Ask and You Shall Receive
Jack & Pam Baker: Always Ready to Step In and Help
 

As the grandson of Henry Baker, Sr., who in 1914 founded Crystal Rock, the oldest bottled water company in Connecticut, Jack Baker was raised to believe that obligations come with opportunity.

"We are fortunate to be on the giving side," said Jack who is executive vice president and director of the company. "It makes for a full life."

Jack and his wife Pam enjoy living and giving in our corner of the state focusing their philanthropy on education, environment and the arts.

“We are lucky to live in a beautiful place and we want to keep it that way,” said Pam. “It feels good to give to something local. We can see and feel the impact of our giving and take ownership of issues that are important to us.”

Having served on the Evaluation Committee, Jack was familiar with CCF. He later joined the Board of Trustees in 2007.

“We felt comfortable starting a fund here,” said Jack. “The Foundation is professionally run and has high integrity. We know that our fund will forever help the community even when we are no longer around.”

“Jack and Pam have been tremendously generous to the community through the Foundation,” said CEO, Ingrid Manning. “It’s rare that the Bakers turn away from any opportunity that we present to them to make life better in our region.”

In 2009, the Bakers contributed to an emergency fund raising initiative at CCF to help towns respond to residents struggling with the economic crisis. That year, Jack and Pam also were major donors to the newly-established Community College Scholarship Fund at CCF.

“We like supporting non-traditional students and making education available to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity,” said Jack. “Maybe they were not at the top of their class, or are returning to further their education. These are the students who will stay here and work in our community.”

In 2010, Warren Parks & Recreation started a scholarship fund at CCF for high school graduates from town with proceeds raised at a 5K Cider Run. A resident of Warren and a CCF trustee, Jack stepped in and encouraged Warren residents to support the new fund.

“We liked the criteria for the scholarship,” said Pam. “It’s not based on scholastics. You just have to be a student from Warren.”