Giving Stories

On May 1, 1968, Mario D'Addario purchased a small Buick GMC dealership on Main Street in Ansonia, establishing D'Addario Buick. Re-development dictated he find a new location from the four bay garage and dirt parking lot. By 1970 the dealership was relocated to its present location in Shelton and over the years has transformed into five new car franchises and two parts and service departments, as well as an on site body shop.

The growth was planned over the years with Nissan added in 1985, Pontiac added in 2002, the auto body in 2003, and finally Cadillac added in 2005. The dealership continues to be a family owned and operated business led since the late 80's by Mario's son Tom. The D'Addario family wanted to in some way repay the Valley Community for years of loyal customers and the opportunity the Valley offered them. When VCF Board member Dave Grant approached Tom D'Addario about establishing a fund in the D'Addario name, Tom felt the time was right and established the D'Addario Family Community Fund.

“There’s always time in life to give back a little bit,” said Tom D’Addario. “Our business has grown through the years, and the Valley has been good to us. We wanted to help those who are in need in our community, and felt that we could really make a difference by establishing this Fund.” Grants from the D’Addario Community Fund will be made for general charitable purposes to benefit the residents of the cities and towns of Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton, as decided by the VCF Board.

Tom, his wife Mary, and three children Tom, Dan and Sara have lived in Shelton for over 20 years. Tom felt it was important to live in the community that affords his family their living. In the late 90's the D'Addario Family established the Mario and Irma D'Addario Hypertension Program at Saint Vincent's Hospital in Bridgeport. Funds to support the program are raised primarily through donations and an annual car raffle sponsored by Tom D'Addario. The D'Addario Family now hopes to turn its attention towards the Valley to establish a Fund which will continue to grow to help meet the needs of others throughout the Valley who can really use their support.

Peter Francis was born in Ansonia in 1921, and was a lifelong resident of  Stratford. He and his loving wife, Margaret “Peggy” O’Brien Francis, raised their two daughters, Karen and Debbie, with high expectations for their continued education. “There was never a doubt in my mind that my sister and I would attend college,” said daughter Karen Francis. “Education was always so very important to our parents. They grew up in the depression era and neither of them had the chance to further their schooling. Having us go to college meant the world to them.”

In July 2009, Peggy died after a brief but brave struggle with cancer. Tragically, just thirteen days later, Debbie also passed away. With a heavy heart, Peter visited the cemetery each day and, with Karen, tried to determine how best to honor the memory of these very special women.

Peter’s accountant, Shelton CPA Paul Greenberg, suggested that he speak with Paul’s longtime friend, VCF President Jamie Cohen, about the possibility of creating a Fund at VCF in their honor. The two then sat down and discussed initial details about the Fund. Both Peter and Karen were very comfortable with Jamie and the information and financials he provided. They developed criteria for a Donor Advised Fund, through which the family retained the ability to direct grants where they were needed most. But Peter clearly established that their first priority would be education.

“We wanted to fund an annual scholarship for a student at Bunnell High School in Stratford, who would be pursuing Computer Science, be a good community citizen, and attend either a two or four-year college,” she said. “My dad really wanted to make sure that this Fund could help someone who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend college,” said Karen.

It was also important to Peter to insure that the Fund would be in place for the long term, so he included Karen as the Fund’s Advisor. “He wanted it to continue long after we were both gone as well,” said Karen. Sadly, eighteen months to the day of Debbie’s passing, Peter passed away in January, 2011.

“Dad was a very independent man, right up to his last day,” said Karen. “He was so glad that we were able to do this to honor my mother and sister. Family meant everything to him. Now I can follow in his footsteps and pay tribute to all of them by continuing to grow this Fund.”

The Adanti family established this Fund with the many gifts given in memory of Michael J. Adanti. Linda Adanti, Michael’s wife, and their
daughter, Kristen Adanti-Pedersen advise the Fund.

When his grandson J.J.’s kindergarten teacher needed male volunteers, Poppy—Michael Adanti—was there.  Tie flipped back over his shoulder, an apron tied about his waist, the retired Southern Connecticut State university president was ready to go shoulder to shoulder with his little charges on whatever was the craft du jour. “He always gave his time, and his heart and soul to everything he did,” says Linda, his wife of 40 years who, along with their daughter Kristen, established the Michael J.Adanti Memorial Community Fund, to honor the man she’d known since childhood. “He was very much involved in the community and we wanted to keep his work going.” Judging by the flood of correspondence Linda received following Michael’s tragic death in July 2005, his work was considerable.  There were the boards on which he served, including Griffin Hospital, Yale-New Haven Hospital and the New Haven Symphony; the many organizations to which he donated quietly that acknowledged to her his kindness; and the friends, family and youth he aided either monetarily or by helping them make connections to move forward in their lives. “He never said ‘no’,” says Linda of the man who loved the Valley where he began his successful career in education as a teacher at his alma mater, Ansonia High, and who served as that city’s mayor from 1973-1977.  If anyone called him for a favor or needed something, he always figured out a way to help them.  I know he’d be happy to support the Valley Community Foundation in its cause to help the Valley.” The Fund has been set up to make grants for general charitable purposes because “Michael’s whole life was about giving kids and others a break, a helping hand,” says Linda.

Joseph “Jay”Amico was a hard-working, well educated individual who loved innovation, adventure, and risk taking.  A 1974 graduate of Ansonia High School, Jay became employed at Sikorsky Aircraft, a division of uTC, for 29 years.  Jay’s tremendous thirst for knowledge led him to pursue his education in business and management, while simultaneously studying and excelling in Soo Bahk do karate, climbing Mount Blanc and the French Alps, and running in the New york City marathon. 

“In addition to his many other interests, our son was always into music, art, and photography,” said his mother, Mrs. Evelyn Amico.  “In high school he had a band (he was the guitarist) and they would always practice at our house. He loved taking pictures, put many to music, and often made presentations to interested groups, including schools.” When he passed away suddenly in 2006, donations from family, friends, and co-workers came pouring in. His parents, Nick and Evelyn Amico, established the Jay Amico Scholarship Fund for Art and Music through the Valley Community Foundation to honor and help others who shared the same love of art and music as Jay.

“Our son accomplished some pretty amazing things,” said Nick Amico. “He loved being innovative in everything he did, from working at Sikorsky to mountain climbing, to scuba diving, karate and photography. He was one of the most active people I’ve ever known. Most people only dream of having a “full” life. Jay was fortunate to have truly lived his to the fullest.”

“We hope that this Fund will help others to achieve their goals.” said Mrs.Amico. “Your dreams can become realities if you work hard and believe in yourself.  Jay certainly did.”

The motto of the Ancient order of the Hibernians in 1565 was “Friendship, Unity and True Christian Charity.”  That motto is still strong today at the Derby division of the Ancient order of the Hibernians as they have established a permanent endowed fund with the Valley Community  Foundation (VCF). 

Division President Timothy Dillon said, “It is our desire that grants will be made from the Fund for Valley students to attend Roman Catholic elementary schools or high schools, and/or to support educational activities that promote understanding among people of different backgrounds, and/or to fulfill our motto of “friendship, unity and Christian charity.” 

The Ancient order of the Hibernians has been in existence for nearly 450 years.  It was originally established by those of Irish descent to protect the Catholic Church and defend its members from bigoted oppression.  The Derby division began in 1981, and is currently open to those persons of Irish Ancestry who are practicing Catholics. “We serve all the Valley towns,” said Mr. Dillon, who is also a member of the Valley  Community Foundation Board of Directors. “We had received two bequests several years ago but for many years the money just sat in our bank  account.  Once the VCF was established, we determined that it was a great vehicle for us to channel our funds throughout the Valley wherever they needed to go.”  It is the order’s goal to have its members add to the Fund individually in the future.  “The Valley Community Foundation has done a wonderful job with other organizations such as the Derby Public library in managing and distributing funds through their endowment, ”said Mr. Dillon. “They truly served our needs perfectly, and we look forward to working  with them to continue to grow our Fund for years to come.”

Want a reason to join a Rotary Club? Just ask Ansonia School Superintendent,  Carol Merlone. One minute she was attending the weekly Rotary Club meeting in Ansonia, and the next she was coming away with a plan to consolidate and  upgrade the Ansonia School System’s scholarships – by creating the Ansonia Public Schools Scholarship Endowment Fund with the Valley Community Foundation.

That day, VCF President Jamie Cohen was making a presentation to the Rotary group, when his remarks resonated with Mrs.Merlone. “He made me think of ways that VCF’s investment successes might work for us by moving under their umbrella,” she said. What happened next was a series of meetings with Ansonia’s Business Manager, the Board of Education, and the Superintendent.

John Lawlor, the Ansonia Board of Ed Chairman, who did much of the negotiating, said, “Jamie was open and responsive during our due diligence process – he worked with the Board, alleviated our concerns, and explained the endowment concept to us. As a result of his efforts, and VCF’s ability to preserve the scholarship funds entrusted to us over the years, the Board voted unanimously to engage VCF’s investment management services.”

The Fund was established to more effectively manage the scholarships that were all in individual passbook accounts. “It was one thing when local banks were paying 5% on passbook savings. But with current rates less than one percent, we needed VCF’s management and expertise to keep our Funds from being depleted down to zero,” said Mrs. Merlone. “Their professional team will oversee the Fund, make our scholarships permanently self-funding, and add even greater value to the generous contributions of the original scholarship Donors.”

The Ansonia Schools especially liked that VCF is a local, non-profit philanthropy,
specializing in this type of activity. “VCF has a proven track record of local community involvement, and are offering their professional services at a minimum charge to our district,” said Ansonia School Business Administrator James Gaskins. “This move will assure the long term stability of our Scholarship Funds.”

Superintendent Merlone is pleased with the outcome thus far. “We now have a way to keep these scholarships going for the long term – they will not end or have their balances depleted,” she said. “Our Scholarship Endowment Fund at VCF assures that we can invest in our students’ futures for years to come.”

Incorporated in 1925, the Ansonia Rotary Club has a long-standing history of service to its community. For the past several decades, this has included awarding scholarships to deserving Ansonia High School students. The funds for these awards were invested in CDs in various local banks, which, at the time they were originally established, were providing strong interest rates.

Fast forward to our current economic climate, with all of the challenges we now face. The 18 current Ansonia Rotary Club members wanted not only to consolidate these separate accounts into one, but to have an increased rate of return on their investment. Well aware of VCF President Jamie Cohen’s work at the Foundation and throughout the Valley community, they asked him to attend their meeting and make a presentation to the Club about creating a Fund with VCF.

“We wanted to know how it would work, and when funds would be available to us,” said Club President Ned Miller. “One of the most important things for us was to have the ability to make the decision about what student or students would receive this scholarship. Jamie also provided us with great information about how the Fund would be managed by investment professionals familiar with small groups like ours. When it came to a vote, it was unanimous.”

Students apply for the scholarship through the Ansonia High School Guidance Department. The applications are then submitted to the Rotary Club’s Scholarship Committee for review and decision. “We weigh many criteria in this process,” said VCF Board Member and Scholarship Committee Chair Tim Dillon. “We look at academic achievement, participation in school activities, attendance, and, of course, financial need. In the past, smaller scholarships were given out to several students, but with the rising costs of tuition, we feel it has been more effective to designate a larger scholarship to just one student to really help make a difference,” Tim said.

The Ansonia Rotary Club hopes to keep building the Fund throughout the years to help keep it growing even stronger. “One of the best things about this Fund is that no matter what happens to the Club, this Scholarship Fund will remain intact, said Ned. “We know that was the intent of those who donated money to this program in the past. We’re pleased to know it will continue to honor that initial commitment and investment well into the future.”

The family’s beginnings trace back to John and Margery Bassett who immigrated to the United States from England in 1642. They landed in Boston as indentured servants, and after paying their debts, they moved to New Haven with their son Robert. Learn more about the Bassett's and their ties to Derby.

Robert’s son, Sgt. Robert Bassett bought part of the Hawley Purchase in derby in 1716. One parcel at the foot of Great Hill on Silver Hill Road was known as the Bassett Farm and three more pieces were on Great Hill. Thee farm passed down the male side of the Bassett Family for generations, and was sold in 1926 when William Bassett Sr. and his five siblings moved off the farm.

Bill Bassett was very mechanical as a boy. When he was older, he was always putting some kind of car together f rom scavenged parts. His skills led him to start the W.E. Bassett Company in 1939 at the age of 25. The company started as a general machine shop and during the war it made munitions parts. After the war when steel was again available, the Bassett Company began to make rubber heel washers, bag clips, and various other metal parts. in 1947 Bill Bassett designed the “TRiM” nail clipper and started making them in his factory on Francis Street in Derby. It was the first clipper made using modern manufacturing methods. it took the market by storm and in 1952 a new plant was built on Roosevelt drive in derby. Bill continued to add products: nail files, tweezers, toenail foundation,clippers, and a multi-bladed knife. The derby plant was expanded five times to accommodate the growth and, in 1978, a second factory was built in Shelton. That factory was expanded to double its size in 1987, and in 1988 the company office moved to Shelton.

Bill Bassett was a very generous person and was trusted and respected by the people with whom he worked. He was fair, hard working and understanding of the needs of others. He was involved with the Boy Scouts and gave generously to them, both his time and financial resources.
Unfortunately, Bill became ill in 1955 and was never able to return to work full time. His older brother, Harry who was working for him as head of manufacturing, stepped in and ran the company very successfully as president until 1976 when he became Chairman of the Board.

Like his brother, Harry was also very generous and believed as Bill did, that it was the good Valley people that helped the company become a success. Harry was involved in many civic organizations, including the Valley Chamber, Griffin Hospital, Boy Scouts, and Junior Achievement. He established the very first Valley Foundation with the Valley Chamber of Commerce as fiduciary agent. Even though the initial Foundation did not work out as he would have liked, Harry felt that it was essential to find long- term ways to support the non-profits throughout the Valley. Both Bill and Harry set a tone for the company of giving back to the community. That philosophy continues today. Now, more than 26 years later, Mr. Bassett ’s son and current Chairman of the Board of The W.E. Bassett Company, William C. Bassett, along with his wife Judy, and their children, Lynne, Betsy, and Bill are carrying on the Bassett tradition of giving by starting the Bassett Family Fund at the Valley Community Foundation.

“Judy and i along with our children wanted to continue the legacy of giving that my father and uncle established here in the Valley. The proceeds from this Fund are to be used for community services in the five Valley towns,” said William C. Bassett. His daughter Lynne Bassett Perry agreed saying, “Working with our parents and the Valley Community Foundation, we hope to support many worthwhile Valley organizations now and in the future. our hope is that this Fund will help make the Valley a better for generations to come.”

As a participating organization in the Foundation’s Endowment Challenge Program, this is a designated fund to benefit Birmingham Group Health Services, Inc. and gifts were matched by the Foundation.

This Fund was established by the Cecarelli Family of Derby to support the purchase of books for the Derby Public library. 

As a lifelong citizen of Derby, civic leader and former mayor, Ed Cecarelli discovered at a young age the adventures of books and the treasures that abounded at the Derby Public library. Ed spent many an afternoon there, studying his Latin, history or English homework. An avid reader, he would spend hours sitting at the  window seat reading one of the classics.  One of his favorite books was Moby Dick, read and re-read many times. As mayor, Ed took an interest in every detail of the lives of citizens in the community.  He cared deeply for his city and his old world approach to government was unique and heart warming.  Ed’s rich knowledge of the history of Derby was truly a testament of his love for the city. His devotion to his community and his passion for  books inspired his family to establish the Edward J. Cecarelli Book Fund as a lasting tribute to him.  Both library patrons, Ed and his wife Marie, a former library Board member active in the library’s renovation and 100th anniversary, shared a love for the library.  A very special family gift to Ed was a new Webster’s unabridged dictionary along with its own bookstand. “The dictionary stood nearby his desk and was referenced many times not only by my father, but by our entire family,” said son Joseph. “The dictionary served as an important tool to settle some of the disputes over the spelling or use of a word.  It was not uncommon for my father to recall a word from Latin, and use the dictionary to uncover the word’s derivation.”  When asked to recall a special memory about their father, Joseph and his sisters MaryAnn and Melanie all agreed that it had to be how he instilled in them a sense of love, integrity, humility, and respect—and his passion for books.  “My father’s idea of a great vacation was to be locked in the library with an endless supply of coffee,” said Melanie. All three children can still recall  many of their father’s favorite quotes. Says MaryAnn, “of all the quotations, his favorite by far is the following from William Shakespeare: ‘This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.” The quotation holds a special meaning to the Cecarelli Family.  It brings to mind the legacy that Ed left behind to  his children and grandchildren.  A legacy that will continue to honor Ed through a designated endowment supporting the purchase of books for the Derby Public library, now and in years to come.

For nearly 50 years, Mary Lou Cicia Cook spent her professional career, as well as much of her personal life, working with children with special needs. Her interest began as a Shelton High School senior meeting with these special young people through a recreational program on Saturdays. Shortly thereafter, George Hegyi, originally from Bridgeport, came to Shelton and got Mary Lou interested in special education. Together with many other dedicated volunteers, Mr. Hegyi organized and founded the Valley Association for Retarded Children and Adults, now known as VARCA.

