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Our History

	2007: The Board approves a record $122,000 in competitive grants bringing the Foundation’s 10 year total to over $1 million.  The Foundation’s endowment has record 18.97% return and ends year above $4 million.
	Endowment Grows with three quarter million in new endowment gifts:  Three new Designated Funds are established by Edythe and Art Director to benefit the Rushford Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Northern Middlesex YMCA’s Camp Ingersoll and a new fund is established for the Ivoryton Playhouse in honor of Jacqueline Hubbard and Norman Needleman.  The Foundation will manage a Special Designated Fund from the estate of Loretta Ingersoll for capital improvements for the Northern Middlesex YMCA’s Camp Ingersoll and the Board establishes the Patti Anne Vassia Fund for Administration.
	September:  The Foundation celebrates its 10th anniversary at a grand reception at the Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill Estate.  The event sponsored by Founding Benefactor Liberty Bank was attended by 175 friends, donors and grantees who were thanked for helping to build the Foundation and a better Middlesex County.  See 10 Year Accomplishments.
	Cynthia H. Clegg of Essex is named President and CEO on July 1.  A seasoned professional with nonprofit and business expertise will build on the Foundation’s successes and bring new friends and partners to secure future growth and improvement to our many communities.
	Connecticut Health and Education Financing Authority (CHEFA) awards $160,000 in two grants recommended by our Community Foundation:  $100,000 to the Estuary Council for Seniors for two vehicles to deliver Meals on Wheels and $60,613 to The Connection, Inc. for a vocational services for Eddy Shelter and other persons experiencing homelessness.  CHEFA grants total $406,373 in five years in this Community Foundation/CHEFA funding partnership.  June 2007.
	2006: The Foundation’s future is made much more secure with a $5 million planned gift, from an anonymous donor. This most generous gesture brings the Foundation’s known planned gifts to $12 million.
	The Foundation’s endowment return is a record 16.9% bringing the total endowment to over $3 million.
	A Charitable Gift Annuities (CGAs) program is offered for the first time with the generous support of Essex Financial Services. Two CGAs are established which provide quarterly income to the donors and in the future will provide grants to the community and support Foundation operations
	Middlesex County Community Foundation is recognized by the Council on Foundations to be in compliance with the newly established National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations. Although one of Connecticut's newest and smallest community foundations, we are among the first to pass the rigorous evaluation by nationwide reviewers of our policies and procedures against 38 National Standards. As such we can proudly display this logo.
	2005: Website is fully launched in the Spring 2005 and wins the 2006 Silver Award in the Wilmer Shields Rich Awards Program for Excellence in Communications sponsored by the Council on Foundations for Community and Public Foundations with under $5 million in assets.
	The Fund for Women & Girls Committee sponsored a successful benefit event, "Stardom Then & Now" with Jeanine Basinger that netted $18,000 to grow the Fund and provide grants to empower women and girls to be self-reliant and reach their potential.
	In May of 2005, 105 nonprofit representatives received valuable grant writing advice in a workshop co-sponsored by the Community Foundation and Liberty Bank Foundation.
	2004/2005: Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company, Whelen Engineering and The Clark Group offer $125,000 administration challenge grant. For every $2 given or pledged to support Community Foundation administration $1 is provided from their combined challenge commitment.
	In 2004 income from endowed funds along with donations from River View Cemetery, Connecticut Humanities Council and Citizens Bank provide over $93,000 in competitive grants to bring our total grants since inception to over $500,000.
	In a new partnership, the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA) awarded $50,000 grants to the Community Health Center for a Middletown Obesity Prevention Program and Oddfellows Playhouse for their Neighborhood Troupes program on the recommendation of our Community Foundation.
	The Swaim String Program for Middletown third graders began. With exceptional support from the Middletown Public Schools 30 students attended after-school instruction on violin and cello. Foundation grants supply instruments and scholarships for students needing financial help. Future years will provide lessons for third through fifth graders. In 2006 the school system will provide string instruction as part of the school music program.
	2003: Community Health Center and Gilead Community Services began organizational funds, greatly assisting the Foundation meet the second year of the Jessie B. Cox endowment challenge.
	Wesleyan University set up the largest of the seven new funds established during the year. The Fund for Women & Girls began with 60 Founding givers and three grants were made to empower women and girls to be self reliant and reach their potential.
	2002: Middlesex United Way transferred donor restricted endowed gifts to the Foundation to establish the Foundation's first organizational fund.
	2001: 100% participation by Board of Directors lead to surpassing first year's $1 million endowment challenge. Grants awarded equaled $86,000 to bring total since inception to $200,000.
	The River View Cemetery in Essex established an endowed fund and provided grantmaking funds for Essex and Lower Middlesex County for the first time . Their ongoing and increased grantmaking support has provided 43 grants totaling $77,500.
	Elizabeth Swaim assured her legacy by naming the Foundation as beneficiary of her estate. This first major bequest established three funds: a designated fund for the Middlesex County Historical Society, a geographic field of interest fund for improving Middletown and a designated fund for Arts Enhancement in the Middletown Public Schools.
	2000: the Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust offered a $150,000 endowment challenge grant that supplied $50,000 a year for three years ($25,000 for grantmaking and administration), if the Foundation raised $1 million in endowment gifts, pledges and planned gifts.
	1999: Connecticut Humanities Council supplied $5,000 for a model grants partnership and staff expertise to improve Foundation heritage enhancement grantmaking. This ongoing mutually beneficial partnership led others to provide targeted grantmaking funding in future years. With their support 19 grants have been made to libraries, historical societies and cultural programs to enhance Middlesex County heritage.
	Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company added to the commitment of board members by making the first major pledge for endowment.
	Individuals provided donations specifically to develop Foundation grantmaking processes and improve the quality of life in the county while the endowment began.
	The Board of Directors hired Patti Anne Vassia as the first Executive Director in 1998.
	Liberty Bank Foundation provided a $125,000 operations challenge grant that was fully met by the generosity of 60 individuals and businesses who donated over $375,000.
	Founded in 1997 by visionaries from throughout our area who believed that Middlesex County deserved a community foundation like those that were working successfully in surrounding communities.