BRANFORDCOMMUNITYFOUNDATION Meeting

Community

Needs

“You cannot do a

kindness too soon,

for you never know

how soon it will

be too late.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

A Message from the President…

For over 30 years, the Branford Community Foundation has been keenly aware that we are the stewards of an endowment designed to benefit the Branford Community. In managing the endowment, our goal has always been to provide sufficient funds for grants to the community while preserving the endowment’s value into the future. �e Board of Directors oversees the management of the endowment. We aim to achieve investment return that preserves the long-term purchasing power of the endowment after grants have been paid.

In this newsletter and annual report for 2010, we inform our readers of the grants, bequests, gifts and fund balances for the year. We have also included a restatement of individual fund balances for 2009 that corrects for an error in fund-to-fund accounting. �e error did not affect the Foundation’s audited total fund balance. �e restated fund balance for 2008 may be found on the Foundation website.

�e year was again a challenging one for our residents as Connecticut’s unemployment hit 8.5 percent. �rough it all, the Branford Community Foundation was able to remain one source of support for nonprofits in Branford. While our endowment certainly took a hit in 2008, our spending policy, as it was designed to do, enabled our grant-making to be fairly stable. And because many of our donors have created funds that give flexibility in deciding how best to spend the money, we were able to target funds to the most needy areas. �is flexibility has been evident in the past three years when the Branford Community Foundation, in response, took steps including increasing funding for agencies that respond to basic human needs.

During 2010, the Branford Community Foundation gave grants to a wide range of nonprofit organizations in our town. �ese grants made a difference in many areas: arts and culture, education, health, family, social services, and basic needs of our residents. Scholarships were awarded to help students afford a higher education.

�e Board of Directors of the Branford Community Foundation honors the essence of who we are—our values, our mission, our commitment to those we serve. At the same time, we need to be willing to confront the brutal facts and constantly innovate and reinvent ourselves to be responsive to the needs of the community we serve. I am pleased to continue serving as president of the Branford Community Foundation. �e directors, all volunteers, use their talents, expertise, and love of Branford for the benefit of enhancing the quality of life in our community. With these exceptional people, I know we are offering solid leadership in meeting the needs of nonprofit organizations throughout Branford.

Eunice Lasala, President

Reaching OutA REPORT FROM THE BRANFORD COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, 2011

2 Branford Community Foundation

BRANFORDCOMMUNITYFOUNDATION Meeting Community Needs

P.O. Box 462Branford, CT 06405(203) 488-6063

TREASURER’S REPORT:2009 - 2010 Financial Information

Statement of Financial PositionDecember 31, 2010 and 2009

2010 2009

ASSETS:

CURRENT ASSETS:Cash $217,815 $289,849Accrued interest income 2,599 3,430 _______ _______ Total current assets 220,414 293,279

LONG-TERM ASSETS:Investments 1,233,473 922,825 _______ _______ Total Assets $1,453,887 $1,216,104

LIABILITIES:

CURRENT LIABILITIES:Grants payable $0 $0 _______ _______

NET ASSETS:Permanently restricted for High School Scholarships $168,248 $154,693Temporarily restricted 8,605 Unrestricted: Unappropriated 902,986 825,611 Appropriated - by Board for scholarships 374,048 235,800 _______ _______ Total Net Assets $1,453,887 $1,216,104 _______ _______ Total Liabilities & Net Assets $1,453,887 $1,216,104

Statement of Activity & Changes in Net AssetsYear Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 2010 2009REVENUES, GAINS & OTHER SUPPORT:Contributions $162,348 $191,388Function income, net (327)Income on long-term investments 21,815 18,594Net gain on long-term investments 123,367 169,709 _______ _______ Total revenues, gains, and other support $307,203 $379,691

EXPENSES:Charitable giving: Grants $46,000 $29,650 Scholarships 15,300 14,700 Program Expenses 1,400 _______ _______ Total giving 61,300 45,750

Administrative: Professional fees 3,369 2,631 Postage 848 204 Advertising 124 275 Printing 2,993 2,617 Website expenses 705 597 Administrative 81 1,472 Fidelity bond 373 _______ _______ Total administrative $8,120 $8,169 _______ _______ Total expenses $69,420 $53,919

Change in net assets $237,783 $325,773 Net assets at beginning of year 1,216,104 890,331 _______ _______Net assets at end of year $1,453,887 1,216,104

