esther Newberg to “Encourage Volunteerism at Middlesex Hospital in honor of Marion, Maurice and Ivon Newberg”. The Fund was started to highlight the extraordinary work of her mother, Marion, and her longtime dedication to the hospital. It is Esther’s hope…
DonateA Lasting Memory for a Wonderful Friend, Teacher and Mentor Karen was a gifted pianist and dedicated and inspiring teacher and was tragically killed in an automobile accident in 2009. Her expertise in performance, teaching and adjudicating were well established throughout Connecticut and beyond. Karen held degrees in Piano Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music and Yale School of Music. She continued her studies with Paul Baumgartner in Switzerland, with Leon Fleischer, and with Konrad Wolff. At the time of her death she was teaching students of all ages at her Westbrook studio, Brown University in Providence, and Choate…
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