(Patti Anne Vassia, center, accepts the Community Service Award from Middlesex United Way Executive Director Kevin Wilhelm and Board President Faith Jackson from the City of Middletown at Middlesex United Way’s annual meeting on Jan. 26)
Middlesex United Way launched its 75th anniversary year by honoring Patti Anne Vassia of Haddam with the prestigious Community Service Award at the 2010 annual meeting on Jan. 26. Vassia, a former Middlesex United Way executive director, was honored for more than 40 years of volunteer service to Middlesex County. A longtime Middlesex United Way volunteer, Vassia is also a founder of the Middlesex County Community Foundation and served as the first female president of both YMCA of Connecticut and YMCA Camp Hazen in Chester.
The annual meeting also served as a kickoff to the 75th anniversary year of Middlesex United Way, which began Feb. 6, 1935, as Middletown Community Chest, morphed into the War Chest during times of war, and later became the United Fund before finally becoming United Way. Community Chests were established to answer a growing frustration of competing appeals for funds, demands for volunteer time, and the fragmentation of human services, a mission United Ways continue to carry on today.
“We’ve come a long way since then, but the spirit of bringing people together for a common cause is still alive,” Jackson told the crowd gathered at the meeting. “And that’s what United Way is about — working together to make a difference.”
The original headquarters of Middletown Community Chest were located at Middletown Savings Bank, which is now Liberty Bank, and the first fundraising campaign raised nearly $52,000 for twelve original member agencies. Middletown Community Chest’s original member agencies, some of which remain Middlesex United Way partners today, were recognized Tuesday. They include: St. Luke’s Home, now known as St. Luke’s Eldercare Solutions; The Boys Scouts and the Girl Scouts; the YMCA; Middlesex Hospital; and the Salvation Army.
During the annual meeting, Elizabeth Morin, Jean D’Aquila, Christine Fahey, David Giuffrida, Andrew Rapp and Kelly Smith were elected to the Board of Directors and appointments were made to several committees. Faith Jackson, president of the board, announced the 2010 campaign co-chairs: Chandler Howard of Liberty Bank, Robert Kiely from Middlesex Hospital, Larry McHugh from the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce and Michael Roth of Wesleyan University.
Middlesex United Way is a locally based organization dedicated to strengthening lives, helping people and improving community conditions in Middlesex County. United Way is advancing the common good and creating real, lasting change by focusing on the building blocks for a good life – education, income, health, and housing. United Way also funds a Volunteer Center, to support the volunteer needs of the community, and 2-1-1, a 24-hour, toll-free information and referral helpline.
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