The audited financial statement for

2008 is available on the Foundation

website along with the 2009 and

2010 financials. Please visit:

branfordcommunityfoundation.org

Eunice Lasala, President

Patricia C. Andriole, Vice President

John E. Donegan, Secretary

Christian P. Edmonds, Treasurer

Victor J. Cassella, Assistant Treasurer

DIRECTORSClaire C. BennittStephanie FarberRobert GillSheila GiordanoLaura Massey

Logo design by Martha Link Walsh; Newsletter design by Words by Jen.

www.branfordcommunityfoundation.org 3

FUND FOCUS: William Schwanfelder Fund

OUR FUNDS*

General Fund ($559,413)

Andriole Family Fund ($26,311)

H. Allen Carol Fund ($14,943)

Clark Family Fund ($7,400)

A. Peter and Fae Delfini Memorial Fund ($9,749)

Robert Dow Scholarship Fund ($11,085)

Darin G. Etzel Fund ($100,303)

Ellen McDonnell Ferguson Fund ($57,917)

PJ Ferriolo Memorial Fund ($28,337)

Vincent S. Giordano, Sr. Construction Ind. Memorial Scholarship ($35,567)

Donald W. Grigley Memorial Fund ($16,413)

Harry and Abbey Johnson Fund ($5,109)

William and Barbara Lyons Fund ($119,734)

Kendra Martin Scholarship Fund ($6,686)

Robert J Massey, Sr. Family Fund ($10,249)

Mobeck Family Fund ($11,001)

John and Carol Moss Fund ($8,317)

D. William Owens, Jr. and Robert M. Owens Scholarship ($11,307)

Carol D. Redden Scholarship Fund ($43,965)

Mari-Ellen Reed Fund ($15,444)

Austin Ryer Fund ($9,331)

William Schwanfelder Fund ($113,546)

Selectmans Fund ($1,943)

John B. Sliney ($9,931)

Eleanor Taylor Fund ($5,993)

Donald and Mary Lou Welch Fund ($8,051)

Linda Edsall Winward Scholarship Fund ($18,982)

Linda Edsall and Walter Winward Fund ($10,007)

*2010 Year End Totals

William Schwanfelder was born in Branford, Connecticut, the son of German descendant parents. William, a Branford resident for his entire life, had five siblings.

Bill attended Branford schools and was a frequent visitor to the James Blackstone Memorial Library. After graduating from Branford High School, he received an academic scholarship to Yale and worked to put himself through school. He graduated in 1944 from the school of engineering. Bill was always interested in aeronautics and, with some Yale classmates, he designed and produced the Corsair Folding Wing, which enables planes to land and park on aircraft carriers.

After graduating from Yale, Bill worked as a mechanical and hydraulic engineer. He became president and CEO of Eastern Industries in Hamden, a hydraulic company. Later, he started his own company, Fluid Tech-Burt Process, which is still operating.

For much of his life, Bill was active in several sports. He loved playing tennis, and for years played with Peter Borgemeister, his friend and a prominent citizen in town. Bill snow skied and learned to water ski. He loved ice skating, and boating with his friend, Paul Birbirie.

Bill was especially fond of spending time with his nieces and nephews, offering guidance and engaging them in stimulating conversations. He encouraged them to become involved in the community. He was very proud of nephew Kurt, and promoted his interest in politics.

Bill was a soft-spoken entrepreneur who felt that one should give back to his community. He always encouraged young people to do the same. With his brilliant financial mind and good heart, Bill gave his family good advice. He felt that it took an entire family to raise a child successfully. He taught them that they were raised with a good name and they should “keep it that way.”

After Bill’s death from pancreatic cancer at age 85 in 2008, his will proved how much he loved his hometown. To the James Blackstone Library, Bill donated to the Branford History Room which was dedicated to his parents. As a member of the Branford Land Trust, he left money for more open space. However, Bill Schwanfelder’s most endearing bequest was to the Branford Community Foundation in the amount of $100,000 to make our community better for all of its citizens. �at is indeed “giving back.” n

Above, Bill Schwanfelder at the marriage of his niece Liesel Schwanfelder and John Knowlton. Bill’s sister Roselin is on the left.

4 Branford Community Foundation

Mr. & Mrs. Truett AllisonCharles AndriolePatricia C. AndrioleJoan ArmstrongIrene N. AyresMr. & Mrs. Paul E. BarrettMr. & Mrs. Richard A.

