John A. Bondos Scholarship Fund

John A. Bondos dedicated his life to education and his beloved hometown of Shelton. A proud WWII veteran and lifelong educator, John spent decades shaping young minds as a mathematics teacher and later as principal of Shelton High School and Lafayette School. When he retired in 1984, he chose to give back to the community by establishing a scholarship at Shelton High School to help future graduates pursue their educational dreams.

For years, the John A. Bondos Scholarship was managed at Shelton High School, supporting students in need and funded by annual donations. However, in 2014, as part of a broader effort to ensure the longevity of local scholarships, former Shelton High School Principal, Beth Smith, transferred the scholarship to the Valley Community Foundation’s (VCF) Scholarship and Awards Fund. At that time, the Bondos fund had not yet reached VCF’s $10,000 endowment minimum, but John was committed to reaching that goal with yearly donations. After he passed away in 2021, his daughter, the Bondos family, remained committed to building the fund. They contributed regularly, determined to make John’s vision of a lasting educational legacy a reality.

“Education was everything to my dad,” said Leslie Bondos, his daughter. “He was always grateful that his own education had been covered by the military, knowing that his immigrant parents could never have afforded to send him or his eight siblings to college. He wanted to ensure that future students would not miss out on opportunities due to financial hardship.”

Leslie’s dedication was met with a heartfelt and transformative moment in 2024 when her aunt made a generous contribution to fully endow the fund. With this donation, the John A. Bondos Scholarship Fund became a permanent source of support in honor of her brother.

“Knowing that my dad’s scholarship will live on in perpetuity means the world to me,” Leslie says. “Many scholarships, when managed solely by schools, risk being spent down or abandoned over time when family members pass on and can no longer support them. By transferring the fund to VCF, we’ve ensured that it will continue to thrive and help deserving students for years to come.”

Leslie’s journey with her father’s fund serves as an important reminder that with careful stewardship, a family’s legacy of generosity can be preserved and strengthened. She encourages others to follow their passions when considering charitable giving. “Choose something you care deeply about,” Leslie said. “Giving back in a meaningful way creates an impact that lasts far beyond our lifetimes.”