WATERBURY — Good news arrived for the Greater Waterbury Campership Fund this week, with a donation that will provide a huge push toward this year’s $165,000 campaign goal.
The David, Helen and Marian Woodward Fund, through its Watertown-based trust committee, notified the Campership Fund’s board of directors it will allocate $40,000 for Camperships. The sum is an increase from the $30,000 annual allocations made the past few years.
“It’s always been a great cause, but particularly this year because kids have been cooped up all spring,” said Dr. Craig W. Czarsty, chairman of the Woodward Fund’s trust committee. “Hopefully we can get some of them off to camp this summer. And we’re always glad to help out.”
Marian Woodward Ottley, upon her death in 1974, had established, by will, the David, Helen and Marian Woodward Fund in memory of her parents. Ottley’s goal in establishing the trust was, in her words, “to carry out their wishes and mine in attempting to make this a better world for those who come after us.”
A distribution committee directs the trustees to distribute income and principal exclusively to or for the benefit of nonprofit institutions, corporations and associations in New York and in the six New England states. These organizations must be operated exclusively for religious, educational, charitable or scientific purposes. Historically, preference is given to agencies and programs in Connecticut.
Not including the Woodward Fund allocation or a pending $5,000 grant from the Ion Bank Foundation already pledged, contributions to the campaign have reached $102,466, or 62 percent of the goal. The two new grants will bring the funding level to almost 90 percent of goal.
State day camps have been given the option of opening June 29, following health guidelines and requirements issued by the Office of Early Childhood.
The deadline for families in the 10-community area served by the United Way to apply for Camperships this summer has been extended to June 15. It is anticipated at least some underprivileged youngsters will be able to attend a camp this season.
The United Way of Greater Waterbury volunteers its professional services to screens applicants for eligibility. Families who receive SNAP benefits or meet federal poverty guidelines, and with children ages 5 to 18, in Bethlehem, Cheshire, Middlebury, Prospect, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott or Woodbury, are eligible to apply.
Applications can be obtained from the United Way, by searching Campership on rep-am.com, and for the first time, directly from the participating camps from throughout the state that assist the Campership Fund.
Every penny raised by the Campership Fund, a 501(c)3, goes toward sending accepted applicants to camp. Money not spent this summer will be put toward tuition for the summer 2021.
Supporters raised $157,457 for tuition that paid for 434 children to attend camp in 2019, which was the 50th anniversary year of the Campership Fund.
Donations may be sent to Greater Waterbury Campership Fund, 389 Meadow St., Waterbury, CT 06722.
Regular donations totaling $9,265 received last week included:
• Mr. and Mrs. Frank and Sandy Monteiro, Prospect, $5,000
• Drew Marine, Whippany, N.J., $2,500
• Mr. and Mrs. Mark and Suzanne Casey, Prospect, in honor of Frank and Sandy for all they do!, $500
• The Rozum Family, Prospect, in memory of Theodore F. Rozum Sr., May 29, 2011, $500
• Mr. George Kozlow, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., in memory of Tim McDonald and Peggy Leger, $150
• Mr. and Mrs. Eric and Margaret Somma, Prospect, $150
• Ms. Irene Blanchard, Waterbury, $100
• Ms. Joan Dolan, Wolcott, in memory of her dear friend Doris Grady, $100
• Ms. Barbara Brandolini, Cheshire, $75
• Ms. Nancy Rivard, Woodbridge, in memory of Irene Gross, $50
• Mr. Norm Feitelson, New Haven, in memory of P.J. Conway, a very special friend, $50
• Ms. Susan Jensen, Woodbury, $50
• Ms. Pat Ciccone, Torrington, in memory of Irene Gross, $40
Donation for sponsorship of the Big Green Truck Pizza event in 2021 included:
• Ms. Susan Beatty, Waterbury, sponsor, $100