Mary Lou then attended Southern Connecticut State University, receiving her degree in Special Education in 1963. From serving as a teacher at Ferry School and VARCA, then as Head Teacher and Principal at Ripton School, and later as Shelton’s Director of Special Education and Pupil Personnel Services until her retirement in 1998, Mary Lou’s life was always about the kids.
“She was outstanding, the best in her field,” says husband Victor Cook. “When she passed away, we asked people for donations in lieu of flowers, so that we could establish a scholarship in her honor. Establishing this Fund through the Valley Community Foundation was a perfect fit, because we’ve lived in the Valley all of our lives. We’ve seen the good work that VCF has been doing, and wanted Mary Lou’s memory to become part of it in a meaningful and enduring way.”

Grants from the Mary Lou Cicia Cook Memorial Fund will benefit the exceptional children with special needs to whom Mary Lou dedicated her life. Grants will provide assistance to, or on behalf of, these young people, and a scholarship can be provided to a Shelton High School senior who will be attending college with the intent of entering a career in the special education of children.

“Even after she retired, she wanted to keep giving back,” said Mr. Cook. “She became a surrogate parent for approximately 50 kids with special needs throughout New Haven and Fairfield Counties, advocating on their behalf. Mary Lou also had a great sense of humor,” he said. “She was loved and respected by those who worked with her. The sense of camaraderie was always there.”

Victor Cook wants the Fund to continue to grow over time. “When we attended Southern it was only $400 a year,” he said. “We’ve come a long way since then, and financial needs today are so much greater. We are looking to help these kids as much as we can.”

Mary Lou wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

Jane C. Cohen is no stranger to philanthropy. Throughout her life, she has supported numerous charitable organizations ranging from the Cause of Racial Justice in the South to the Columbus House in New Haven to serving as Chairwoman of the Valley Red Cross Blood Drive and President of Derby's Griffin Hospital Auxiliary.

To celebrate her mother and father-in-law’s 40th wedding anniversary in 1951, she and her sisters-in-law began the Cohen Family Book Fund at the Derby Public Library, now an Endowed Fund of the Valley Community Foundation. A former 25-year member of the Librar y’s Board of Directors, Mrs. Cohen is well aware of the Library’s need to keep adding new titles to its collection, and the Cohen Family Book impressed with how that Fund has grown,” said Mrs. Cohen. “We started with only a small amount of money ($120), and it has really grown so phenomenally.” That ’s why she chose to create the newly-established Jane C. and David B. Cohen Fund at the Valley Community Foundation, named for the donor and her late husband, Derby lawyer and Judge David B. Cohen.


“The Book Fund was the impetus behind my desire to continue giving locally,” said Mrs. Cohen. “ There are so many worthy organizations out there – the list is endless. This Fund will allow me to be able to give to many of them long after I am gone. In the meantime, it provides me with the opportunity to look around and see what is needed and be able to make recommendations about how the funds should be distributed.” Mrs. Cohen is a firm believer in helping others. “It doesn’t matter what your Fund has in it to begin with,” she said. “You can truly make a difference by starting small and having it grow over time.”

This Fund was established by the David Cohen Family of Derby to support the purchase of books for the Derby Public Library. 

What do you get a happily married couple for their 40th wedding anniversary when they say they want nothing?  That was the position the family of Meyer and Jennie Cohen of Derby found themselves in back in 1951. Deciding to do something that would honor their parents and last into perpetuity, their daughter-in-law, Jane Cohen, established the Cohen Family Book Fund, an endowment to support the Derby Public Library.  It began with three, $40 donations to represent the 40 years of marriage.And every anniversary thereafter, the three Cohen children and their spouses donated to the fund an amount equivalent to their parents’ anniversary year.  Over the years, many gifts in honor of births, anniversaries or individuals have been made to the book fund by family and friends. “My grandfather was a self-made,  self-taught man who read a lot and appreciated the library. He thought education was the most important thing in the world,” says Board Member Jamie Cohen, speaking of his grandfather, who arrived in the united States from Vilnius, Lithuania at age 12 in 1898, with no formal education. “The Derby Public Library has been very important to our family over the years,” adds Jamie.  Meyer and Jennie Cohen’s late son, David, a local lawyer and judge, whose office was located above his own father’s dress shop at 221 Main Street, was an avid reader and library patron, and his wife, Jane, served as a member of the library’s board of directors for 25 years.  Jamie, himself a lawyer, who served as vice president of the library board, recalls visiting the library two to three times a week in his youth.  The Cohen family also underwrote the recent historic restoration of the library’s original vestibule and lobby.  “It allows the library to supplement its budget and purchase books it otherwise would not be able to afford,” says Jamie.  Now that was something both Meyer and Jennie Cohen would have wanted. 

One of six children growing up in a close-knit second generation Italian-American family in North Haven, Fran DeToro has vivid childhood memories of community giving.

She learned well from her grandfather, Ciro Paolella, who came  to America, traveling alone, at age 17. In 1928 he founded the Plasticrete Corporation, which at its height employed more than 1,000 people throughout the New Haven area. Ciro was deeply appreciative of the rewards his hard work had brought to his family, and became committed to helping those in need.

And her grandfather’s example of doing for others had a tremendous impact on young Fran. Soon after her college graduation, Fran moved to California. That first year, she and her siblings received letters from their father, Frank, asking that, instead of Christmas gifts, each of his children make a personal contribution to their respective communities. That simple request remains her most memorable lesson in personal giving.

Returning later to Connecticut, she volunteered for the New Haven Public Librar y ’s “Books Sandwiched In” program, the United Way ’s Day of Caring, Long Wharf Theatre and its Gala committee, and Women’s Health Research at Yale, where she serves as a Board member. “As you get older, you tend to focus on something and really try to make a difference,” said Ms. DeToro. “ Throughout my life I have been truly blessed. I have good health, a loving husband, family and friends, and feel strongly about lending a hand wherever I can.”

Ms. DeToro is also committed to expanding her giving in the Valley by establishing the Cohen-DeToro Charitable Fund at the Valley Community Foundation with her husband, Jamie Cohen. Recent Grants from their Fund have gone to Shelton’s Center Stage Theater, Derby Public Librar y, Griffin Hospital ’s Cancer Center, Ansonia High School Human Relations Club, and the Derby Historical Society, among others.

“My husband is a shining example of someone who truly lives a life of giving back – both personally and professionally. Through Jamie, I have become connected to the people and the causes that are so important to the Valley community - its history, its children and families, and its future. I am proud to support the great work that is being done here and to have our Fund become a part of the Valley Community Foundation.”

Maria Conlon is a true "Valley girl".  Born and raised in Derby, she comes from a tight-night, hard working family, all of them Valley natives.  "My grandmother grew up in Shelton, my grandfather in Derby," says Maria.  "My parents, who were high school sweethearts, lived next door to my grandparents - my dad built the house my brother and I grew up in.  All my cousins lived in the neighborhood.  It is an awesome place that doesn't get enough credit."

Maria’s strong connection to the Valley led her to the creation of the Maria Conlon Humanitarian Fund, a Donor Advised Fund, with the Valley  Community Foundation. “Ever since I was little, especially through my involvement with sports, I’ve seen how important community service is in helping others,” said Maria. “I wanted to be able to give back financially, to leave a legacy of giving for others here in the Valley.”

Maria wanted to make her Fund unique, and to have a say over where her money would go. “I want there to be lots of joy involved in it,” said Maria. “I’m especially interested in trying to do fun events that are culturally  enhanced, and that will bring people together to learn about the Valley’s  history. The proceeds will be used to grow the Fund and to affect lives through sport across the Valley.”

She learned of VCF from Jane Snaider of MetLife, who has been a Valley advocate for a number of years. “I’m always on the go, and I wanted to  make sure that the Fund would be well taken care of,” Maria said. “I met with VCF representatives, and it was a good fit. Being from the Valley, I wanted to make sure that the money would stay here and be used to help  local people.”

Maria’s hopes for the Fund extend far into the future. “To me it is very personal - it’s about my family, my community, and what I represent.  I look forward to working each year to continue to support its growth, and to  make it available wherever it is needed the most.”

Thomas Curran, Sr. may not have been born and raised in the Valley, but he was certainly one of its fondly adopted sons. Originally from Walpole, Massachusetts, young Tom moved to Michigan to work for General Motors. In 1963, he was transferred to Shelton as GM’s Eastern Regional Sales Manager, and found a permanent home in the Valley. Together with his wife, high school sweetheart, Ruth, they raised six children – Kathleen, Tom Jr., Chris, Jim, Trish, and Michael – many of whom still live in Shelton.

Thomas Curran, Sr. was an extremely giving and caring man, involved in fundraising and charitable efforts not only in Shelton, but also in Stratford and Westport, through his businesses at Curran Volkswagen and Curran Cadillac Pontiac GMC Truck. He was one of the founders of the Oldsmobile Scramble, which became the largest amateur golf tournament in the world, and served on its national Board of Directors for 25 years. He was active in the Connecticut Irish Golf Open, and was a member of both the CT Irish Club and the Civitan Club. He was a committed supporter of VARCA, and was a charter member and loyal parishioner of Huntington’s St. Lawrence Church. He was also proud member of Red Sox nation.

Family always came first with Tom. “We grew up in a neighborhood where everyone would always come out for block parties, to just spend time together,” said daughter Kathleen Curran Hurley. “We’re still close to everyone there that we grew up with. My dad was quite the jokester - he never took himself too seriously. He was always kidding around with our family, friends, and neighbors. He loved being there with us all, having fun.”

After Tom's passing in 2010, VCF Board Member Joseph Pagliaro, Jr. suggested that the family consider honoring their father’s memory by establishing a Fund with VCF. The Curran Family created the Thomas W. Curran, Sr. Family Fund to reserve and perpetuate the legacy of charitable giving that Tom Curran, Sr. had begun. “Our Dad was always giving – much more than our family ever realized. He was a helping hand to so many, and we believe that his legacy of faith, community and charitable giving will live on through the creation of this Donor Advised Fund,” said daughter Kathleen. “It is also our hope to grow the Fund by family contributions as well as through other efforts. We feel VCF is a worthy and worthwhile Foundation,” she said. “His legacy will now continue to help those in the Valley where Tom lived his adult life, raised his family, and called his home.”

Every once in awhile, if you are fortunate enough, someone comes into your life who truly points you on a path towards success – someone who gets you to believe in yourself and your ability to do extraordinary things. For hundreds of young football players at Derby High School from 1968-1982, that special someone was Coach Lou deFilippo. If you were one of those lucky to either play for Lou or to be associated with him in any way, you knew from the beginning he was the architect of great character and principle. “As players, the very first time we met Coach deFilippo we knew it was going to be the start of something special,” said John Saccu, who played football for Derby High School from 1966–1969. “Lou called us ‘his boys’ that first day, and even as grown men he would still refer to us as ‘his boys’ when we would get together to reminisce about the good old days. Lou loved it when we would come to visit. you could see his eyes light up with anticipation, wanting to know how we were doing.”

In order to honor the legacy of legendary coach Lou deFilippo and his lovely wife Dolly, a group called “Team deFilippo” comprised of players, coaches, and f riends of the deFilippo family established a scholarship in their name. When plans for the scholarship became known, former players from as far away as Florida offered their support. “The response was truly amazing. This is long overdue,” said Frank Romano, a former player and the owner of Frankie’s Grill in Derby. “ While football was among his priorities, education was always first,” said former assistant coach Charlie diCenso.

“It makes this scholarship that much more meaningful to us because we know it’s something he would’ve wanted us to do, and would’ve been proud of.” “It didn’t take us long to realize that Lou had a partner in his plan, an assistant coach twenty-four hours-a-day, who believed in him and accepted us into her life as if we were her own sons. The respect people everywhere had for him and for Dolly is immense,” said Mr. Saccu. “ We will always be Lou’s boys—and now his family has grown even larger through the creation of the Team deFilippo family. Both Lou and Dolly taught us, through example, that to live extraordinarily is more than just putting effort in when you have to, rather it is an entire way of life.”

The Board of the Derby Public Library transferred endowments to the Foundation for investment management to care for and grow these funds which support various valuable activities and programs of the Library that are outside operating costs.

The death of their beloved eleven-year-old son Harcourt in 1897 spurred Colonel and Mrs. H. Holton Wood to donate in their son’s memory, the land, the building and $5,000 to establish the Derby Public Library in 1902. Since then, many have joined the ranks of these early philanthro- pists. The Library’s original endowment, started with gifts dating back to the 1940s, has grown to almost $600,000, and in 2005 was turned over to the Valley Community Foundation for financial management.

“We believed it was the best move for us: they’re Valley people giving back to Valley people,” says Dorothy Gleason, President of the Library Board, explaining that earnings generated by endowment investment are designated for a variety of Library uses within stipulated guidelines. Part of the endowment and earnings, for instance, was used in the 1990s to help build and furnish a 7,200-squarefoot addition to complement the original Colonial Revival style building that is now listed on the National Historic Register.

Little did the first immigrants from Puglianello, Italy know that, when they came to Derby more than 100 years ago, many of their descendants - grandchildren, greatgrandchildren - would return to Italy for a "cultural experience".  But that is what has happened, thanks to a special program initiated by former Derby Mayor Marc Garofalo, entitled The Derby Sister City Program.  Money that was initially raised to help send a group of 50 Derby residents to their sister city - Puglianello - eight years ago, has grown and now has become the "Derby Sister City Fund" at the Valley Community Foundation. 

“The purpose of the Fund is to help Derby residents and students of Italian descent to trace their roots, to see how people are currently living in Italy, and to immerse themselves in the culture there,” said Mayor Garofalo. “It’s more than just a scholarship program – it gives students a direct opportunity to experience for themselves the Italian lifestyle on a daily basis.”

The program began in February, 2001, when then-Mayor Garofalo was invited to Puglianello by that community’s Mayor Tonino Bartone, to visit  the area, and see the town, which is in the Province of Benevento and  Region of Campania, about 45 miles northeast of Naples. It was then that the two Mayors formulated the idea of developing the Sister City project. “It was truly about a cultural and an economic exchange,” said Mayor Garofalo. “There had been several waves of immigration to Derby from the region beginning in 1902, with people coming every few years before World War II. Again in the early 1950’s, and in the mid 60’s and ‘70s, there were large waves of people joining their families and friends here. We wanted to provide an opportunity for their descendants to return to  Puglianello, to learn what was happening and how it has affected their lives even today.”

Because Mayor Garofalo and the Sister City Committee wanted to ensure that the Fund would continue to grow, the first grants will not be distributed until 2012, the 10th anniversary of the first trip to Italy. “We feel that is important to go beyond the people who are involved in the project today,” said Mayor Garofalo. “We chose VCF to work with us to create this Fund, because they are an efficient and effective Valley organization. This is our way to recognize the many opportunities the Valley has given the Italian Community in Derby. It’s also the chance for us to give back to others so that they may continue to celebrate their Italian culture and ethnicity for years to come.”

Lawrence J. "Larry" DeTullio Jr. loved his family, friends, and the city of Derby. Born and raised in Derby by mother Ann and his late father Lawrence Sr., Larry had a life-long affection for his community, serving as its Community Development Director from 1976-1995.

“Larry was always looking out for the betterment of Derby,” said wife Maryanne DeTullio. “His memory lives on in many ways, including through the trees he had planted along Main Street 30 years ago to dress up the downtown area. Each season they bring such beauty and joy to ever yone who sees them. I know that always meant a lot to him when he was alive, and it still does for us today.”

Ann DeTullio wanted to continue her son’s commitment to Derby by establishing the Lawrence DeTullio Jr. Fund through the Valley Community Foundation. “ This Fund is a wonderful way to carr y on Larry ’s legacies,” said Mrs. DeTullio. “ The money it generates will be used to benefit youth sports, local Scouting programs, the Derby Public Librar y, and many other activities and organizations ser ving young people, with prefer- ences to his hometown, just as Larry had always done.”

The DeTullio family knows first hand the benefits of living in a close-knit community. Larry’s daughter Catie DeTullio said, “My brother Andrew and I were very young when our dad passed away. It was then that we realized and understood the real strength of the Valley and its people. So many came out to share our family’s grief, and to pay honor to our father, who was truly a well-liked man. It was in those moments of death and hardship that the support system of this Community held true.” Maryanne DeTullio agreed. “It was truly as if the City itself took a pause to honor Larry,” she said. “I remember that in the middle of our grief, I realized that it was time to register Catie for softball. When I made the phone call, I was told, ‘Don’t worry Maryanne, someone has already taken care of that for you.’ The City of Derby was truly there for us, and we are so grateful to be able to give back to it through this Fund.”

At the end of the day, Larry DeTullio, Jr. was a man who truly loved Derby, and his family decided that there was no better way to keep his memor y alive than to work with the VCF to support the people and programs he held so dear.

This Fund was established by the Friends of Ansonia Historical Commission to provide scholarships for graduates of Assumption School, Ansonia.

In March 2005, the City of Ansonia’s Historical Commission approved the commissioning of a portrait to honor native son, Honorable Joseph P. Flynn, in recognition of his outstanding service to his community, bar, and bench. Judge Flynn has had a varied career in the legal profession and in public service. He was an attorney in practice with Joseph P. Buckley and the Honorable JoAnn Kiely Kulawicz and later with James E. Sheehy and Timothy P. Dillon. Judge Flynn was born in Derby, son of the late Charles H. and Eileen Hennessy Flynn. He is a lifelong resident of Ansonia, where he resides with his wife, Marilyn Cronan Flynn and son Charles H. Flynn, ii. He graduated from Assumption Grammar School in Ansonia and Notre dame High School in West Haven. After earning degrees at Fairfield and Georgetown, he was admitted to practice before the Connecticut State and Federal Courts in 1965 and in 1966 before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. While a student at Georgetown, he was a staff
member for united States Senator Thomas J. Dodd in Washington and Hartford. He served in the u.S. Marine Corps Reserve and the u.S. Naval Reserve, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, to the rank of Lt. Commander, and was honorably discharged from both.