BauerfeldClaire BennittHonorable Robert I. BerdonMr. & Mrs. Nelson

BernabucciPeter BorgemeisterBrian S. BorgersonJane P. BouleyMr. & Mrs. Charles BrainerdMr. & Mrs. William BriggsCarole BrownBarbara H. CallachanDr. & Mrs. Scott CasperMr. & Mrs. Victor J. CassellaJohn A. Casso &

Mark R. SerchuckMr. & Mrs. John ChambersJeffrey ClarkJonathan D. Clark &

Andrea Schieckel

David Colbourn & Mary Beth Michaelson

Dr. & Mrs. David ColleyMr. & Mrs. Richard ConroyRobert T. ConroyMr. & Mrs. Peter DaRosDorothy G. DesiChristine DoneganMr. & Mrs. John E. DoneganChristian P. EdmondsMr. & Mrs. Michael J. EtzelStephanie and

Leonard FarberMr. & Mrs. Joseph J.

FarricielliNiall FergusonRaymond F. FergusonMr. & Mrs. Peter M. FerrioloDr. & Mrs. George FlorentinePaul B. Ford, Jr.Sibyl K. FordDr. & Mrs. Gerald S.

FreedmanMr. & Mrs. Ralph GagliardiMr. & Mrs. Matthew GaileyJanice GeierCarol B. Gesner

2010 Branford Community Foundation Contributors

Branford Counseling Center�e Counseling Center’s Basic Needs Program serves the underemployed, the working poor, and those on fixed incomes. Basic needs can range from food and gas expenses, to prescriptions, rent payments, mortgages, condo fees and utility bills. �e Center is extremely grateful to the Branford Community Foundation for its generous grant to help with these basic needs.

Mr. & Mrs. Robert W. GillMr. & Mrs. Michael F.

GiordanoMr. & Mrs. Vincent GiordanoMr. & Mrs. William GormanDr. Laurence B. GormleyLucien R. GrenonMr. & Mrs. John HannifordHeffernan Associates

Consulting LLCDr. & Mrs. Peter HerbertMr. & Mrs. Donald HerzogMr. & Mrs. Creighton

HookerAnne E. HopkinsWilliam Horne &

Lea BrilmayerDavid K. HyattJeanne HyattWinnifred B. JudgeMr. & Mrs. Kenneth P.

KaminskyLinda KaroffFrank KennaMr. & Mrs. John KennedyMr. & Mrs. Stuart Klarman

Dr. & Mrs. Arthur H. Knowlton

Eunice and Anthony LasalaMr. & Mrs. James LaskeEunhee Lee & Kyle ZalewskiBruce R. Lively & Ann P.

RutherfordMr. & Mrs. James LoftisMr. & Mrs. Ronald

Longway, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Peter F. LupoliJulie E. MarshMr. & Mrs. James MartinMr. & Mrs. Jared R. MartinCarol F. MasottaRobert J. Massey Sr. Family

Foundation, Inc.Mr. & Mrs. Frank McDonaldMary A. McDonaldDiane McGuireRuth B. McHenryMr. & Mrs. Andrew McKirdyDr. & Mrs. James H.

MendilloFergus T. MooneyJoseph W. Mooney

Branford Community TelevisionIn 2010, BCTV conducted a telephone survey of Branford residents in an effort to become a more vital part of the community. In all, 271 surveys were completed, made possible in part by a generous grant from the Branford Community Foundation. As a result, a number of new programs are being investigated. Above, BCTV Board President Alan Fitz.

www.branfordcommunityfoundation.org 5

Mr. & Mrs. Patrick J. Moriarty

Mr. & Mrs. Edward NicholsWilliam NygardMr. & Mrs. Robert ObolewiczMr. & Mrs. William T.

O’Brien, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Joseph OrseneMr. & Mrs. D. William

Owens, Jr.Lee Panagoulias, Jr., PrincipalDonald Patterson &

Shirley RasmussenMr. & Mrs. Arnold PetersonJeff PetersonJoseph PolkaMr. & Mrs. George E.

