Kathy 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…
DonateThe Annual Colter Classic Golf Outing will be held July 15, 2019. To learn more or sponsor the event, click HERE A great attitude. A friend to everyone. An infectious smile. An excellent athlete whose passion was wrestling. A mentor and leader to those around him. These are just a few of the things people knew and admired about Colter Abely. Colter grew up in Middletown and graduated from Xavier High School. He was surrounded by friends, neighbors, and teachers who looked forward to his smile, his positive attitude about life, and his willingness to help everyone. Unfortunately tragedy struck in…
DonateChristopher R. Belfoure was just 24 when he tragically died in July 2011. Yet his passions – his belief in the global community, his dedication to teaching and the environment – will be shared through the Chris Belfoure Memorial Fund at the Community Foundation of Middlesex County. A graduate of Valley Regional High School and West Virginia University, Chris spoke fluent Mandarin and was pursuing a career as a corporate trainer in Shanghai. He is remembered as a charming, intelligent, ambitious man with a zest for life and adventure. Chris believed knowledge to be a bridge between cultures and a…
DonateBELDEN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION ENDOWS PERMANENT DESIGNATED FUND Since its founding in 1888, the Belden Library Association was a cornerstone in creating and supporting a public library to benefit the people of Cromwell. To this day, the Library has remained an important hub of the Town of Cromwell, providing a wealth of information, services, and programs for residents of all ages. For almost 100 years, the Library was housed in the old Academy building on Main Street in Cromwell, but it was clear that new space was needed. In December 1985, the renamed Cromwell Belden Public Library opened in a new…
DonateSHORELINE LANDMARK SUPPORTS LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS Bill’s Seafood Restaurant is a landmark on the Connecticut shoreline. Thousands of area residents and visitors visit annually to experience the on-the-water setting to the “tune” of Westbrook’s “singing bridge”. The local (and visiting) residents have long supported Bill’s. Their loyalty is returned by the owners and staff many times over. For the past six years, Bill’s Seafood has hosted a golf tournament to support scholar-athletes from the shoreline towns. In just six short years, the business has awarded over $98,000 in scholarships. In 2009 alone, a total of $18,000 was presented to…
DonateBetsy Morgan and Jane S. McMillan, epitomize the word “caring”. They are legendary in their passion to help the children in our county, their boundless enthusiasm and energy, and their hearts as big as Middlesex County. Betsy and Jane established The Children’s Fund with the mission to improve the lives of children (years 0 to 18) in Middletown and Middlesex County. They strongly believe that we all have an obligation to help our young people and hope that The Children’s Fund will encourage others to secure a brighter future for children in our region.
DonateCommunity and education were driving forces in Marjorie Rosenbaum’s life. A lifelong resident of Middletown and one of the original graduates of Wesleyan University’s Graduate Liberal Studies Program, Marjorie thrived in a community in which music, theater, literature, and education were prevalent. Marjorie worked with others in the community to establish and nurture programs that would ensure a bright future for Middletown. A founder of CAUSE (Community & University Services for Education), Marjorie believed in facilitating cooperative projects between Wesleyan University and the Middletown community; she looked to the future, understanding that creating collaborative programs within the university and local community…
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