From 1967 until 1971, Judge Flynn served as Corporation Counsel for the Town of Seymour. As a staff attorney for the Connecticut legislative Council of the Connecticut General Assembly, he authored legislation, which first regulated use of Connecticut’s coastal wetlands. As counsel to the Senate Minority leader, he was trial and appellate counsel for the plaintiffs in Caldwell v. Meskill, 164 Conn. 300 (1973), which overturned a gubernatorial veto. Judge Flynn served as a State Senator from the 17th district from 1975-1979. In July 1985, he was appointed by Governor William A. O’Neill as a Judge of the Superior Court. From 1999 to 2001, he served as deputy Chief Court Administrator. Thereafter, in 2001 he was appointed a Judge of the Appellate court and was subsequently appointed Chief Judge of the Appellate Court in 2006. He is a member and past president of the Connecticut Judge’s Association, a member and past president of the lower Naugatuck Valley Bar Association and a member of the Connecticut Bar Association.

While the Ansonia Historical Commission sponsored this project, the portrait was paid for through private funding through the Friends of the Ansonia Historical Commission. Friends, colleagues, and associates were asked to contribute to this cause, and excess contributions made would fund a small endowment for scholarship at his Ansonia alma mater, the Assumption School. The portrait was unveiled and hung on Thursday, October 6, 2005 in the city of Ansonia’s alderman’s chambers. Christopher Dodd, united States Senator from Connecticut, expressed his sentiments by letter stating that “Judge Flynn worked in my father’s U.S. Senate office in Washington. His commitment, work-ethic, and sense of humor were evident at the time, as was the certainty of his future success.” Carol Starkey, a member of the Friends of the Ansonia Historical Commission, says, “I believe that this Fund will as- sist students, who, like Judge Flynn, are committed to the community and higher education.”

Paul Hershey knew hard work, both as a child on his family’s farm, and later as a young man working in the factories of his home state of Pennsylvania. In the early 1920’s, Hershey came to Connecticut, looking for opportunity. A small tool shop on Caroline Street in Derby, closed after World War I, was for sale, and Hershey saw the chance to start his own business. The tool shop grew; the business became Hershey Metal Products and moved to larger headquarters in Ansonia. From the early days, through the depression and World War Ii, Hershey Metals had the ups and downs of a Connecticut manufacturer. In 1940, John Frey, also from Pennsylvania, came to Connecticut and began work at his uncle’s company.

After serving in World War Ii and then earning his engineering degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic institute in Troy, New york, John Frey returned to Hershey Metals. He took charge of repairing the factories and super vised the renovations from the severe damage from the ’55 Flood. later, he became the head of manufacturing. The company employed hundreds of Valley people over the years, including multiple generations of the same families. Hershey Metals products were diverse, from parts for commercial and military aircraft, including the indicator light for the Apollo spacecraft; to parts for everyday products, such as hand tools, mechanical pencils, electric brooms, and beer taps.

From his arrival in the Valley, Paul Hershey led many civic projects and gave to community organizations. He and other industrial leaders were instrumental in supporting the expansion of Griffin Hospital and the Physical Medicine department was named in memory of Hershey’s wife, Mary. John Frey succeeded Paul Hershey as President of Hershey Metals in 1970 and, in the 1980’s, John Frey also expanded the charitable foundation Hershey had started in 1954, renaming it the Frey-Hershey Foundation. Supporting the programs that served the community and their employees has always been important to the Hershey and Frey families. With personal contributions, and through their Foundation, they give to many Valley organizations.

Mr. Frey also has a special objective to grow young people’s interest in science, and through the Hershey Frey Scholarship at the University
of New Haven, students from Valley towns are awarded aid to pursue degrees in science and engineering. Frey looks for ward to the number and amount of awards continuing to grow over time. “I want to find young people who are interested in engineering, and, hopefully, after graduation, they will consider continuing to live in the area and starting their own businesses.”

John Frey ’s son-in-law, Einar Gudjohnsen, joined the company in 1989 as director of Engineering. The company changed its name to HMP industries in 1993 and Mr. Gudjohnsen is now the HMP’s CEO. Since the mid 1990’s the company has focused on upgrading to modern computer controlled (CNC) machine tools and shifting its market emphasis towards more complex, high-tech product categories, including electronics and medical applications. Current products include components for industrial hand tools, transportation systems, electronic paper handling equipment, surgical tools and dental implants.

Gudjohnsen, and his wife, Jane, work with Mr. and Mrs. Frey to continue their philanthropy through the Frey-Hershey Foundation Fund at the Valley Community Foundation. Wanting to insure the Frey-Hershey Foundation’s support of the Valley in perpetuity, John Frey transferred the Foundation assets to the VCF in 2006 creating a donor advised fund. Frey, his wife, Mildred, and the Gudjohnsens serve as advisers to the Fund.

Arthur Bogen has spent much of his life working to protect and preserve the environment. "I believe we all need to be stewards of the earth during our time and place here,” said Mr. Bogen. “The environment has not had an easy time of it. We need to look beyond what we can see right now, do no harm, and make a contribution that will help others in the future.”

That’s why in the fall of 2006, Mr. Bogen established the “Future Fund” at the Valley Community Foundation. The purpose of the Fund is to help the earth, with a preference for scholarships or other support to encourage students interested in the environment, and/or to help people who have experienced childhood trauma restore their sense of self.

“I know first hand the effect abuse can have on people, especially children,” said Mr. Bogen. “It’s extraordinarily important for them to feel worthy, to have a sense of redemption. They need to know that no matter what they’ve been through, that they can trust in life. Hopefully this Fund will make a difference for them and help to build back their self-esteem.”

Mr. Bogen has a lifelong connection with the Valley. “I know many of the Board members who helped form the Valley Community Foundation, and made it what it is today. I wanted to be someone who supports the VCF and helps them make it strong.”

Mr. Bogen’s goal is to grow the Future Fund over time. “The earth is going to need all the help we can give it,” he said. “I want to thank the Board and its staff for their dedication in creating the Foundation. Their vision created a resource to help keep the Valley and its people growing stronger each day.”

The Gates Society is named to honor Frank and Ross Gates, whose bequests have benefited the Valley Community in profound ways, including seeding the formation of the Valley Community Foundation.

Endowment gifts, such as the Gates Fund, provide permanent support for purposes donors held dear during their lives. While increasing in size, the Gates Fund has supported diverse Valley organizations and initiatives, including capital and equipment improvements, scouting trips and teen mentoring programs, and emergency food, shelter and transportation services.

The Board of the Valley Community Foundation invites you to become a member of The Gates Society which recognizes those individuals who have included a charitable gift in their estate plans through the Foundation. The Gates Society provides a way to thank and honor individuals during their lifetimes for gifts that will come through their estates. These gifts may contribute to an existing Fund, or with a gift of $10,000 or more, can establish new funds with purposes of the donor’s choosing. Gifts may be bequests through wills; charitable trusts or annuities that pay the donors income during their lives; and gifts of life insurance and retirement assets.

Donors have the sense of satisfaction that comes with making a commitment to the future of this community through a permanent endowment. Members will be listed in the Foundation’s publications (unless donors prefer anonymity) and will be kept current on Foundation programs and activities. Members also provide a powerful example to others who are considering a legacy gift. Foundation staff is available to The Gates Society members and their financial and legal advisors to discuss their estate and gift planning objectives.

This Fund was established by the transfer of the Robert J. Geissler Memorial Award assets held by Shelton High School at the request of Harold Geissler. The Fund makes scholarship awards to graduating students of Shelton High School.

The Geissler family has always valued the importance of education—wife and mother, Margaret Geissler taught business, accounting and shorthand, and despite having a learning disability, Harold and Margaret ’s son, Robert, obtained a degree in accounting f rom the University of Bridgeport. In 1995 the family established a scholarship Fund at Shelton High School, where it was kept in a regular savings account through a local bank. It seemed like a perfectly natural thing for them to do—after all, the entire family graduated from SHS.

Once the Valley Community Foundation was established, however, Harold Geissler decided to transfer the funds into an endowment scholarship for graduating students of Shelton High School. “Our dad was a chief auditor for the iRS,” said Jim Geissler. “After our mom died in 2000 we really wanted to do something more with the Fund. Our dad decided that moving it from the bank to the Foundation was the best way to manage the money. He was actively involved with the recipients up until his passing in August 2006, and was delighted to receive a “thank-you” from our first scholarship winner.”

Originally established as a scholarship for accounting or business students, the family has decided to broaden the criteria to include a “senior student enrolled in an accredited college, who has shown progressive effort and is not receiving any other substantial award." Recipients are selected by the Administration and Guidance departments of Shelton High School.

Raymond Thomas Gildea was affectionately known to family and friends as the "Little Leprechaun.” Ray loved and embraced his Irish heritage and was never happier than when he was in the midst of a large social gathering, celebrating good times with jokes and laughter. An avid Red Sox fan, like so many New Englanders, he eagerly awaited spring and baseball to return to the Northeast.

Ray Gildea’s passions also included education and his family, and he was devoted to both. For 34 years, he taught and worked in a district he loved, the Shelton Public School system. Ray served as a math teacher at Shelton High School, Department Head, Athletic Director, Computer Center Director, and Director of Finance throughout his tenure in Shelton. Through it all, he and Gloria, his wife of 47 years, raised four children – Kelly, Sean, Raymond Jr., and Kathleen, some of whom still live in Shelton. Ray was proud of his children and their respective spouses, Tom, Tracie, Nicole and Patrick. Later in life, Ray’s love extended to his eleven grandchildren, whom he adored.

“My Dad dedicated most of his life to the Shelton community, and especially to education,” said daughter Kelly Lynch. “He was a strong advocate for each of us with his unconditional love, support, and encouragement. He then took loving care of our Mom, who developed Alzheimer’s disease later in life; a further example of the selfless man he was.”

Daughter Kathleen Riddle agreed. “Next to being a great father and husband, my Dad was most proud of the work he did with the students in Shelton. He would often say that his greatest day was when I got hired by the Shelton Public Schools and we went to opening day ceremonies together,” she said. “He was teary-eyed the entire time – it was a proud moment for us both, and I am honored to carry his tradition in the school system we both deeply care about.”

When the Gildea Family lost Ray earlier this year, they turned to VCF to establish a Donor Advised Fund to honor his memory. “It is such a great way to keep someone’s spirit alive,” said Kathleen. “We will use the proceeds to award an annual scholarship to a Shelton High School student, and we hope to be able to help students and/or organizations in other Valley towns as well. Our plans are to work hard and reach out every year to grow the fund.”

The Gildeas know that establishing this Fund is what Ray would have wanted. “Our Dad always helped others. But you don’t realize the impact your parents make as you are growing up,” said Kathleen. “It wasn’t until he was gone that we learned of the lessons that Dad had taught others, not only about math, but also about life. By establishing this Fund we are continuing his legacy and, at the same time, keeping his memory alive each and every day.”

This Fund was started and is being built by Founding Board Member David M. Grant and his wife, Gail, as a donor advised fund to support their various community activities and as a means to involve their sons in philanthropy.

David J. Grant and his brother Michael have been raised to give back to their community. Since they were kids they would do such things as accompany their parents to serve Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless before sitting down to their own family celebration. Now, as young adults, they ’re beginning to volunteer on their own, and are getting encouragement from their father, David M. Grant, and their mother, Gail,who have established an endowment fund with the Valley Community Foundation that they foresee their sons managing. “I wanted to do this for my sons as a way to get them involved,” says the elder Grant, who began his own volunteering at an older age when Jack Ribas, who runs the Boys and Girls Club of the lower Naugatuck Valley, asked him to become a Board Member. “I had my eyes opened,” says the affable Grant, who has run a successful catering business in the Valley since 1974. “Before I joined the Boys and Girls Club in 1986, I really didn’t do much with regard to charitable causes because I was so busy building my business. But when I did, I saw the need, and experienced the satisfaction of being in- volved. I thought that this Fund would not only be a way to give back to the community but would be something my sons could do together through the years.”

The David M. Grant Family Fund was established in Januar y 2005 with an initial $2,500 contribution and a pledge of the same for the next three years to build it to a minimum of $10,000. At that point, the Grants will meet once a year to determine how to best allocate the interest, giving first preference to youth, perhaps by funding camperships or programs in the arts, says Grant. “I hope it brings my sons closer together,” says Grant, who intends to grow the fund over time. “And in 30, no, 50 years, when Mom and Dad are gone, they'll work at it knowing that it ’s something their father and mother wanted. And hopefully, it will grow with them, and them with it."

Several years ago, Jim Guarrera joined a small group of local citizens in advancing funds to support the efforts of the St. Vincent De Paul Society to open a food bank and thrift shop on Roosevelt Drive in Derby. 

When they saw the tremendous good accomplished by the facility they helped to create, as well as the community assistance the new food bank has done since, Jim and his wife Bert were prompted to establish the Guarrera Family fund with The Valley Community Foundation.

“We saw how even a small amount of funding can go a long way to help those in need,” said Jim. “We created our Fund atVCF to help not only St. Vincent de Paul, but also Valley children who are going through difficult times.” An educator in the Shelton Public Schools formore then 30 years, Bert knows first hand how important it is to help a child whose family is struggling to make ends meet. “You can just see how much a difference you can make in their lives,” said Bert. “It’s all about helping out where you can.”

Bert grew up in Shelton, a child of Shelton natives, and now the couple’s own children live here as well. “There is really a strong sense of community here – so many people know and help so many other people,” she said.  Jim, who moved from his native Waterbury to Shelton many years ago agreed. “We’ve been friends with the Pagliaro family forever, and became involved with the annual Easter Egg hunt to support their Family Fund at VCF. We  decided this was the right time for us to create our own.”

The Guarrera Family Fund is donor advised,which provides the Guarreras with direct input into where the money is allocated. “Having our Fund at VCF is all-encompassing for us,” said Jim. “The fact that it is a Valley organization, where local groups can go for help, is so beneficial. We especially like that we can recommend distributions, which makes it even more meaningful for what we are trying to accomplish.”

The Guarrera Family Fund goes beyond both Jim and Bert personally. “This is something that we expect our children will continue long after we are gone,” said the Guarreras. “We’re grateful that VCF exists to help those who really can use our support, both now and in the future.”

She graduated as Valedictorian of her Seymour High School Class of 1988, and continued her studies at Johnson State Teacher’s College, Post College and the University of Hartford. After obtaining both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Early Childhood Education, Traci worked for fifteen years as the head teacher for Ansonia Day Care, run by TEAM, Inc. Tragically, Traci's life was cut short. 

In 2004, Traci was diagnosed with colon cancer and died on July 31, 2006 at the age of 36. At that most difficult time, her family suggested that, in lieu of flowers, donations to create a scholarship fund would best honor Traci ’s life, and they received more than $3,000 in donations in her memory.

In the beginning, the Haines family managed the Fund themselves and added to it regularly. This past winter, their Attorney, Fred Stanek, suggested they pursue additional options for the scholarship. That’s when they turned to VCF.

“We were looking for ways to help the scholarship grow stronger, and opening a Fund with the Valley Community Foundation was clearly the best fit for us,” said Frank Haines, Traci’s father. “Our family had five children who all went to college. They got a lot of help from different scholarships along the way, so we know first hand what a difference that can make. We also know that this scholarship will help someone else achieve their dream of working with young children as Traci did.”

The Traci L. Haines Memorial Scholarship Fund, which now contains over $10,000, provides grants to Seymour High School graduates who will be attending college with the intent of pursuing a degree in early childhood or elementar y education. The family included a tribute to their daughter’s life and career in the Fund’s language, which requires that applicants should have “demonstrated integrity and a willingness to work hard in the ser vice of others and/or in the attainment of personal goals.”

“Traci did exactly that in ever y aspect of her life,” said Frank Haines. “My wife and I didn’t go to college, but we worked very hard to make sure that our children had the opportunity to do so. This Fund is all about Traci - all about how committed she was to doing her best each and ever y day and living her life to those high standards. She was just a sweetheart – and we can think of no better way to continue her legacy than by establishing this Fund in her honor.”

 

Joseph A. Pagliaro, Jr. started and is growing this Fund to honor his father, Joseph Pagliaro Sr., the founding Chair of the Valley Community Foundation, and his grandchildren, the children of his sister, Michelle Pagliaro Haywood.

Joseph Pagliaro, Jr. has experienced the lower Naugatuck Valley in all its beauty. And he’s not just talking about the scener y. “ This is a very caring community,” says Pagliaro, who lost his father in a tragic accident in 2004 and experienced an overwhelming outpouring of support. “People in the Valley come together in such a loving way when someone is in need. They surround you and take care of you. Whenever there is crisis, you see that wall being built.” And so, Pagliaro began to add his piece to that wall in 2005 when he established with the Valley Community Foundation the Tyler, Brian, and Zachary Haywood Fund. Named for his young nephews, the Fund was a way for Pagliaro to honor his father Joseph A. Pagliaro, Sr. and the grandchildren of his father, his nephews, now and in years to come. “Everything in due time,” says Pagliaro, speaking of the growing Fund that has been set up to aid women and children when it begins to produce grants. "No one can do everything themselves, that’s the beauty of the Valley. We’re there for each other. And that ’s what this Fund is all about - other people in their time of need.”

