Christian Robert Sobin Memorial Fund

For Christi Sobin -- January 17, 2022 -- was the day everything changed. Her son, Christian Robert Sobin, just 29, passed away. Christian succumbed to synthetic opioid overdose after battling addiction for years. “He was a beautiful soul, and losing my son Christian was the most devastating moment of my life,” Christi said. “This is a way to turn his story into something that might save a life.”

Determined that her son would not be forgotten, Christi established the Christian Robert Sobin Memorial Fund at the Valley Community Foundation (VCF) in 2022 as a Build-a-Fund. A build-a-fund at VCF is a new fund that hasn’t met the minimum $10,000 fully endowed threshold. But in 2025, after two successful fundraising events in her son’s honor, the donor advised fund -- dedicated to helping individuals in the Valley who are battling addiction -- became fully endowed.  

Christian’s story is rooted in the Valley. Born in New Haven and raised in Derby, he graduated from Ansonia High School, where he and his twin brother, Julian, were standout athletes. Christian earned All-Valley honors for baseball and was named to the All-NVL football team too. He loved working out and could often be found at the gym. After high school, he pursued construction work.  

Yet behind his accomplishments, Christian faced a challenge that began in his freshman year, when a broken leg on the football field led to the need for pain medication. In the end, Fentanyl would take his life.  

“After breaking his leg medically prescribed drugs started this terrible journey,” Christi said. “But his struggles and his strength deserved to be honored in a way that would help others.”  

That vision inspired her to give back through a VCF fund, and though her philanthropy was born from personal tragedy, Christi said she was still able to find meaning and hope in the loss. The fund named for her son will support people struggling with addiction and in critical moments of need -- those seeking detox, inpatient, or outpatient treatment when time and resources are scarce.  

“The Valley is where we built our lives, where my son went to school, played sports, made friends and also where he experienced both joy and heartbreak,” Christi said. “Addiction affects every neighborhood here, no matter your background. I have experienced the struggle to access treatment and support, so this fund is my commitment to help someone else that is struggling that can’t afford a program.”  

“Being a part of the Valley’s philanthropic legacy is incredibly meaningful to me and the greatest inspiration behind this is my son,” she said. “After his passing I felt a deep need to carry forward his spirit, his values and the light he brought into this world.”