ProkupekMr. & Mrs. Dominic F. Proto�omas RomanoMr. & Mrs. Malcolm SchwabKurt M. SchwanfelderMr. & Mrs. Gerald ShaffMelissa B. SmithMr. & Mrs. David L. StampRichard D. Stapleton

Mr. & Mrs. George B. Storer, III

Robert Taylor, Jr.Rosemary TobinMr. & Mrs. Harry TorelloMr. & Mrs. Jeffrey TorelloBetty Ann TrapassoMr. & Mrs. Jeffrey VailetteMr. Robert A. Valley, Sr.Mr. & Mrs. William

Van WilgenMr. & Mrs. John Walsh�omas F. WilsonAnnie Lee YoungMr. & Mrs. Stephen J. ZackSophie ZielinskiDr. & Mrs. Marvin

ZimmermanDr. & Mrs. Howard Zonana

Branford’s Education Hall of FameA donation from the Branford Community Foundation to the Susan Spear School Library Book Project allowed Branford’s Education Hall of Fame to increase the number of books supplied to Branford school libraries. Since its inception, the Book Project has donated approximately 800 books to school libraries. Photo of Matt Hally by Catherine Kiernan.

Branford Festival Father of the Year AwardEach year the Branford Festival offers a Father of the Year Essay Contest. In 2010, winner Manik Soomro wrote about his father, Farhan Soomro, pictured above. �e Branford Community Foundation donated a bicycle and helmet from Zane’s Cycles to the essay winner. Photo by Bill O’Brien.

Ann Samuelson Curtis died in March of 2009 at her home in Asher Village, Wallingford. Ann resided in Branford for many years with her husband Earle C. Curtis, Jr. who predeceased her. Ann Curtis bequeathed a generous amount of money to the Branford Community Foundation with the intention to improve the quality of life in Branford.

Ann was born in Oakland, California in 1913, daughter of the late Rev. Axel G. and Anna E. Johnson Samuelson. She was a graduate of University of California at Berkley and received a Public Health Nursing degree in 1939. During World War II, she volunteered for the Army Nursing Corps, and became Captain in the U.S. Army Hospital Administration, where she met her husband Earle. Ann and Earle moved to Branford, where they became licensed funeral directors and operated the Curtis Funeral Home on South Main Street in Branford.

Ann served as director of the Branford Visiting Nurses Associa-tion for many years, and as its president from 1966 to 1970. She was a member of the First Congregational Church of Branford, the Branford Historical Society and the Branford Land Trust. Ann is survived by several nieces and nephews. n

Generous Donation from the Late Ann Samuelson Curtis

6 Branford Community Foundation

GRANT FOCUS: “Rock ‘n Roll Over Beethoven”

2010 GRANTSThe Foundation’s continuing commitment to our community was reflected by the number and size of our grants in 2010 which supported:

• BranfordCommunityTelevision

• BranfordCounselingCenter

• BranfordEducationHall of Fame

• BranfordFoodPantry

• BranfordHigh School Choir

• BranfordHighSchoolPerforming Arts

• CampHazenYMCA

• CommunityDiningRoom

• EastShoreRegionalAdult Day Care

• PuppetHouseonTour

• SoundviewFamilyYMCA

• VNACommunityHealth Care

• WalshIntermediateSchool Choir

• Women&Family Life Center

In addition, $15,300 from memorial funds the Branford Community Foundation holds and manages was distributed to high school seniors in the form of scholarships for their education.

“Rock ‘n Roll Over Beethoven” was an educational project conceived by Branford High School Choir Director, Cathyann Roding. The Branford Community Foundation was integral in not only sup-porting the project financially, but giving it the “initial vote of confidence” that was needed in rallying other supporters. On Sunday, May 1, 2011 a concert at Woolsey Hall was enjoyed by a full house!

�is project was born of two separate goals that seemed to fit very nicely. First, Cathyann and her students were over-whelmed by the community’s response to help when she and her choir incurred extra expenses as their April 2010 Italy trip got extended due to the volcano in Iceland. She wanted to teach her students about how important it is to “give back to your community.” Second, she wanted her students to compare and contrast two completely different styles of music by analyzing such musical elements as form, chord structure, and line. “Rock ‘n Roll Over Beethoven” accomplished both of these.

�roughout the school year, the Branford High School Choir students studied an entire Beethoven mass and twelve classic rock songs. �e first reward was having the opportunity to perform them at historic Woolsey Hall in New Haven with a full orchestra for the Beethoven and a rock band and full orchestra for the rock songs. �e second reward was the knowledge that the proceeds from the ticket sales, as well as the concert CD sales, would be donated to the Basic Needs Program at the Branford Counseling Center.