For many Greek immigrants who settled in the Valley in the early years of the 20th century, the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Ansonia was more than just a place of worship.  It also served as the social and religious center of the Valley’s Greek community.   It was where families shared their faith, their recollections and homeland’s traditions, their sadness, and their joys.  More than anything, it was an extension of their homes – cherished dearly by those who worshiped there during the past ninety years.

Parishioners clearly remember the privilege of ringing the church’s bell on special occasions.  Others smile fondly when talking about a wedding they attended or the baptism of a newborn at the Hubbell Avenue building.  The church was a focal point for Valley leaders, business owners, teachers and residents, who worked together to make it a continuing success throughout the years.

In 2009, however, due to a steady decline in the congregation’s members, Holy Trinity closed its doors for good, and will be absorbed into St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church in Orange.  But, as the saying goes, when one door closes, another one opens.  And so the parishioners of Holy Trinity reached out to the Valley Community Foundation to show their thanks by establishing the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Ansonia Fund with VCF. The Fund will provide grants for general charitable purposes, with a preference for projects which advance the ancient Hellenic ideals of compassion, charity, love (“agape”) and philanthropy (“philathropia”) toward all humanity

“We were truly blessed to have lived in a community that was so accepting of us and our beliefs,” said former Parish Council President Jerry Vartelas. “The Valley has always been there for us, offering support and kindness to all of us who called it home.  We can think of no better way to show our appreciation than to establish this Fund with VCF to help others in need.”

VCF Board Member, Ansonia Attorney Greg Stamos, who grew up as a member of Holy Trinity, had this to add: “This is our way of giving back,” said Mr. Stamos.  “Holy Trinity wanted the Foundation to continue to do the good work the parish had been doing as a congregation – to help Valley families who might be going through a difficult time.  It wanted to keep a portion of its funds local – and VCF provided the opportunity to do just that.  All of our parishioners are grateful to have been in Ansonia for all of this time, and we look forward to helping to make a difference in the Valley in the years to come.”

Organized in 1917 and incorporated in 1920, Derby-based Housatonic Council has the distinction of one of the smallest Boy Scout councils (3rd smallest of 304 councils) and one of the oldest. It was formed by a group of Valley business and community leaders, wo understood the benefits that the scouting program could provide to the youth of the valley.

Frank Gates, well-known community-minded industrialist, was a charter member of the Council Board and served as its Honorary President for over forty years. Mr. Gates and the legendary Ed Strang, a lifelong Scouting leader, were the Council’s two recipients of the prestigious Silver Antelope award, the highest award presented by the National BSA.

More than 50,000 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venture Scouts have benefitted from the programs of the Housatonic Council, which reaches approximately one in every five youth in the Valley area. Each year twenty Eagle Scout candidates lead significant projects benefitting the community, resulting in more than 4,000 hours of service. The Greater New Haven and Valley Community Foundations have been strong supporters of the Council throughout our history. The Frank Gates Dining Hall, central structure of the Council’s 186 acre Edmund Strang Scout Reservation, was constructed with support from CFGNH’s Gates Fund. The annual “Scouting for Food” campaign, providing basic needs assistance for the indigent and the homeless, was sponsored this year by VCF.

The Housatonic Council has a keen respect for the basic rights of all people, and embraces VCF’s goal of working with all local charities and non-profits to make the Valley a better place to live and work. It is for this reason the Council transferred our Endowment Fund from The National BSA to the Valley Community Foundation.

With the support of VCF, the people of the Valley, and our Scouting alumni, we trust that our endowment will grow so that we can increase funding for Eagle Scout Scholarships, Summer Camp Camperships for disadvantaged boys, and for continued improvement of the Ed Strang Scout Reservation.

Say the name "Jones" in the Valley, and there is an immediate, positive reaction.  The Jones Family has been a special part of local history for more than 160 years, when Terry Jones' Great-Great-Grandfather immigrated to Shelton.  His motto be good to the land, and the land will be good to you, has remained strong for seven generations of his family.  And the New England tradition to leave the woodpile a little higher than we found it is what led Terry and Jean Jones to create The Jones Family Farms Fund, a donor advised fund, with VCF.

“Our family giving occurs across several generations, and we wanted to put it under one umbrella,” said Terry Jones. “We each support charities and causes that we are passionate about. Having this come together and be managed in the Valley really helped us decide to coalesce and focus our  giving efforts.”

“We love the Valley,” said Terry. “There is such a sense of community here – the power and ethic of volunteering, of philanthropy, of the rich experiences of our schools, ethnic groups, and way of life. There is such a diverse population, many of whom lived through the ’55 flood, the BF Goodrich fire, and who have not only recovered, but have bounced back even stronger than ever before.”

There are four generations of the Jones Family (all born in Griffin Hospital) currently living on the Shelton family homestead. “We’ve had enormous joy in having our family stay on the land,” said Terry. “There are many of us in different stages of life living together – which is an increasingly rare and wonderful experience for us all.”

From early on, Terry Jones learned how important it was to give back to his community. “My grandmother single-handedly established a night school in the White Hills Civic Center, and helped tutor immigrant families to improve their English. She saw the need, stepped in, and served.” Terry’s father Philip was also actively involved in Shelton, especially as a member of the Plumb Library Board. Each generation of the Jones Family has brought the tradition of community involvement down to the next.

For the Jones Family, VCF embodies the rich sense of community and diversity which has ties reaching far beyond the Valley. “When we heard that VCF had been created, we first thought that our giving might be limited to local organizations. What truly sold us was that creating a Donor Advised Fund would allow us to direct our giving wherever it was needed. We felt this was a splendid opportunity, based upon the wonderful VCF leadership and Board members, both past and present. After talking this over, we believed it was the right fit at the right time for us. My father, who has a great sense of history, was excited because he had known the Gates brothers, whose Gates Fund has been a large part of the success of both VCF and the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. For my father, having us join VCF was like coming full circle.”

“As farmers, we live by the philosophy that money is like cow manure – it must be spread around to do the most good. For us, that means working with VCF to create a multi-generational funding mechanism to focus on the wide range of groups, organizations, and causes that we are most passionate about.”

This Fund was established by Paul Kondrath in memory of his wife to support scholarships at Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall. Patricia Kondrath thought education was important, so much so that she instilled her strong desire for learning and knowledge with her family. Her husband, Paul, decided to honor her memor y by establishing an endowed fund to provide scholarships to students attending The Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall in Milford. “Our attorney, Alan Tyma, suggested utilizing the Valley Community Foundation as a flexible way to simplify the process of the donations we received. My wife attended school at Lauralton, felt that she had received an excellent education, and always supported them,” said Mr. Kondrath. “She probably wouldn’t have liked all
this attention—she liked to do things in a very low-key way,” he said. “I just wanted to do this to carry on what she had already been doing
throughout her life.”

The Fund gives preference to students who are f reshmen, sophomores, and juniors, and participate in sports including Trish’s favorites: tennis, swimming or softball and music programs. Candidate suggestions are made to the Board of the Foundation by the Administration and Guidance departments of Lauralton Hall.

“My wife grew up in Derby and Shelton, we then married, and moved to Stratford,” said Mr. Kon- drath. “Our two sons grew up here and went to colleges in New England. Matthew married Kelly in 2002 and lives in Florida with our two grandchildren, Amanda and Benjamin. Chris lives in oregon with his two bassett hounds, Newman & Buford. This is our way of continu- ing her tradition of helping those in need, as weas remembering her connection to the Valley.”

Paul Konwerski’s life was all about people and education. He was one of the first laymen in the country to receive a Master’s in Religious Education from Fairfield university, and taught Social Studies at Shelton High School for 37 years, serving as chair of the Social Studies department until his retirement in 2000. He was a member of the Connecticut and National Education Associations as well as the Shelton Education Association where he was a member of the Ethics, Publicity, and Teacher of the Year Committees. He touched so many lives throughout his career that when numerous gifts were received in his memory upon his passing in 2007 it was only fitting that his family chose to establish a family fund in his honor.

“Through his life and work, our dad inspired a commitment to service and social justice—whether that was to school, church, family, or the environment. The way he lived his life and the lessons he taught live on in his students, friends, and family,” said son Peter Konwerski. Older son, Paul Konwerski agreed. “Growing up in and around the Valley, I couldn’t go anywhere without someone who knew my father: the insurance agent, mortgage broker, bankers, even the police. They would all tell me he was a great man who was very fair. Everyone dreams of helping the community but only a few do. By setting up this Fund, we wanted to carry on the lessons learned f rom both our parents in helping and caring for people and your community.”

It is clear that the children of Paul Konwerski learned many lessons about philanthopy and community from both their parents. “I’m abundantly proud of my children for their decision to set up the Paul J. Konwerski Family Fund in memory of their father,” said Paul’s wife of 38 years, Gloria Van delft Konwerski. “Paul and I often spoke with great respect of the people who made financial contributions to the needs and children of the Naugatuck Valley. Our wish was to be able to offer a similar legacy one day. Their father would be thrilled!”

Grants from the Paul J. and Gloria Konwerski Family Fund will be made with recommendations from the family for a variety of programs and organizations in the Valley, including education. “Dad’s reputation opened many doors and conversations in the Valley,” said daughter Amy Konwerski. “We hope that his lively spirit can continue to spread to the next generation.” “Our dad spent nearly his whole life living or working in the Valley,” added daughter Julie Mauri. “As a family, we created this Fund so his generosity, compassion, and commitment to community and caring can continue long into the future.”

John Lauretti was a quintessential representative of America’s Greatest Generation – dedicated to its ideals of duty, honor, country, and family. A survivor of Iwo Jima, one of WorldWar II’s most intense and fierce battles, John returned from the war, and, like many other veterans of his time, pulled himself up by his bootstraps, and went to work. He landed a job at Hull Dye in Derby, and it was there that he met his future wife, Margaret Savignano. Together they built a life in Derby, raised a family, and eventually moved to Shelton in the early 1960’s.

When John tragically died in 2000, the family received an outpouring of support and generous donations from friends and family throughout region. Those funds sat in an escrow account, while the family considered how best to use them to honor his memory. Late last year, at the suggestion of Shelton Attorney John Welch, the Laurettis met with former VCF Board Chairman Jim Ryan and VCF President Jamie Cohen, to discuss options, which led to the creation of the John Lauretti Memorial Family Fund with VCF.

“VCF was a nice fit for us,” said son Mark Lauretti. “We had a great level of comfort knowing many of the Board Members and their ties to the Valley,” said Mark. “Who knows the needs of this area better than those who live and work here? They are genuine – their hearts are deeply committed to Valley residents and causes. We knew that our Dad’s Fund would be in good hands with them.”

The John Lauretti Memorial Family Fund is a Donor Advised Fund, which will focus on such issues as scholarships, including assistance for students considering military service. In addition, they would like to assist veterans returning from the military with post-traumatic stress disorder. “Our Dad never really talked about the war,” said daughter Allegra Fitzgerald, “so we can only imagine what he must have gone through. This Fund will be able to help young people going into the military, as well as those coming back and processing their own difficult experiences.”

The family is still working out the details, but has agreed that the Fund will serve to honor John Lauretti – how he lived his life, and how committed he was to those he loved.

“Our dad was like the sun coming up every day,” said Mark Lauretti. “He was steady, predictable, and dependable - someone you could always count on.” Allegra agreed. “He was the bread winner in our family, working 10-hour days, while our Mom stayed home with us,” she said. “But he was totally involved in every aspect of our family life. No one worked on Sundays, and our extended family spent a tremendous amount of time together. Family meant everything to Dad. This Fund is an everlasting tribute to him, what he meant to us, and all that he stood for.”

This Fund was started and is being built by Board Member M. Elizabeth Kennard to honor her grandmothers, Mary L. Powers and Mary J. Kennard; and her mother, Mary P. Kennard, all teachers who understood the value of education and promoted it professionally and personally.

Two of the “Marys” for which the Mary Fund was named were widowed at a young age and forced in the 1900s to raise their children alone on their teaching salaries. “Where would they have been without their educations?” asks Liz Kennard, granddaughter of Mary l. Powers and Mary J. Kennard, who, unlike so many women of their time, were educated. “That was in the late 1800s-early 1900’s when most women did not have the same opportunity,” says Liz, who established the Mary Fund in 2004 to honor her grandmothers and her own mother, Mary P. Kennard, all teachers who understood and valued education. “ They promoted it personally and pro- fessionally,” says Liz, herself a Mary—Mary Elizabeth—who initially followed their lead intoteaching before changing careers. “ They were teachers to us (grandchildren) too, explaining things, reading and setting standards.”

The Fund makes grants with a preference for helping women in the Valley or the greater New Haven area to pursue their educations. “My mother and grandmothers always valued education as a way to grow, and this Fund will help others to do that,” says Liz, pointing out that each woman was able to meet the challenges of raising children and working full time. And each believed in the importance of always continuing to educate oneself. “Education is not necessarily a ticket to a job. It is an end in itself.”

Bill Nimons has served as Senior Vice President of the Naugatuck Valley Savings Bank and Loan (NVSL) for the past seven years, after enjoying a rewarding community banking career with the former Shelton Savings Bank prior to its merger with Webster Bank. He left banking for five years but came back to a profession that "fits him well," and has been great for the communities the NVSL serves. He and his wife Elaine have lived in the valley their entire lives: lived here, raised their family in Ansonia, and know what a special place it is.
Mr. Nimons has watched many well-intentioned individuals and organizations come and go throughout his banking career, and knows a good thing when he sees it. That ’s why, when he and Elaine decided to create their own Fund to support the operations of the Lower Naugatuck Valley Boys and Girls Club’s Ansonia Project, they chose the Valley Community Foundation to help them accomplish this goal.“At this point, the Valley Community Foundation has passed the ‘Succeed Test,’” said Mr. Nimons. “I’ve watched VCF grow for the past several years, and am confident that it will continue to succeed in the future. I know its Board and staff well, and am pleased to be working with them on this most worthwhile project.”

It is the Nimons’ intention to grow this Fund with annual contributions, which will be used to help with the daily operations of the Ansonia Project. “I’ve lived here all my life,” said Mr. Nimons. “Establishing this Fund will help the Boys and Girls Club provide Ansonia children and their families with safe, affordable, and high quality after school care. It will also open an additional 35 preschool slots through the Club’s partnership with the Valley YMCA. The Valley Community Foundation and the Ansonia Project are two tremendous initiatives bound together and destined for success – truly a win-win for all involved.” j

This Fund was established by the children of Ann O’Neil to memorialize their mother and supports an award to a student of Ansonia High School who most embodies the qualities of high moral character.

Ann O’Neil always placed a high value on integrity. She raised her five children to the highest standard of honesty, hard work, and determination. Mrs. o’Neil herself was one of thirteen children who left school in the ninth grade to help support her family. A very bright and well-read woman, Mrs. o’Neil always valued the importance of education and saw to it that her own children graduated high school and have each become lifelong learners. When Mrs. O’Neil passed away several years ago, her family chose to honor her memory by establishing the ‘Ann O’Neil Memorial for integrity’ Award.

“We wanted to remember our mother in a very special way,” said daughter Barbara Clifford. “ We felt it was essential for us to recognize a student for his/her best efforts—not necessarily for being at the top of the class. We also wanted to acknowl-
edge someone who was respected by his/her peers as well as faculty. These are the kinds of people our mother valued, and we wanted to focus on qualities that were important to her.”

The Fund was originally housed at the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, but has now been transferred to the Valley Community Foundation. “it just made sense to us to have the money closer to home,” said Mrs. Clifford. “ We contacted the Foundation once we knew the Valley Community Foundation had been formed, and they were extremely helpful in bringing this money back into the Valley to help us achieve our goals.” The Award is given to an Ansonia High School graduating senior who exhibits high integrity in his/her personal life, and is pursuing further education and/or training, or entering military ser vice.

The Board of the Oak Cliff Cemetery Association transferred their endowment to the Foundation for investment management to care for, and grow, its funds.

The Oak Cliff Cemetery Association oversees three properties of historic significance to the Valley, including the Elm Street Cemetery in Ansonia and the Olde Uptown Burying Ground in Derby, one of the earliest town cemeteries in the country. The Oak Cliff Cemetery was established when the Borough of Birmingham section of Derby was laid out around 1835 and came into general use around 1846. The Olde Uptown Burying Ground was set aside by the Town of Derby as a town cemetery shortly after Derby became a separate town in 1675. The Elm Street Cemetery surrounded the first Anglican Episcopal Church in Derby, which was founded in 1737. Edward Wooster, the first permanent settler in Derby, and several members of the Wooster family are buried in the Olde Uptown Burying Ground.

Their stories, as well as those of so many other founding families of Derby will be preserved and shared with future generations through the maintenance of these historic sites. The Association’s Board of directors wanted to have a strong local partner to help them ensure the cemeteries are taken care of now and forever, and transferred their endowment to the Valley Community Foundation.

“The Oak Cliff Cemetery Association has a tremendous responsibility to carefully oversee the funds from families of departed relatives buried in our cemeteries in order to provide perpetual care and upkeep of our buildings and grounds,” said Association director Merritt Clark. “The Oak Cliff Cemetery Board felt that the Valley Community Foundation offered an ideal location for our invested funds because of their tremendous commitment to the Valley area, which is served by the Cemetery Association,” continued Mr. Clark. “The VCF’s association with the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, with its long standing record of investment performance and administrative service provides us with a unique opportunity to have our funds managed locally by an organization we can truly depend on.”

