Watertown

The Connecticut Community Foundation is very proud of our partnerships with the Watertown community and our role in helping nonprofits and students flourish with a variety of grants and scholarships.

People

• Terry Barber has been a donor to the Chittenden Family Fund at CCF since 1998, a fund established by the Chittenden Insurance Agency in memory of its founder.
   
• Jim Zoldy served on the Investment Committee at CCF for 4 years. He is currently a volunteer for the Watertown Foundation and was Vice Chairman of the Board for the Easter Seals for 3 years. He works for a brokerage firm in New Haven and lives with his wife Jackie their three children.
   
• Martha Barhydt has served on CCF’s scholarship review panel. She is also the establishing donor and founder of the Manufacturer’s Museum Fund, supporting Mattatuck Museum's library and exhibits on manufacturing, as well as supporting the Wilderness Skills Scholarship Fund.
   
• Stedman and Patricia Sweet have been involved with CCF for more than 20 years as donors and volunteers. 
   
  In 1987, they established the Roger K. Gilbert, M.D. Fund, in memory of their dear friend. Pat has served as CCF president, vice president of Development, trustee and chairman of the Grants Committee. Sted has served as trustee and treasurer and has chaired the Audit, NAI, Investment and Governance Committees.
   
  The Sweets also established the Stedman & Patricia Sweet Scholarship Fund to benefit the scholarship fund at The Taft School. Sted and both of the Sweet's children graduated from Taft, and the school has been an integral part of their neighborhood.
   
• Christopher A. Brooks was chairman of the Investment Committee and served on our Board of Trustees as treasurer and president (1988-1990). 
  
  In addition to his executive roles, Christopher established the Christopher Brooks Advised Fund in 1987 to help CCF support important community programs and organizations in Greater Waterbury.

Community Leadership

• As a part of the LitLinks early childhood education initiative, Watertown Public Schools have received $32K in grants since 2006.  LitLinks aims to improve preschoolers' readiness for kindergarten by better aligning preschool and kindergarten education through joint teacher training, seminars, parent outreach, and other efforts.
  
  One such effort is that of Watertown mom Sharon Demers.  After enjoying a nearby town's family reading night with her two young daughters,  Sharon was determined to start a similar program in her hometown.  With mention of the idea at a Community Conversation and support from a CCF grant, the Watertown Family Resource Center became a reality. The center offers activities for preschoolers and their parents, as well as free professional development for preschool teachers.
  

Grants

• The Watertown Land Trust received an $8K CCF grant to support appraisals, a land survey, and a one-time stewardship fee which were necessary for the purchase of approximately 41 acres of farmland bordered by the Nonnewaug River.

Sponsorships

• The Clockwork Repertory Theatre received a sponsorship in 2011 for summer events, including a wine tasting/silent auction and a Jazz concert.

Scholarships

• In 2011, CCF awarded Watertown area students $26,658 in scholarships including: Mercedz Austin, Julie Donato, Matthew P. McLaughlin, Kathleen Campagna, Nicole Carnemolla, Giuseppe D'Amelio, Mary P. Flanagan, Julian Focareta, Kayla Fonseca, Christopher R. Gaydosh, Lauren Gaydosh, Mitchell Lamy, Alexis Montagano, Evan Parkinson & Connor Partridge. Awards come from a variety of scholarships available to many students in the 21 town area served by CCF.
   

For more information, visit www.watertownct.org.