In addition to meeting the goals set out, there were so many other great experiences and benefits for the students. Performing a major work such as the Beethoven “Mass in C” the way Beethoven intended was a life-altering experience for most. Working with an arranger and learning how he took each rock song and created his orchestrations was a lesson in theory, music software programs, thinking out of the box, and creativity! Having Pat Andriole from the Branford Counseling Center come in and talk about the needs of people in Branford was “eye opening” and life changing. �e feeling of accomplishment was tremendous and shared by all—just learning that when you are organized, prepared, and work hard you can achieve anything was the greatest lesson.

Without the support of the Branford Community Foundation, almost 200 students would not have had this tremendous educational experience. n Photo by Bill O’Brien.

www.branfordcommunityfoundation.org 7

Camp HazenLocated on the shores of Cedar Lake in Chester, Camp Hazen is committed to helping youth develop valuable life skills through outdoor camping experiences. In 2010 a Branford Community Foundation grant of $1,000 helped Camp Hazen provide need-based financial assistance for 12 Branford youth to have a Hazen experience. Branford native Allie Kowolenko, right, has grown up at Camp Hazen YMCA. Allie was a camper for 6 years, a LEA (Counselor-in-Training), and returns in this summer for her second year as staff.

Community Dining RoomThe Community Dining Room has provided hot nutritious food to struggling families for over 25 years. In 2010, the Community Dining Room received a $10,000 grant from the Branford Community Foundation. �ese dollars were used to provide some of the 47,290 meals distributed that year. �is grant support is critical to the well working of all Community Dining Room nutrition efforts including our Dining Room Lunch, Family Dinner, Home Delivery, and Wednesday Take-out Dinner programs.

Branford Food PantryIn the last year, the Branford Food Pantry (formerly the Branford Food Council) has had 100 new Branford families arrive in need of food. �ese families have lost their jobs and their homes or have huge medical expenses. Many haven’t needed us for several years, but have had to come back because of the tough times. It is because of generosity of the Branford Community Foundation, and like-minded donors, the Food Pantry has been able to maintain a good supply of food for the residents in need of help.

Branford High School ChoirIn 2010, over 100 Branford High School singers and their director, Cathyann Roding, found themselves stranded in Italy after winning five trophies at the Verona International Choir Competition. �e eruption of the Iceland volcano forced the cancellation of European flights. �ey returned home after eight extra days, but financially, this presented a problem for many families. The Branford Community Foundation and others, made donations that helped several families pay for the additional expenses.

8 Branford Community Foundation

VNA Healthcare “�is class has helped me out quite a bit,” comments Bob Mahoney, a participant in VNA Community Healthcare’s twice weekly Parkinson’s Exercise Class that is supported by the Branford Community Foundation. �e exercise class helps individuals maintain strength and balance and manage symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. But beyond exercise, the class includes singing, laughter and support. VNA Community Healthcare also maintains a number of classes for older adults interested in gaining strength and stability.

Women & Family Life Center�e Women & Family Life Center received a grant from the Branford Community Foundation to purchase new technology. “�e financial crisis impacted us in terms of shrinking resources as well as in increased service demand—a 30% increase in the number of people served,” explains Executive Director Peggy Britt. “During this time, we made no investment in our infrastructure. The grant will be used to upgrade our computer technology.” Above, members of the WFLC Girls Coach, Girls Run Program.

Orchard HouseOrchard House Adult Day Center received a grant from the Branford Community Foundation that was used for the purchase of a new 2010 van for the facility. �e new van is serving the clients of Orchard House including the frail and elderly, mostly with a dementia diagnosis of the Alzheimer’s type. �ey are transported to and from their homes to Orchard House in vans on a daily basis, thanks to the support of the Branford Community Foundation.

Puppet House on TourFor over 100 years, the Stony Creek Puppet House has delighted generations from silent movies to puppet shows and live theater. Greg Nobile initiated the Stony Creek Puppet House Foundation in 2010. Now, as Puppet House on Tour, its refocused mission reads “a community arts organization dedicated to providing educational, entertaining, and creative opportunities that inspire and engage all audiences across the Connecticut shoreline.”Photo of Greg Nobile by Brad Horrigan, New Haven Register.