The Pagliaro family established this Fund with the many gifts given in memory of Joseph A. Pagliaro, Sr. who was the Founding Board Chair of the Valley Community Foundation. It supports various community projects and organizations as recommended to the Board by an advisory committee. “He’d sit back, learn and then he’d step up to be Chairman.” That was Joseph A. Pagliaro Sr., the man people said was the embodiment of the spirit of community service. And the man who became the Founding Chairman of the Valley Community Foundation. “He was never satisfied just being a member of anything,” chuckles his son Joseph who now runs the family business, Riverview Funeral Home in Shelton, and tries to keep up with his late father’s considerable volunteer and community service activities. “He wanted to see things go a certain way, so he’d become the president or the chairman, the ‘in-charge’ position.” And from that vantage, he was able to accomplish an incredible amount in the Valley and beyond where he seemed to be everywhere, know everyone and volunteer in myriad arenas.
For 28 years, he supported the Boys and Girls Club of the lower Naugatuck Valley as a Board Member, former Chairman and Past President. He served on his hometown Shelton’s Planning and Zoning commission for 20 years, both as Member and Chairman. He was the former Chairman of the Valley united Way, the Bowlathon for the Birmingham Group, the American Heart Association Walkathon and Board Member of the Griffin Hospital, Valley united Way, Birmingham Group and Parent Child Resource Center. And the list goes on.

“He was a whirlwind, a man of action,” says his widow Ellen, of the man she married only a year before his tragic death in June 2004. “He was an incredible man, devoted to family and community, and constantly looking out for the betterment of other people.”

Established by Dorothy Palazzi, this donor advised fund honors Miss Palazzi’s parents, Ildebrando and Guerina Palazzi; and her sisters, Derva A. Palazzi and Norma Palazzi Pepe. When Ildebrando Palazzi arrived in the United States from Italy in 1911 at age 21, he came with only a few years of grammar school education. But Ildebrando, one of a large Italian family and the only one of his family to come to the United States, made his way in this foreign land. He worked hard as a stone mason and met and married Guerina Bassi who had come to America with her family in 1916. They settled in Derby and raised three daughters.
“My parents were very hardworking people,” says Dorothy Palazzi of her parents who learned English here by reading the newspapers and listening to the radio.
“They encouraged reading and wanted so badly for us to do well. Education was very important to them.” Dorothy and her sisters always recalled the excitement and pride when her parents attained u.S. citizenship. “ To them, America was truly the ‘land of opportunity,’” she says.

With that in mind, in december 2004, Dorothy established the Palazzi Family Fund at $10,000, an endowment fund earmarked for education purposes. It honors her parents and two sisters, Derva and Norma, who have passed away. “Ithink that if my parents were living, they would have been thrilled to see that I did something to honor the family name,” says Dorothy, who is
watching the fund grow slowly but surely. “Someday big things will happen with it. Hopefully we’ ll end up with something great.”

The Palazzi Family Fund is a donor advised fund that will make grants for charitable purposes, with a preference for helping Valley students pursue their educations. Grants will be given to assist with tuition, books, tools and other supplies needed in furthering education for these students.
dents.

There are times when amazing things can come out of great tragedy. Indeed, that was exactly the case with the creation of the Parent Child Resource Center (PCRC) Endowment Fund at the Valley Community Foundation.

Shortly after the passing of her husband Jim, Laura Mutrie, PCRC’s Clinical Director, received the proceeds from Jim’s life insurance policies. This provided her with a unique opportunity to support PCRC in an even more significant way than she had in the past. Laura approached her colleagues, Executive Director Michael Wynne and Development Director Maureen Peters, with her intention to provide $10,000 from the insurance proceeds to start an Endowment Fund for PCRC.

The three met with VCF’s President Jamie Cohen to discuss how it could be established, and the next steps needed to be taken. Laura requested that the Fund Agreement include provisions for several specific purposes, with remaining distributions to go as directed by the PCRC Board.

“This is not about me or my husband,” Laura said. “It is about the long term health of this Agency. I wanted to set aside funds for a meaningful staff recognition Humanitarian Award, which will be nominated by and voted on by staff. It was also important for me to make sure that there would be income designated to replenish toys and therapeutic games for our young clients, and for worthwhile staff development programs. After that, it’s for the Board and Michael to decide what’s best to do for PCRC.”

Mike Wynne acknowledged the sense of pride he had in what Laura had accomplished. “Having an Endowment is no longer just a dream somewhere on the horizon,” he said. “This was in our development plan – but certainly not within the first year. To have this Fund created now is truly amazing, and provides us with a solid basis to attract additional support in the coming years.”

Maureen Peters agreed. “This was such a selfless and special thing for Laura to do,”Maureen said. “Income from the Fund will support some of things that are the hardest for us to do – things that the agency needs, yet is challenged to find support for. What is truly great is that Laura has done it, an Endowment has been created, and now we can concentrate on growing the Fund over time. It’s truly a win-win for all involved.”

All three agreed about why VCF was selected to hold the endowment. “In a short period of time, VCF has emerged as a place of trust and involvement in this community,” saidMichael. “We know their Board so well – there are such strong roots with all of them here in the Valley. They are truly committed to making this community a better place.” Maureen concurred. “We could never get this same level of return on our investment,” she said. “Their experts are amazing.” Laura agreed. “My husband Jim was my biggest ally, and he would have supported the creation of this Endowment wholeheartedly. We are so lucky to have VCF in the Valley, to ensure that this Endowment will grow and be put to good to use at PCRC.”

Founding Board Member Mary l. Pepe established this donor advised fund to honor her family; father, Anthony M. Pepe; mother, Norma P. Pepe; and brother, William A. Pepe, and their contributions to the Valley community.

Family, heritage and community have always been important to the Pepe family. Like many in the “greatest generation,” Anthony and Norma Palazzi Pepe were second generation Italian Americans. Born and raised in Derby, they were children of the Great depression, graduates of Derby High School, a veteran and a young woman of World War II, and parents of baby boomers. As such, they instilled in their children, William and Mary, the value of education, the arts and the importance of doing for others. They did all this by their example. With this legacy in mind, their daughter Mary established the donor advised Pepe Family Fund with an initial contribution of $10,000. The Fund is in honor of her mother, brother, and father, who have all since passed away. Establishing the Fund was a way for Mary to immortalize her family while at the same time continuing their tradition of community support. As she expresses it: “ This Fund ensures that the support our family has provided for all of our lives—for those things in which we most believe and we most value—will continue long after we're gone. There is no greater gift. And so the Valley Community Foundation has the potential to have a significant and continuing impact in the region,” says Mary, adding, “Creating this Foundation is probably the single most important thing we have ever done and we can ever do for our community.”

As a participating organization in the Foundation’s Endowment Challenge Program, this is a designated fund to benefit the Planetree, Inc., a subsidiary of Griffin Health Services and gifts were matched by the Foundation.

Established with gifts at the time of Sam Rifkin’s death in 2001, Founding Board Member David Rifkin, Sam’s son, added to the donor advised fund and requested its transfer to the new Foundation. David Rifkin speaking about his father, Sam, “If you believe in it, you need to contribute to it.”


Those are the words of Dave Rifkin, who, like his late father Sam, believes in the Valley. And so, like his father, he contributes. Not just his time and his energy to high-powered volunteer activities on the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce or the Valley united Way, but by establishing an endowed fund that will give back to the community for years to come. “My father and mother were very involved in giving back to the community and supporting philanthropic causes,” says Dave, who in 2000, following his father’s death, approached the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven to set up the Sam Rifkin Memorial Fund in honor of his father. Later, in 2005, he transferred the endowed fund to the newly formed Valley Community Foundation. “Being involved and giving back was his legacy,” says Dave, speaking of the man who was a charter member of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Community Chest before it became the Valley United Way; the man who in the 1960s formed a father’s club at Dave’s high school to raise funds for the athletics department. It was the beginning of what has become a fundraising powerhouse. “It started with just my dad and a few other interested parents,” says Dave, remarking how his father was always involved in multiple activities, both professionally and personally. “If he saw there was need, he’d try to find a way to solve it. ” The Fund has been set up to first support renovation of the Sterling Opera House in derby—a place his father once worked—if that project gets underway. It will also contribute to other Valley charitable organizations as decided by Dave and his family.

When Herb Rollinson was growing up during the Great Depression, times for his family, as for most others in the Valley, were not easy.  One of the bright spots he had was attending the Boy Scouts’ summer camp on the Housatonic – funded by a scholarship donated by a local service organization.  Having that opportunity made a lasting impression on Herb, and started him on a lifelong path of assisting others, especially children and youth.

That’s why after his passing in the spring of 2008, his family chose to honor him by establishing the Herb Rollinson Fund at VCF, a Donor Advised Fund, established to give young people opportunities that they might not otherwise have had, including a chance to attend a summer camp, as Herb did.

“My Dad was involved from a very young age with the local Boy Scouts, and later on with the Derby-Shelton Boys Club.  Everything he did – work, family events – revolved around Shelton and the Valley.  It made sense to keep the Fund local and, to provide help where the Valley’s needs are greatest,” said Herb’s daughter, Linda Vincent.  “Had he been more mobile  during the last year of his life, it was something he would have done himself.  We were only honoring his intentions.”

Herb’s dear friend and VCF Board Member Dave Grant helped the family  establish the Fund.  “Dave has been terrific,” said Linda.  “Not only did he work with us to create the Fund, but he also started the annual Herb Rollinson Memorial Walk, which helps to support the Valley Boys and Girls Club.  It’s been a win-win for all involved.”

Herb Rollinson was an admired and well respected member of the Valley community.  “When my dad passed away at the age of 93, he was still living on the street where he was born!” said Linda.   “Not many people can say that these days. His loyalty and pride in his hometown was amazing. When he made a commitment to you he always kept it. He would call me at the exact time every week – Sundays at 9:30. He did the same with my daughter when she started college. You could set your clock by my Dad’s phone calls!”

Herb’s granddaughter, Danielle Sidebottom, had this to add about her grandfather.  “Since I was a girl, my Grandpa told me wonderful stories of his life in Shelton -  from living through the Great Depression, his gardening, and then, in his later years, about all of his friends that would stop and say ‘Hello’ as he sat outside on a bright sunny day.  This Fund will bring my Grandpa's stories to life to benefit the area he loved. And for that, I am grateful.”

Herb Rollinson’s timeless devotion to his family, his beloved Valley, and its young people will continue to live on through the good works that will now be done by the Herb Rollinson Fund at the Valley Community Foundation.

George and Beatrice Ryan established this Fund to provide scholarships for higher education to students graduating from secondary schools in the region serviced by the Valley Community Foundation.

When he left the service after World War II, George Ryan had a decision to make: what should he do with the rest of his life? With aid from the Gi bill, the Shelton resident jumped with both feet into the automotive industry he had come to love as a kid while pumping gas at his uncle’s gas station. Years later, this man is still passionate about the career that has taken him from the gas pumps to running the successful Curtiss-Ryan Honda car dealership. And now he’s eager to share his passion and extend a helping hand to others who enter the field. “I always thought i should give back to the community,” says Ryan, who has been active on various community boards, including the Shelton Economic Development Corporation and the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce. “It supports me. I think I should support it.” Ryan chose to do that in 2004 by establishing with the Valley Community Foundation, the George J. Ryan Scholarship Fund. it will be used to provide scholarships to students active in the Boys and Girls Club who are planning to study automotive administration, sales or technology. “ This business has evolved into a very high-tech industry today and needs qualified people,” says Ryan who has requested of family and friends that they donate to the endowed fund in lieu of gifts for him, or if they are looking for a charity to support. “I’m hoping that this scholarship fund will serve as an inducement to boys and girls to consider going on to further their training and education and enter thisfield where there is tremendous opportunity.”

Founding Board member James E. Ryan started and is building this Fund to provide scholarships for girls from Assumption School in Ansonia to attend Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden.

At 18, Megan Ryan of Ansonia was already serving her first year as a corporator at the Valley United Way. As such, she attended the nonprofit’s 2006 annual meeting and played a role in electing the new board of directors. Her younger sister, Katey, eagerly followed in her sister’s footsteps. As far as their dad, Jimmy Ryan is concerned, this is the way it should be. “ We have to pass the torch and get our young people involved,” says Ryan, a community leader who is serving as Chairman of the Valley Community Foundation. “Leadership development is a priority in the Valley.” To help drive the process, Ryan has started at home. in 2005, he established the Maureen, Megan & Katey Ryan Fund, an endowed fund to provide scholarships based on financial need and academic merit to girls from Assumption School in Ansonia to attend Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden where his daughters are currently enrolled, and from where his wife, Maureen, also graduated. “I wanted to get my family involved in philanthropy, particularly my children, as my wife is already very involved,” says Ryan, explaining why he set up the Fund that is named for his wife and daughters. “I think it (philanthropy) is part of our social responsibility and that this Fund will serve as a good example for them to see how it works.” Ryan, who himself has been active in the Valley United Way, the Boys and Girls Club of the lower Naugatuck Valley, the Birmingham Mental Health Center, the Housatonic Council, Boy Scouts of America, and the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, among others, is excited about the future of philanthropy in the Valley. “I've become convinced over the last few years that there are many opportunities to increase philanthropy in the Valley,” he says. “I believe the Valley Community Foundation is a way to do that, and that it will help  our communities.”

Norman Santa started working for his dad’s oil business when he was just eight years old. By the time he was in high school, he was working part time delivering oil as soon as school let out. After serving in the Marines from 1952 to 1954, he returned home and went back to the oil business, where he worked until his retirement in 2004.

“I came from a family of four brothers and one sister,” said Mr. Santa. “ We all worked together with my mom and dad, and the business just grew. We originally lived in Stratford, and then moved to Huntington in 1956, and have made the Valley our home ever since.” Mr. Santa knows what it is like not to attend college and that there are many students of all ages throughout the Valley who would like to improve themselves. That’s why he and his wife Janet have established the Norman K. and Janet Santa Fund with the Valley Community Foundation.

“There is a great need for skilled workers today,” said Mr. Santa. “Electricians, plumbers, people who work with their hands. This Fund is geared to helping them to achieve their goals.” Mr. Santa has a deep commitment to the Valley, having been active in the Boys and Girls Club of the lower Naugatuck Valley, the Housatonic Council Boy Scouts, the Shelton VFW and American legion, the Shelton inland Wetlands Commission, the Shelton Tax Review Board and the Shelton Economic development Commis- sion. Mr. Santa also ser ved as the former president of H. B. Brownson Countr y Club and was an Alderman for the City of Shelton. “I’m pleased to be working with the Valley Community Foundation because it has such tremendous potential,” he said. “ The Valley is a great and very positive community. I'm glad to be able to help those who are pursuing non-traditional options to keep it growing stronger now and in the future."

Anthony ("Sonny") Savignano devoted his entire adult life to Shelton Public Education.  Beginning his career as a math teacher, he became the youngest SHS Boys Basketball Coach, later serving as a Housemaster and then Headmaster at Shelton High School, and concluded his career in the central office as The Director of Operations.  When he retired in 2004, his work had spanned 47 years, and was filled with stories of helping to get troubled youngsters back on the right track, and saving the city thousands of dollars with his tenacious service on several school building committees.  Upon his passing in 2009, his wife and children could think of no better way to honor his memory than to establish The Anthony Savignano Memorial Fund with VCF.

“When Tony retired, the Shelton Schools staff had collected a significant amount of money, and planned on sending him on a very nice trip,” said his  wife, Carol Savignano. “He wouldn’t hear of it. He said, ‘I’m giving it back to the kids,’ and he created a scholarship. We know that this is what he would  have wanted us to do now – to establish a Fund for the High School and the kids.”

Anthony Savignano was Valley born and raised – and it was always Shelton that held his heart. He felt that it was important to be with people who  cared about you, and would be there for you, no matter what. His commitment was evident in all that he did. “He always did what was right for the school system, the staff, and his students – and was never motivated by any personal agenda,” said Carol.

Sonny’s daughter, Susan Pineau, recalled, “As a child who went through the Shelton School system, I was able to see my father’s impact on the advancement of generations of students. Nothing was more revealing of his influence than the sentiments I received fromsomany former students on his passing. Their comments ranged from ‘If your Dad hadn’t kicked my butt in High School, I would have ended up in jail,” to ‘Your Dad got me interested inmath (or sports or computers, etc.) and helpedme get into college when I didn’t think I could do it.’By establishing this Fund in his name, we can insure that his legacy  will continue.”

Daughter Jodi Savignano agreed. “He had a great smile and a real presence, but also had a silly side, too. I can remember walking in the halls of SHS and seeing him skip and laugh, sometimes even singing! My friends always commented on what a fun guy hewas, especially for a high school principal. As a father, he led by example. He taught us character, integrity, and the value of hard work.”

The Fund documents provide that grants, awards and/or scholarships may
be made from the Fund “to assist the students of Shelton High School...to whom Sonny Savignano was completely devoted.” While the family will determine just how they will do that, it is likely that distributions will not be limited to scholarships. “Whatever we decide will be about what is best for the students of Shelton,” said Carol. “We want them to think of him as we do – a generous and caring man who wanted the best for them and for their future.”

This Fund was established by Dorothy E. and Kenneth E. Schaible for general charitable purposes as decided by the Board of directors of the Foundation.

As a participating organization in the Foundation’s Endowment Challenge Program, this Fund is a designated fund to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of the lower Naugatuck Valley and gifts were matched by the Foundation.  Ken and Dotty Schaible know first hand the value of a community foundation. After serving seven years on the Board of directors for the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Ken was one of the Founding Board Members of the Valley Community Foundation. 

“I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the dramatic effect a community foundation can have on the communities it serves,” said Mr. Schaible.  “Community foundations are flexible vehicles for donors and their families to leave lasting legacies to their communities for current needs and opportunities and for those unforeseen in the future. These Foundations provide increased funding opportunities for working non-profits and scholarship programs, helping donors identify needs and dedicate Funds to support their own philanthropic interests. The Valley has a rich tradition of philanthropy—the Frank and Ross Gates Fund at the Community Foundation, the Katherine Matthies Foundation, and the legacy of Katherine Osborne Kellogg. The Valley is fortunate to have access to these resources. Creating a Fund at the Valley Community Foundation is all about building on that tradition and growing that pie—to help ensure the future of the Valley for generations to come.” 

Ken and Dotty have established three Funds.  The Dorothy E. and Kenneth E. Schaible Community Fund was created as a flexible Fund that will address the most important needs and opportunities now and in the future. Through the Dorothy E. and Kenneth E. Schaible Donor Advised Fund, Ken and Dotty will make recommendations to the Foundation Board about grants to a variety of worthy organizations. The Dorothy E. and Kenneth E. Schaible Fund for the Boys and Girls Club of the lower Naugatuck Valley Community was established as a part of the Foundation’s Endowment Challenge Program. Grants from the Fund will be made to the Boys and Girls Club, an organization that the Schaibles hold dear. 

“When you establish a Fund, you’re not giving to the foundation, but giving through it, back to the community,” said Mr. Schaible. “There are so many choices for giving—there is something for everyone.  Your name doesn’t have to be “Rockefeller” or “Ford”—everyone can participate in making the Valley an even stronger and better place to live. it’s all about creating a lasting legacy that will truly make a difference throughout the  coming years. ”Community foundations are flexible vehicles for donors and their families to leave lasting legacies.” 

This Fund was established by Dorothy E. and Kenneth E. Schaible as a donor advised fund to support their various community activities and as a means to involve their children in philanthropy.

For 35 years, Mary A. Achmecker was a permanent fixture at The Boys and Girls Club of The Lower Naugatuck Valley.  She managed to weave life lessons into her ceramics classes, teaching her students that they could be creative, not destructive.  And that, if they tried hard enough, they could make a career out of their creativity.  She provided her students with structure and more than just a place to paint something.  The children learned to respect her and the ceramics room, as she listened to the, and laughed with them.

Mary always collected turtles – turtle pins, pendants, turtles of all different shapes and sizes. For her, they were a symbol of maternity and longevity.  After her passing in 2008, when her family chose to honor Mary’s life, they did so by creating the Mary A. Schmecker Turtle Shell Fund at the Valley Community Foundation, to remind all who knew Mary that she was still here, casting her protective turtle shell over those who needed it the most.

“She wasn’t just my Grandmother, she was everyone’s Gram,” said granddaughter Michele Bialek. “Everyone came to those classes to see their Grandmother – that’s how she treated them. She gave them a place to  come and to be. She did it her whole life – and she said it kept her young.”

Born and raised in the Valley, Mary traveled all over the world, and Michele was fortunate enough to go with her to Ireland twice. No matter how  far Mary went, she always came back home to be with her friends and family.  “She gave of herself – her time, her wisdom,” said Michele. “We initially  thought of starting our own foundation, but when she passed away, VCF Board Member Dave Grant talked to our family about different options, about how we could work with VCF and honor my Grandmother’s memory by starting a Fund. We liked the idea of being able to work with a stable and permanent Valley organization. The more we talked to VCF, the more we realized that this was the place for us to accomplish our goals.”

The Mary A. Schmecker Turtle Shell Fund will help those who are interested in learning how to make a career out of the arts. The Fund will also be used  to support art classes at the Boys and Girls Club, just as Mary herself had done for all those years. “It’s important for people to know that they can choose paths in their lives that include creativity and the arts,” said Michele.  “It doesn’t have to be just about academics or athletics – it can truly be something else. My Grandmother devoted her entire life to letting kids know that they could make another choice. By creating this Fund, her message will continue to live on for those who want to take that different path and find their true creative calling.”

The teaching profession has been immortalized by the phrase, “To teach is to touch a life forever.” For former Shelton High School teacher Lou Schmecker, truer words were never spoken. Lou was born and bred in Shelton, attending local public schools and graduating from Shelton High School in 1965. It was in his senior year that he met his future wife and partner, Charlotte, with whom he celebrated 41 years of life and love together. Their two children, Daniel and Jillian, grew up knowing how important education and doing one’s best were to both parents.

Lou was a firm believer in continuing education, so that years after receiving his
Associate’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, he changed career paths and went
back to college, receiving aBachelor’s degree in teaching, followed by Master’s and 6th year Degrees in Education. He taught in the Shelton school system for 30 years, beginning in Industrial Arts, and concluding with Physics at the high school. It was there that his passion for Robotics was sparked and his name became synonymous with every local mention of the word. Lou was a founder of the Shelton High School Robotics Team, and one of his main objectives was for everyone to recognize the merits and importance it would serve in today’s ever-changing
technological world.

When Lou passed away suddenly, his family chose to honor him by continuing to support this endeavor. They established the Louis Schmecker, Jr. Memorial Fund with the Valley Community Foundation to ensure that Lou’s passion for Robotics will live on for years to come. His children are both extremely proud of Lou’s legacy. Daniel remembers, "Dad was the greatest man I've ever known - a thinker, a doer, a designer, an explorer, a true artist, a dreamer, a loving friend, father and husband. His teaching and mentoring were just two of the many great things he accomplished in his own life. He made a positive difference in many other lives.” Daughter Jillian followed in her Dad's footsteps and teaches special education in the Shelton school system. "Dad was my hero,” she said. “I could go to him with any problem, and through his guidance and love, I learned so much.”

When Lou retired in 2009, his Robotics team honored him and had this to say, “Mr. Schmecker was known for his 'hands on' and practical approach to complex subjects, such as physics and mechanical engineering, helping students to visualize, understand and solve problems which they faced.” The robots he and his team built together pivoted, telescoped, and reached for the skies. Under Lou’s leadership, the Shelton Robotics team won numerous awards at both the regional and national levels.

The most important thing to Lou was the process, and he loved and encouraged the journeys taken along theway to the finish. He truly embodied the tenets of the FIRST Robotics Program "Igniting Minds, Nurturing Passions and Practicing Gracious Professionalism.”And now, through the – Louis Schmecker, Jr.Memorial Fund, his legacy will forever continue to touch so very many other lives.

Donald and Lillian Smith were no strangers to hard work. Don was born and raised in Ansonia and Lillian in Seymour during the Great Depression. Don began his career at a young age selling rhubarb and Christmas decorations. He turned 16 on a Sunday, got his working papers, and began work at noon the next day. What learned from the very beginning was that the valley was a great place to do business. That’s why he turned to the valley community foundation to establish the Donald W. and Lillian C. Smith fund to lend a helping hand to others throughout this community.

“It’s always been about the Valley,” said Mr. Smith. “I’ve lived here my whole life. I was always treated fairly by anyone I worked for. People always knew what they were doing, and it was a super place to do business.” 

And do business they did. Lillian and Don were married in 1954 in Trinity Episcopal Church in Seymour, where they were both active members, and started Donald W. Smith Builder in the late 50’s. Don was the builder and developer, and Lillian was behind the scenes managing the books and the business. Their primary focus was home construction, including the purchase and development of several large parcels of land into new neighborhoods.  They also developed several pieces of commercial real estate. “I did the building and she took care of the bookkeeping and our family, doing a wonderful job with both,” said Mr. Smith. 

As their business grew, they received support and mentoring from many successful business leaders in the Valley. They were both long time supporters of the local Boys and Girls Club, recognizing it as an organization that provides support and guidance to Valley youth, similar to the guidance and mentoring they themselves received. 

 

They were also active throughout the community. For many years, Lillian served as the Treasurer of their Church, as well as Treasurer and Director of the Trinity Cemetery Association. Both were instrumental in founding Seymour’s Mountain Meadows Cemetery, and Don continues to serve as a Cemetery Director today. Don remains a Director of the Valley Boys and Girls Club, a 40+ year member of Rotary International, where he is a Paul Harris Fellow,  and also served as a Director of the former Shelton Savings Bank. He continues to be active by volunteering time at the VFW and as a member of the Board of Trustees of his retirement community in North Port, Florida.

 

He and his late wife, who passed away in 1995, raised two children – Don Smith Jr., a graduate of Emmett O’ Brien, who has a family and a civil engineering business in Seymour, and Janet, who graduated from Seymour High School, and is a marketing executive living with her husband in Lexington, Kentucky. “We started this Fund because the Valley was very good to us,” said Mr. Smith. “Hopefully our Fund will continue to help Valley people for years to come.”

The JAT Scholarship Committee transferred, and will advise this scholarship fund to provide scholarships to students graduating from Ansonia High School, preferably African-American, who excel academically, and are accepted into an accredited college or university. 

Whether he was instigating Biblical competitions from the pulpit, encouraging his  parishioners at the Macedonia Baptist Church to visit other churches to speak about what it was like to be a negro in the 1960s, or walking Valley main streets persuading merchants to hire African-Americans, the Reverend Dr. Julian A.Taylor always had his life’s mission in mind: to reach young African-Americans and encourage them to pursue their education and lifelong learning. “He pushed people to do what they thought they couldn’t, but what he believed they could,”says Lily Douglas, who with Dr.Taylor’s prodding, started college after age 30 and graduated shortly thereafter in 1957. “He was very persuasive and encouraging; very much interested in education and civil rights. He influenced so many. ”And that continues today thanks to the Julian A. Taylor Scholarship Fund, established in 1981 by many of his benefactors who were passionate about honoring the lifelong scholar, pastor of 42 years, community activist and civil rights leader who started an NAACP chapter in the 1940s. The Fund is designed to recognize African-American students in grades three through 11 as J.A.T scholars.  It also awards a $5,000 scholarship annually to a graduating African-American senior at Ansonia High School with the highest grade point average. “We know that by entrusting the fund to the Foundation, Dr.Taylor’s legacy will continue to motivate and aid young scholars in Ansonia, affecting our great grandchildren’s generation and beyond, ”says Evelyn Lindsey, Chairperson of the Fund Committee.

This Fund was established by Frank Saldamarco in celebration of his  wife, Dorothy’s, birthday and will support organizations in their hometown of Derby.

Dorothy Torbi Saldamarco always wanted to pay special tribute to her father, Lorenzo Torbi, an orphan raised by foster parents, and who immigrated from Italy to Derby at the age of 17. Mrs. Saldamarco’s husband Frank knew about his wife’s wish to insure the family name and legacy, and as a birthday present for his wife, surprised her with the gift of establishing the Torbi-Saldmarco Family Fund. The Torbis and Saldamarcos were longtime neighbors of the Pepe family, and knew about the Valley  Community Foundation from Founding Board Member Mary Pepe. “The Foundation was the perfect place for us to establish this Fund, which now preserves her family’s name since she is the last of the family line,” said Mr. Saldamarco. “What better way to celebrate her birthday than to make this dream become a reality for her?” Lifelong Derby residents, Mr. and Mrs. Saldamarco chose to use the Fund to support general charitable needs in the Valley, with a preference for Derby. "Our son has been a volunteer with the Storm Engine Ambulance Corp for nearly 30 years,” she said. “We are  members of St.Mary’s Church and everybody in our family graduated from Derby High School. We wanted to acknowledge the importance of these organizations to us and also wanted the Fund to be flexible to support many worthwhile organizations in the Valley to help them continue their great work. ”Perhaps the note announcing the Fund says it best: “Happy Birthday Dorothy Torbi Saldamarco. In honor of your birthday, a Fund in the Torbi family name has been established at the Valley Community Foundation. This Fund will not only commemorate your family, but continue to enrich the Valley communities for generations to come.”

Liquid Lunch serves up success

Couple win praise for soups, ‘sammiches’ and their commitment to the Valley 
Connecticut Post
By Makayla Silva, Correspondent

SHELTON — Chicken noodle, beef barley and roasted artichoke chicken gorgonzola?

These are some of the flavors customers are slurping up at Shelton’s very own Liquid Lunch.

Owned by Fred and Michele Bialek, the go-to location for soup has been open for nearly seven years in the Valley.

Fred Bialek, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, said his highly praised cream of mushroom soup he made one Thanksgiving helped him on his way to his very own soup restaurant soon to come.

“He would work all day cooking, and then he would come home and make soup. If you enjoy it, and you do it well, you might as well keep going with it,” Michele Bialek said.

Liquid Lunch, located on Howe Avenue and on Research Drive in Shelton and on Broad Street in Milford, offers six tradition­al soups each day, including tomato basil, French onion and split pea with ham.

In addition, there are always at least four soup-du-jours, such as curried coconut and chicken.

Fred said he often takes his inspiration from well-known dishes.

“We just made a buffalo chicken soup, or we’ve made chicken marsala soup,” he said.

For the past five years, Liquid Lunch has taken the “ best soup” category in Connecti­cut Magazine’s annual awards.

But what’s a soup without a sandwich, or a “sammich,” as the colorful chalkboards in the three eateries boast?

Michele Bialek said they created their menu after a few cross-country trips.

“We had done a lot of traveling together,” she said. “ We visited a lot of places and we would like the food that we tasted and had a lot of different ideas about what people would like.”

The Bialeks sell Great River potato chips and Foxon Park soda, both made in Con­necticut. They also invite local artists and musicians to display their work and perform on Saturday afternoons.

In addition to running three restau­rants and raising five children with one more on the way, the Bialeks are philan­thropists.

Engaging the greater Valley community in their efforts to bridge the gap between youth and art, the couple hosted Soup Stock, a day of art, music and soup, at Veteran’s Memorial Park in downtown Shelton last May. The event raised money to further art and music education for children and young adults.

Bill Purcell, president of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, said the Bialeks have been a great asset in the community.

“They are a dynamic couple. It’s just a great success in our Valley,” he said. “I’m a frequent visitor to see Michele and Fred. I don’t think anyone does it better.”

Seymour-Oxford Rotarian Joyce Barcley truly embraced the Rotary International Motto “Service Above Self” earlier this year when she created and seeded the Seymour-Oxford Rotary Club Fund at the Valley Community Foundation. Ms. Barcley directed the proceeds of a grant made in her honor for receiving the Valley Chamber’s 2009 Gold Seal Award to kick off the new Fund.

“I wanted to use this money to establish this Scholarship Fund and to ensure that it would continue in perpetuity,” said Ms. Barcley. “We have been providing scholarships for decades through our Rotary Club – but only through annual fundraising, so everything that came in has gone right back out. This Fund will provide our members and others in the community an opportunity to donate whatever they wish - $20 - $100 - $5,000 – which will establish a permanent Fund to support deserving Seymour and Oxford residents pursuing higher education.”

Every year, a Scholarship Committee oversees the Rotary Club’s scholarship competition. They advertise the program, and contact the local high schools. “Service Above Self” is the required topic for a 200-word essay, in which applicants must describe their interpretation of that motto, as well as their personal experiences in community service. The committee then reviews the submissions and selects the winner(s). It is the Seymour-Oxford Rotary Club’s goal to grow the endowment, which will establish a stable and dependable source for increasing the size and number of scholarships in coming years.

Ms. Barcley and her 16 fellow Rotarians chose to establish this Fund with VCF for a number of  reasons. “There is an excellent opportunity for fund growth with VCF,” said Ms. Barcley. “Though its association with the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, VCF has produced far superior investment results than we could ever do alone. VCF also allows us to specify the Fund's use.”

Ms. Barcley was also pleased with VCF’s overall work throughout the Valley Community. “It’s been so impressive, what Angela Powers started and Jamie Cohen is now continuing,” she said. “It truly has brought this community closer together, and provided additional vehicles for giving throughout the Valley.”

They often say that timing is everything. And in the case of the Seymour Public Schools, that is absolutely how their new Endowment Fund came to be.

Several years ago, the late Joseph Pagliaro Sr., the first Chairman of the VCF Board of Directors, met Seymour’s Assistant Superintendent Rick Belden for lunch to discuss the possibility of the Seymour Schools Scholarship Funds being managed and invested by VCF. Mr. Belden brought this information back to the Board of Education, who expressed interest, but focused on other issues at that time.

After Mr. Pagliaro’s passing, the concept of having a Seymour Schools Fund was put on the back burner – until it was recently resurrected by VCF Community Relations Officer Carla Supersano Sullivan. “We had a new Board, and were seeking out appropriate ways to manage our scholarships, which were in low-performing Certificates of Deposit,” said Mr. Belden. “Carla and VCF President Jamie Cohen came and presented several alternatives for us to review. What we liked best is that VCF is a local organization with professional expertise in investing – they could generate a much better rate of return than we were currently getting for our existing scholarships. It was a really good fit and made a lot of sense.”

The Seymour Board of Education will create an Advisory Committee, whose role will be to oversee all disbursements from the Fund. Seymour High School staff will assist the Committee by making recommendations for scholarships to Seymour High School students who meet criteria outlined in each scholarship application.

The Board of Education’s goal is to grow the Fund’s capital and give it permanence. Without this new assistance, declining bank interest rates would have resulted in existing scholarship Funds disappearing as the initial gifts became depleted. Seymour Public Schools also hope to use the Fund for special Board of Education projects in the future. “We’re confident that, as time goes on, people will continue to donate to the Fund through estate planning, and other giving vehicles,” said Mr. Belden.

“What has been really important to the Board of Education and staff throughout this entire process is that VCF is a Valley organization, dedicated to improving the quality of life for everyone throughout the Valley,” he said. “By establishing this Fund, we are partnering with VCF to ensure that our students have the best possible opportunities to improve their own quality of life, both now and in the future.” 

Shelton High School’s first alumni association was organized in 1900, when 24 graduates met on October 12 at the old Ferry School. That original SHS Alumni Association remained active through 1926 with Dorthea Verrette as its President.

Years passed – 61 to be exact – until Shelton High School graduate Karen Tomko-McGovern revived the organization. “I got the idea when SHS teacher and alumna Kathy Kelley invited a group of former cheerleaders to perform at the annual homecoming football game. I had so much fun that I wanted other alums – parents and children - to be able to come together to celebrate being a Shelton High School graduate.”

In 1986, the new Association held its first meeting, which was conducted according to the original Bylaws created by their predecessors back in 1900. What began with about 20 members now has a membership of more than 600, who have been of great help to their Alma Mater. SHS Alum and retired Superintendent of Shelton Public Schools Leon Sylvester said “As a former educator, I can honestly say that the Shelton Alumni Association has made a significant and positive impact on many youngsters’ lives. I am proud to be one of their staunch supporters.”

The current goal of the group has been to raise funds for two annual $1,000 scholarships for graduating students who participate in school activities, take pride in their school, show consistent effort in their academic achievements, and rank in the top one-third of the class.

So why establish a Fund with VCF? “We had done a tremendous amount of fund-raising over the years,” said Mrs. Tomko-McGovern, “and were able to build our nest egg to almost $30,000. However, late last year we learned that we were no longer able to continue to use SHS’s non-profit tax exempt status for donations. We were also getting a very low Bank savings interest rate on our existing funds, and it just made sense to seek out a better way to manage this money. Several of or alumni spoke highly of VCF, and after hearing what services they could provide, we decided to create this Fund.”

The SHS Alumni Association is committed to building this Fund over time to the point where the amount necessary for the annual scholarship awards will be produced from the income of the Fund. In that way, the Fund can grow and continue in perpetuity. “It is really for the benefit for all Shelton High School alumni to help these most deserving students,” said Mrs. Tomko-McGovern. “For us, it means coming full circle. We’ve had our time at Shelton High School, and have gone on to make our own ways in the world. Now we want to help those who are about to start on their way. We encourage all alumni to join us as we keep this support growing through the SHS Alumni Fund.”

Gaeton (Tom) Simonetti and Elizabeth (Betty) Pagliaro were born and raised in Shelton. They attended Shelton Public Schools together, where Tom was an outstanding high school football player. Both of their fathers owned family businesses in downtown Shelton, with the Pagliaros operating Frank’s People’s Market, while the Simonettis ran the local shoe repair and dry cleaners on Center Street. As teenagers, Betty and Tom each worked in those businesses.

Betty recalls that era as a time when the Valley community was smaller and close-knit, where everyone knew and helped each other. She said, “Tom and I always had fond memories of growing up in Shelton.We never forgot our family and friends, and the people of our community.” They were married in June, 1951, while Tom was serving in the U.S. Army. They returned to Shelton in 1953, and started their careers, businesses, and a family. Tom and Betty’s interest in Shelton - its people, progress and development - never diminished. Tom faithfully followed the Gaels, attending home and away football games until he was in his eighties. He was also a charter member of the Shelton-Huntington Exchange Club.

Together they raised five children while successfully starting and managing various enterprises throughout the United States. The foremost of these was in the health care industry, in which they designed, built, and managed four nursing homes over an almost 50-year career, with their first two facilities located in Shelton and Derby.

Betty remembers that the concept for entering the nursing home profession came from the late Shelton Mayor Frank Cicia, a dear family friend. “Frank knew that Tom was looking for a new challenge, so he called Tom and asked to see him. Tom went to Frank’s laundromat, and Frank gave him that wonderful suggestion for a career.” The facilities Tom and Betty built provided jobs and careers for hundreds of Valley residents, including many students from local high schools. Son Anthony Simonetti remembers that, in the 1970's, his father received an award for having hired the most students from Shelton High School in one year. “My father always encouraged his student employees to further their education - that was very important to him.”

Before Tom’s passing in 2010, he and Betty had often spoken of giving back to Shelton and the Valley- a community they loved, where their family still lives, and where they had prospered. So that August, Betty and her children established the Gaeton and Elizabeth Simonetti Family Fund as a Donor Advised Fund at VCF. The flexible structure will allow the family to give help where it is needed, including financial assistance to graduating high school students who plan to further their education.

Tom and Betty shared a wonderful and successful life, and their family Fund will serve as a permanent celebration of their life’s work over their 60 years together.

Carla Supersano and Sean Sullivan are Shelton natives who attended Shelton High School together.  Sean spent his childhood summers at The Recreation Camp in Derby, and worked at the J Diner and White Cross Pharmacy.  They were both active in music ministry and musical theater, and their participation in those activities brought them together again after each had graduated from college.  They married in 1991 and returned to Shelton, where they are raising their three children - Kelsey, Elise and Matthew.

Although theirs may not be an unusual story for two Valley kids who grew up and fell in love, what is worthy of note is their devotion to their  community and their desire to help it grow and flourish. That’s why in 2009,  they decided to create the Carla and Sean Sullivan Charitable Fund with the Valley Community Foundation.

“What appealed to Sean and me was the ability to build our Fund, and to suggest Grants for things that are important to us,” said Carla. “My work as  the Community Relations Officer at VCF has helped us see that a little bit can go a long way – and that there are so many immediate needs right in our own back yard. What we especially like is that it will never run out; the Fund will continue to grow over time, and the causes we believe in will benefit long after we are gone.”

Carla and Sean are both deeply committed to community service and education, and are particularly grateful for the sound foundation they received attending Shelton schools. Due to Sean’s work, the couple has had several opportunities to relocate, but the ties to family and community  were too strong. They have stayed in Shelton to raise their family and to remain active in their community. Carla has served on the Board of Education, and Sean is the Chairman of the Perry Hill School Building Committee. They are both active with Center Stage Theatre, and volunteer for their children’s schools and their respective Universities.

“We are strong supporters of music and the arts,” said Sean. “We need to keep them alive in our schools and our community.” Carla agreed, saying “We continue to support several organizations and volunteer our time for these causes, hoping that our participation will make a difference.”

They are raising their children to follow in their footsteps by being involved and giving back. “We learned to focus on ‘other’ instead of on ‘self ’ from our parents,” said Sean. “We really want to try and instill a spirit of service in our children , not just for them, but for the others coming behind all of us.” Carla stated, “ Creating this Fund is just one more step along our path of giving back for all that we have been given."

If your organization is considering creating an Endowment Fund, now is a great time to do so. Just ask Rich Knoll, the President and CEO of TEAM, (Training, Education, and Manpower) Inc.

“With the economy the way it is, we didn’t see things changing for quite some time,” said Mr. Knoll. “We want to be able to meet the needs of our clients – seniors, Valley residents, people who are going through a difficult time. Creating an Endowment Fund with the Valley Community Foundation makes great sense, and allows us to really plan with our donors and stakeholders for the future of TEAM.”

TEAM has been a local community action agency, as well as a non-profit  corporation, for over forty years.With its office in Derby, and child development centers in Ansonia, Milford, Seymour and Shelton, TEAMprovides social services through the Valley and Milford. TEAM's purpose remains the same today as it was in 1965: to build stronger communities by identifying and focusing resources to improve the lives of the economically disadvantaged: the elderly, families and children.

Governed by a diverse and representative Board of Directors, and supported through private and public funding, TEAMhas developed a wide range of services to empower and support their clients. The philosophy of the agency is that assisting and enabling individuals and families to be self-sufficient is socially responsible and, at the same time, promotes healthier communities.

When TEAM began to explore creating an Endowment Fund, they liked the idea of using a local philanthropic vehicle – and began a dialogue with Valley Community Foundation President Jamie Cohen. “VCF has integrity – demonstrated through its proven leadership team, and a solid investment record,” said Mr. Knoll. “They have developed a great deal of trust throughout the Valley, and their services are extremely affordable. We wanted to give our Donors a long term funding option, and the ability to designate their donations to specific programs. Our Endowment Fund at VCF will do exactly that.”

Annual Distributions from the Endowment Fund will flow directly to TEAM, and their Directors will decide how the income will be used to support its programs, including Senior Meals on Wheels, or Affordable School Readiness programs, for example, among many others.

“This was a unanimous decision by our Board of Directors,” said Mr. Knoll. “We didn’t have to re-invent the wheel. VCF has the financial management to help us build and grow a permanent and reliable source of income for current use and for the generations of Valley people we haven’t even met yet. An Endowment Fund will provide TEAM with long term sustainability – and we all agreed that this was the time in history for us to do that.”

Established by Founding Board Member Alan Tyma in honor of his father, this Fund will be advised by the donor.

John Tyma was not a politician. He wasn’t a big name legislator or a powerful businessman. He was the guy who lived an ordinary life extraordinarily. He touched many within his sphere, whether it was the factory workers he eventually supervised, the eager, bright-faced youngsters he coached on his only child’s little league and basketball teams, his teammates on the fast-pitch softball team, or the family and  friends who turned to him to talk. He would listen, really listen and he  would help. For that, his only son has established a Fund to honor the man  who quit school in his senior year to care for his mother and siblings after  his father’s death; the man, a World War II veteran, who worked so hard all his life to make sure his family always did well before his own early death at 48; the man who knew the value of education and community involvement. The John Tyma Fund provides the means to not only honor this man who loved the Valley so much, but to ensure that people who “need a lift to the next stage,” as son Alan puts it, can have a chance. “So many, like my father, feel it’s important to be involved in community and give their time, effort and expertise,” says Alan. “For those who want to give something more, we’ve created this long-term vehicle to which they can donate that will live long after they do and keep on promoting the best for their community.”

Nancy Valentine is a self-proclaimed "carpetbagger" - having lived in the Valley for "only" the last 35 years.  But when it comes to Valley pride, she is one of the first in line to praise its heritage and its strong sense of community.  "There's really something special here - a uniqueness to the Valley," said Mrs. Valentine.  "I believe it's because of its magnetism - past generations have grown up, stayed, and raised their families here.  There is something here to hold on to, something you can count on.  There's always a place for everyone in the Valley."

In 2009, Nancy established the Nancy Valentine Fund, a Donor Advised  Fund. “I anticipated doing this for quite some time, and finally have the ability to see it come to fruition,” she said. “For me, it’s important to see the progress, the action, and the activity that a Fund can bring to those who  need it the most. Since the ‘90’s I have served on many committees where people were getting awards and scholarships. It was great to get to know the recipients - especially what their plans for the future were. It piqued my  interest in giving and has now allowed me to do my part to help the Valley where there is need.”

Nancy has been actively involved in the Valley community for years – beginning with her early work with the Community Foundation for Greater  New Haven when she sat on the initial advisory committee to explore the creation of VCF. As a member of Rotary, first in the Ansonia Club and now with Seymour-Oxford Rotary, and as the two-term Mayor of Ansonia from 1995 to 1999.

“I learned from the beginning how important it was to give back to my community,” said Mrs. Valentine. “VCF was a natural fit for what I hoped to do with my Fund. They’ve accomplished some terrific things from the time they started out, and I know that they will continue to do so in the future. I may not have been born and raised here, but it certainly is a great place to call home. I’m glad to work with VCF to help the Valley continue to grow.”

This Fund was established by the Board of the Valley Bar Association as a means to honor and memorialize Bar Association members or other members of the legal profession and will support grants, awards and/or scholarships as recommended to the Board by an advisory committee.

The Valley Bar Association, a voluntary association of local, practicing  attorneys has been in existence for over 75 years, with many members spanning two, and in come cases, three generations. The Androski Family, for example, has been represented by father John; children: Jack, Ed and  Mary; with granddaughter Caroline continuing a three-generation tradition. Two-generation members presently practicing together include John and  Tom Welch, Dominick and Greg Thomas, Tom and Kevin Condon, and the Skuret Family: Daniel D. and sons Daniel III and Patrick. Further, a number of current Bar Association members have had the privilege of working with  their late fathers, including: John Bennett and his father William, Jamie Cohen and his father David, Laura Donahue and her father Edward, and Jeffrey Tuccio and his father Bill. These families and members (as well as John Sponheimer, whose grandfather was John J. O’Connell) have continued a tradition of service to their respective clients, and, through their ties  together as attorneys, have supported many various charitable endeavors in the Valley throughout the years. However, it was the untimely 2005 death of Ansonia lawyer and Bar Association member Bill Tuccio, which served as the impetus for the creation of the Valley Bar Association Memorial and Commemorative Fund through the Valley Community Foundation.  It has been supplemented by the generous gift of a challenge grant by Selma Yudkin in memory of her husband, Harold B. Yudkin, who passed away in 2004, after being an attorney and Bar Association member since 1937. Additional monies have been given to commemorate deceased family  members, and to honor significant events in the lives of other Association  members.

Nearly 15 years ago, the Valley United Way recognized the value of creating an endowment through the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven. “We were truly ahead of our time in creating the Heritage Fund,” said Valley United Way Executive director John Walsh. “We looked to the Foundation to provide us with long term investment support, administration, and management to assist us in maintaining our charitable assets in perpetuity.” The Heritage Fund also provides a way for donors  who support the community’s health and human service needs through the Valley United Way to continue that support through a gift by will or other  planned gift. 

Late in the summer of 2006, the United Way transferred its  “Heritage Fund” endowment to the Valley Community Foundation. “The VCF has done an outstanding job throughout the past several years building a strong financial base to make additional monies available for community grant making.  It was only natural for us to bring our funds back into the Valley, allowing us the flexibility in the distribution of our assets, and the ability to assist the VCF in building philanthropy right here in the Valley.” The Heritage Fund has become a component fund of the Valley Community  Foundation, under the same terms and conditions under which the Fund  existed at the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. “It’s all about local control,” said Mr. Walsh. “Having the VCF manage this account for us allows us to direct support to where it is needed while still benefiting from the investment power of the CFGNH. It’s truly the best of both worlds, and we look forward to continuing to develop this relationship and this Fund in  the coming years.”

Since 1866, the Valley YMCA has proudly provided services to the Naugatuck Valley Community. From recreation to housing to affordable childcare, people from throughout the Valley have benefitted from the sound management and forward thinking of the Valley YMCA Board and staff. Following the tradition of planning now to provide for the future, in 2009 the Valley Y became a chapter of the Central Connecticut Coastal YMCA, and entrusted its Endowment Fund to the Valley Community Foundation.

“As a Board, we looked at this and said, ‘This is the Valley – let’s put our money where it will help the most’,” said YMCA Board Chair Dennis Gleason. “We had our Endowment with a private company for many years, but were not terribly happy with the way it was being administered. I’ve known VCF President Jamie Cohen since we were kids – and when he first became a VCF Board Member we began discussing what our options with VCF might be. Shortly thereafter my wife Dorothy, who is the President of the Derby Public Library Board of Directors, had Jamie come and make a presentation to their Board, and they voted to have their Endowment become a permanent Fund at VCF. We watched the significant benefits that the Derby Library received, and decided that this would be the right thing to do for the YMCA as well.”

Valley YMCA Executive Director Suzanne Reilly agreed. “We wanted to make sure that what was raised in the Valley stayed in the Valley,” she said. “The VCF Board is comprised of such a committed group of volunteers who truly care about this community. We felt very comfortable with the fact that we knew them on a first name basis, and that they were going to manage this Endowment to help us sustain our programming today, tomorrow, and for years to come.”

The Valley YMCA Endowment is divided into two parts. The Peter J. Vartelas Invest In Youth Fund is restricted and dedicated solely to provide scholarships for children to attend the YMCA at little or no cost. The remaining non-restricted Funds can be used for such things as building maintenance or operating expenses.

“With a building that has been in place since 1924, the costs to keep it running keep climbing each year,” said Dennis. “This Endowment will help us to increase the value of both the restricted and non-restricted funds as we begin to address our needs for the future. We’re in this for the long haul, not the short term. Having this partnership with VCF benefits not only our members, but the entire Valley Community. We’re all working together to do what’s best for the Valley.”

For Peter Vartelas, growing up during the depression in the Valley as the  son of hard-working Greek immigrant parents meant helping out at the  family grocery store in Ansonia everyday after school and on weekends. It  also meant frequent trips to the Valley YMCA (called the Ansonia YMCA at that time) to play countless hours of his favorite sport - basketball. So it  was no surprise that in 1987 he created the Invest in Youth Fund at the  Valley YMCA which pays for the membership fees for children whose  families can’t afford them. “Through Mr. Vartelas’ generosity, more than 2,000 children have now benefited from the Fund,” said Valley YMCA Executive director Suzanne Reilly. “His gifts have helped us to serve the community in so many special ways. We are pleased to honor his memory by establishing the Peter Vartelas Invest in Youth Fund through the Valley Community Foundation.”

Peter Vartelas was proud to make the Valley his home. After working a short time on oil pipelines in Caspar, Wyoming at the age of 19, he returned home to Ansonia and apprenticed to a local roofing company.  In 1958, he established Valley Roofing and Siding, which is now run by his son’s Paul and Chris. “Our father always made everyone he met feel like a  million dollars,” said Paul Vartelas. “Everywhere he went, he knew someone, and would strike up a conversation with them – about their family, or a sport they played in high school. He built his business through hard work and integrity – and he kept his word to his customers who invariably became his friends. He always cared about the well being of other people – but his family came first. If other kids growing up had dads like him, the world would be a much better place. I miss my dad more and more each day – the world truly lost a really great and generous man.”

“Our father was very humble,” said daughter Larissa Cristiano. “He achieved great success in his lifetime, but he always remembered where he came from. He was so compassionate to those who did not have as much, and he raised his family on that belief.” Brother Chris Vartelas agreed. “The values our father brought us up with will be ingrained in our lifestyles forever. For a man who accomplished so much in life, his modesty and simplicity is what we cherish most. We are so blessed to have many great memories of him. Although words can't express the impact he had on us, his legacy will speak volumes.”

One of the students who has benefited from Peter’s contributions is Ansonia High School All State Running Back Alex Thomas, an AHS junior recruited by many Ivy League schools.  Alex was also named as one of the youth of the year at the Valley YMCA. “The invest in youth program has benefited me significantly, and I am very grateful for it,” said Alex Thomas. “Getting a membership to the YMCA has given me the opportunity to lift which makes me a better football player, and more importantly through football I have been given the opportunity of getting into some excellent colleges.”

“Peter was so happy to have created this Fund,” said his wife Tekla Vartelas. “He said that life had been good to him through his business and other endeavors. This was his way of giving back to the community, and helping to keep kids off of the streets. He was so generous to us all, with a keen sense of humor and wit that kept us all smiling. No matter how busy he was, he never missed our children’s school or sporting events. He was  always there for us and his beloved Valley. We will be forever proud to be his family, and will do all that we can to continue to support the Peter Vartelas invest in youth Fund.”

During the holiday season of December, 2006, the extended family of the late John and Paraskeve Vonetes Vartelas took time to gather together in Ansonia to decide how best to honor the memory of their beloved parents and grandparents, who came to America and the Valley from Greece over a century ago. The attendance at that first meeting was a portent of good things to come, since 41 of the 44 family members who were physically and geographically able to attend,  were there.

Their descendants wanted to remember and commemorate John and Paraskeve’s sacrifices and selflessness and concern for others. In just over three years, the  family accomplished their first goal by reaching, and quickly passing, the $100,000 level they had established at that first meeting. As the family had agreed, upon achieving that benchmark, the Fund has been divided into four Sub-Funds under the family banner. A brief description of each Fund is as follows:

The John and Paraskeve Vartelas "Agape" Fund is intended for general charitable purposes, particularly to those most in need, be it for food, shelter, or medical or emotional needs, with a special emphasis on assisting individuals overcoming obstacles presented to them by virtue of their immigrant experience;



The Mary Vartelas Stamos Fund can also be used by the VCF Board for general charitable purposes, with a preference for grants for Mary's beloved birthplace of Ansonia, and may be combined with the "Agape" Fund;




The Peter Vartelas Ansonia High School Scholarship Fund is for scholarships to graduating seniors of Ansonia High School based primarily on financial need, school and civic involvement and service to the general community;




The George Vartelas Ansonia High School Scholarship Fund is for a scholarship to a member of the Ansonia High School football team who  demonstrates characteristics of sportsmanship, effort and teamwork.




By reaching this milestone, The Vartelas-Stamos family honors the sacrifices made by their parents and grandparents, two Greek immigrants, who more than a century ago established a new home together in the Valley, and whose legacy of compassion for others will continue in perpetuity as a result of these Funds.

This fund was established by the Board of the VFW Post 597 and will support the band program of Ansonia High School. 

From 1937–1941 a young student stood tall with saxophone in hand next to his fellow Derby High School band members in a brand new uniform provided by an unknown Valley benefactor. He never forgot the pride he felt when he put the uniform on for the first time, or when wearing it during performances at football games or in Memorial day parades. A few years later that same young man was off to honorably serve his country during World War II, and the saxophone was stored away for safe keeping.

Now, more than 60 years later, Veteran of Foreign Wars Senior  Vice-Commander of Ansonia Post 597, Peter Pagliaro of derby, has joined with brother-in-law John Boland of Ansonia, former Ansonia School Board Chair and Adjutant of Post 597, and its 100 members to establish a designated Fund for the Ansonia High School Band to be administered by the Valley Community Foundation. The saxophone-playing high school student, who became a Veteran of ForeignWar wanted to “keep a little bit of music playing in the Valley.”“Most of our members either live in or are from Ansonia originally,” said Mr. Pagliaro. 

“The Fund was created with proceeds from the sale earlier this year of a home owned by Post 597. The decision to support the Ansonia High School Band was unanimous.  Our  members kept asking each other ‘What has happened to music in the Valley towns? What can we do to bring it back?’ This was one way we could offer on-going support to a worthwhile cause.” “We are truly grateful to VFW Post 597 for its generosity,” said Maria Tangredi, director of Ansonia High School’s Music department.According to Tangredi, approximately 25 students are enrolled annually in the band program. The band represents the school and the community at events such as the Memorial day parade, the holiday tree lighting ceremony at Ansonia Town Hall, all home and away football games as well as middle school events,” she said. “These Funds will help us keep playing for years to come.”“No one ever thinks about the band—they’re not like athletic programs where people are always giving money. They are truly a forgotten group as far as donations are concerned,” said Mr. Pagliaro. “I’ll always remember how great it was for someone to give money so we could get new uniforms when I was in the band. Grants from our Fund will be used to defray the costs of uniforms, maintain equipment, and rent instruments.” The saxophone still resides safely in the closet of his Derby home. But thanks to Peter Pagliaro, as well as John Boland, and the Ansonia Veterans of Post 597, shiny new instruments and uniforms will be a staple for the Ansonia High School Band.

Valentina Vitali had a deep love for the Valley. She was born and raised in Derby by Italian immigrant parents Augusto and Marcella Vitali, along with her sister Angelina, and her brothers Louis and Nelson. She moved  to Washington, D.C., and worked for the government for 42 years until herretirement, when she returned home to live the remainder of her life with her mother and sister.

Valentina wanted to honor Angelina, who, except for attending the College of New Rochelle, lived in the Valley for her entire life. She worked at Derby High School first as a biology teacher, and then later served as Vice Principal of the school until her retirement.

Miss Vitali’s first cousin, Dorothy Saldamarco, discussed the possibility of creating a Fund through the community foundation that would forever remember the Vitali name in the Valley. Mrs. Saldamarco and her husband Frank had established such a Fund themselves to preserve her father’s name and to honor his  memory. “I said to her,Val, this is something you can do, too,”said Mrs. Saldamarco. “It’s a great idea, and can help so many people here in the Valley. She must have thought it was, too, and worked with her attorneys, Sabetta and Sabetta in Shelton, to remember the Foundation in her will.” 

In doing so, Miss Vitali is the first person to have left a bequest to the Valley Community Foundation. Her gift will establish the Angelina M. Vitali and Valentina V.Vitali Fund which supports a broad range of local needs. “Val came from a family that was raised to save,” said Mrs. Saldamarco. “But it’s also important to use your money to benefit others who can really use it. Val Vitali was fortunate to have had the resources to keep her family’s name alive and to help the Valley for years to come.”

If there were awards for citizens who embody the true spirit of their community, then Alphonso and Eulalia Vitello would certainly be in the running for the City of Derby’s prize. These two first generation Italian-Americans were lifelong Derby residents and each devoted their lives to the City’s youth through education, coaching, and athletics.

Alphonso and Eulalia (known to all as “Al” and “Yolie”) knew each other since grammar school – she was a cheerleader at St. Mary’s and he was a basketball player for Irving. In the beginning, Yolie wasn’t terribly interested in Al, since he was from the rival school. But as time went on and they got to know each other, this mattered less and less, and the rest, as they say, is history. In 1946 they were married.

Al enjoyed an award-winning athletic career at Derby High School, where he excelled in baseball, basketball, football, and track, particularly as quarterback of Derby’s first State Football Championship team and Most Valuable Athlete in 1941. He went on to play football at (and graduate from) Providence College, got a Master’s degree from Columbia, a 6th year certificate from the University of Bridgeport, served in the Navy, and played semi-pro football.

For many years, Al and Yolie worked with Derby students. He was a teacher, coach, and athletic director at Derby High School for over 40 years, and completed his tenure as chair of the social studies department. During his coaching career, he took the basketball teamto the state finals, and led his baseball team to the first and only Housatonic League championship in Derby history.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Vitello spent 25+ years at St. Mary’s School and Parish in a variety of positions. However, it was her service as a beloved substitute teacher that was most fondly recalled by VCF Board member and former St. Mary’s student David Grant. “We were thrilled when we were told that Mrs. Vitello was coming into our class. She was a sweet, kind and nice person, and it was a pleasure to have her as a teacher, even if it was for just one day at a time.”

When Mr. Vitello passed away in 2010, the family turned to VCF to honor him and his commitment to Derby’s young people. “Our dad taught VCF President Jamie Cohen at Derby High School,” said John Vitello, one of the family’s three sons. “He was also my father’s basketball statistician and long time family friend – so when it came time to pay tribute to our Dad’s memory, we sat down and talked with Jamie and decided to create the Alphonso and Eulalia Vitello Family Fund at VCF.”

The goal of the Fund is to help as many Derby youth and residents as possible. The family has created flexible guidelines for giving, in order to be able to direct grants and scholarships where they are needed most. “It’s all about trying to do what we can for the youth of Derby just as our mother and father did all of these years,” said John Vitello. “My Dad truly came full circle here – in his own youth he achieved accolades for the City though his athletics, then came back to Derby and, with my Mom, raised my brothers Al, Paul, and me, and brought even more honor to our City through all his great community work. Creating this Fund is the best way we know to have this wonderful family legacy continue in perpetuity.”

This Fund was established by Donald and Joseph Warichar to honor their parents and currently supports a scholarship to a student from Derby High School. Upon additional gifts, the Fund will support numerous organizations.

More than 70 years ago, Joseph Warichar built his family home on Sentinel hill in Derby, an area filled with large farms and fields. He had a custom truck, complete with slanted bins and compartment doors, and would travel his daily routes bringing fresh fruit, vegetables and other goods to his customers. No matter the weather, Mr. Warichar was there, knocking on the door, carrying the order into the kitchen, and then was back in the truck for the next delivery. As the years passed, he included frozen foods on his list by adding a refrigerator to the back of the truck. At the end of the day, he’d simply charge the refrigerator through the night, so it would be cold and ready for the next day.

Joseph Warichar died in 1952 at the age of 49, leaving his wife Pauline, and four children ages 3 to 17 with no father, and no family income. “My brother Joseph, who joins me as a donor for this Fund, was a freshman at UConn studying to be a pharmacist at the time of my father’s death,” said Donald Warichar, co-donor of the Joseph and Pauline Warichar Memorial Fund. “He had to leave school and work to support the family. He never  became a pharmacist, but instead spent 43 years as a tool maker in Bridgeport until his retirement. Our parents always wanted all of us to go on to college, and this Fund is in part a tribute to them and how much they valued higher education.”

“Back in the early 90’s, we promised our mother that we’d start a scholarship Fund,” said Joseph Warichar Jr. “We always intended to do something like this, and now we have the time and opportunity to work with the Valley Community Foundation to make this happen.” His brother agreed. “We grew up in Derby, went to school there, lived there, and feel we owe something to the community. This will start the process. A part of our estates will also be used to grow the Fund as well.”

The endowed Fund will provide annual scholarships to a graduating student of Derby High School, to pursue his/her education at an accredited College or University, and who is planning to study in the fields of nursing, pharmacology, or agriculture.With the help of their attorney Mary Chromik, the brothers have also included provisions in their wills to add to the Fund. Upon the addition of these gifts from their estates, annual grants from the Fund will be used to establish additional scholarships and provide grants to other charitable organizations.

“Our mother sacrificed tremendously for all of us to get where we are today,” said Donald Warichar.This Fund allows us to honor both of our parents for building a tradition of reading and learning in our family. We love to encourage others to learn, and this Fund will allow us to do just that.”

Colonel Lloyd Witmer held the city of Shelton and its surrounding Valley communities in the highest regard.  Col. Witmer and his wife Joan relocated to Shelton in 1969, as a result of his employment with Avco Lycoming.  He became a fixture within the city, eventually serving as the Head of its Economic Development Office.

“He was an exceptional and accomplished individual,” said James Ryan, current head of the Shelton Economic Development Corporation, and a former VCF Board Chair. “Lloyd understood what businesses were looking for. He and his team helped City officials establish Shelton as a landmark - a user-friendly area for businesses to come to and grow in.”

Col. Witmer joined the Navy right after graduating from Catawba College, and was already a Marine Corps officer when he married Joan Platt, a Massachusetts native, who predeceased him. He served his country admirably throughout the Pacific in World War II, receiving the Bronze Star  with Valor and the Navy Cross, and again in Korea. A Philadelphia native, he died in October 2007 at his retirement home in Dover, Delaware, and was buried in his beloved Shelton.

“The Valley was so fortunate to have Lloyd and Joan settle here,” said William Nimons, who is the Trustee of Col.Witmer’s estate. “He had no children, and so decided to establish his legacy in his Will, creating a trust which distributes the income among four different organizations, including the Valley Boys and Girls Club.” In his capacity as Trustee, Bill Nimons elected to utilize the services of the Valley Community Foundation to help the Witmer Fund grow.

The Colonel’s planning ensured that his legacy will perpetually benefit the specific groups that he wanted to assist. “Lloyd carefully planned his legacy with the advice of expert legal counsel, and made sure all of his philanthropic priorities were clearly defined in his Will,” said Bill Nimons.

Col. Witmer’s collection of medals and other historic memorabilia have been donated to the Shelton Historical Society for inclusion into their permanent collection. “There is no doubt that Col. Witmer served his country and his community with distinction,” said Jim Ryan, and Bill Nimons agreed. “Because of his incredible dedication to this area, his legacy will live on through the great work this Fund will accomplish.”

This fund was established by Selma l. Yudkin in memory of her  husband, Harold B.yudkin and will support students and organizations in his hometown of Derby. Harold Yudkin was a truly unique and energetic man who was actively involved throughout his entire life in his beloved community of Derby. He loved his family, his friends and coworkers, and his chosen profession of law which he successfully practiced with distinction for more than 60 years.

Harold chose capable and determined associates, including the late Appellate Court Justice JoAnne Kiley Kulawiz, and Superior Court Judge Barbara Coppeto,who along with his brother George, became his partner in the firm known as Yudkin, Yudkin, and Coppeto. Though his law practice kept him in the spotlight for a number of years, Harold was also an active real estate developer. When returning veterans came home from World War II, Harold’s foresight and ingenuity transformed hundreds of acres of land (forever known as the Yudkin development) into affordable housing for them, and helped to make him a wealthy man. A portion of this wealth is now entrusted into several Funds at the Valley Community Foundation.

“Harold was a proud and loyal member of his community,” said his wife Selma yudkin. “He was generous with both his time and his money, giving to both local and national charities. We were also fortunate to travel extensively throughout the world. No matter where we went, Harold always said that he was glad to be home because there was no place in the world quite like Derby.” Mr. Yudkin was an avid historian, and spent many hours as a young man reading and researching local and national history in the Derby Public library which was just a few steps away from his Seymour Avenue  boyhood home.

Upon Harold’s passing in 2004, Selma established the Harold B. Yudkin Fund at the Valley Community Foundation, to ensure that his tradition of generosity and dedication to his community would continue for years to come, and made a significant contribution to the Derby Public Library to support the Library’s new Historic Preservation Fund.  The Library’s Board of directors has since changed the name to the Harold B. Yudkin Historic Preservation Fund indicating they wanted to “honor Harold’s love of history and the people of Derby. Many historic treasures will now be  displayed for all to enjoy as a result of this generous donation.” Additional gifts have been made to another VCF Fund established by the Valley Bar Association, of which Harold was a member for over 50 years, and to the Harold B. Yudkin Fund at the Valley Community Foundation. “There was no one else like Harold,”said Mrs. Yudkin. “He was a wonderful and giving man who valued his family, friends, and clients alike. I know he’d be pleased to be helping his treasured Derby and so many other worthwhile causes that he had supported all through his life.”

Teamwork has made quite a few remarkable things happen since these dynamic Valley women came together.  The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce Women in Networking (WIN) group was founded in 2002 by successful businesswomen in the Valley who meet twice each month at the Chamber or offsite at a Chamber member location to discuss common issues. It is the first group of its kind to service the six-town region of the  Naugatuck River Valley.

In 2003, the members of WIN learned that there were no grant programs in the area available for women-owned businesses. They voted to use excess funds available in their treasury to establish the Women in Networking Grant program, which provides financial assistance  to women entrepreneurs 18 years or older in the Greater Valley area. With the establishment of a permanent endowed fund at the Valley Community Foundation, in addition to their annual efforts raising money for the grants program, they have insured that funds will be available for women owned businesses in the Valley forever.

“We had been having conversations with the VCF for quite some time,” said former WIN Chair Cara Mocarski. “We wanted to ensure that the program would continue to outreach to women,  and foster the entrepreneurial spirit in the Valley. Giving back to the  community is so important to all of us – and the Foundation provided a  great vehicle for us to achieve our goals for posterity.”

“We are very proud of the Women in Networking group,” said Chamber President Bill Purcell. “What they have accomplished in the few short years that they have been in existence speaks volumes about their enthusiasm and determination.  This Fund will help to ensure that the goals they have for the future of women owned businesses throughout the Valley will be met both now and in years to come.”

“The Chamber has been so supportive of our work,” said Ms. Mocarski. “From the very beginning they’ve believed in us and what we wanted to do. Their partnership with the Foundation has allowed us to take this program to the next level and to truly make a difference in the lives of business women throughout the Valley for generations to come.”