Holder, Burr, Carrero, Middlesex YMCA honored by Middlesex United Way

Bill Holder accepts the Community Service Award
at Middlesex United Way's annual meeting.

MIDDLETOWN—Bill Holder of Middletown was honored with Middlesex United Way’s highest and most prestigious volunteer honor Jan. 28 at the at the organization’s annual meeting. The Community Service Award recognizes an individual for his or her length and continuity of volunteer service to Middlesex United Way.

Holder, director of university communications for Wesleyan University and editor of Wesleyan magazine, has served on the Middlesex United Way Board of Directors since 2005, currently serving as first vice president. He has served on and chaired many United Way committees including the Marketing Advisory Council, Development Council, Major Gifts Team, Leadership Circle Team and Vision Committee. Holder is also a member and a former president of the Rockfall Foundation Board of Directors.

Rosa Carrero, community outreach officer and AVP of community development at Liberty Bank, was also honored at the meeting with the Middlesex United Way Community Leadership Award, recognizing her leadership in strengthening communities.  Carrero is a member of the Middlesex United Way Health-Wellness Team and a past chair of the Middlesex United Way Women’s Initiative.  She has provided leadership to a diverse array of non-profits including:  St. Vincent DePaul, the Middlesex County Homeless Prevention Fund, the Middlesex Chapter of the NAACP and the Credit for Life Fair in Middletown, which teaches financial literacy to high school students.

Harry Eben Burr was honored with the Tocqueville Society Philanthropy Award for his significant role in inspiring philanthropy. Burr is an honorary director of Middlesex United Way and four-time campaign chair for Middlesex United Way, chairing the campaign most recently in 2011. Burr has been active in growing the Middlesex United Way Tocqueville Society, which recognizes philanthropic leaders who make a contribution of $10,000 or more annually. Burr is also an active supporter Rushford, Middlesex Hospital, the Community Foundation of Middlesex County, Middlesex YMCA, and many other organizations.

Middlesex YMCA received the Community Impact Award in recognition of the organization’s outstanding commitment to improving lives and community conditions. Middlesex YMCA provides high quality programs, services, and facilities that improve individual and family life, encourage healthier lifestyles, and assist youth in developing into responsible adulthood. One such program is Kids’ Korner, which serves on average 400 children each day in 11 after school programs in Middlesex County and is funded in part by Middlesex United Way.

After a year-long needs assessment, Middlesex United Way also announced at the meeting its 5-year vision and goals for 2014/15 to 2018/19. The organization, which works work in the areas of education, income, health and housing, announced that it envisions a Middlesex County where: Students succeed academically; individuals and families are economically stable; individuals and families are healthy and safe; youth and adults avoid risky behaviors; and individuals and families have safe and affordable housing. More information is available at www.middlesexunitedway.org/news.

Five new directors were also elected to the Board of Middlesex United Way: Floresia Allen, owner of Allen’s Abatement Services and founder and CEO of S.W.E.E.T. Potato Society; Scott Carlson, partner at Carlson & Dumeer Attorneys at Law; Cindi Gondek, principal at ACT Group; Toral Maher, program officer at Liberty Bank Foundation; and Greg Treacy, general manager of Compression Systems Module Center at Pratt & Whitney.

Middlesex United Way is a locally based organization dedicated to strengthening lives, helping people, and improving community conditions in the fifteen towns in Middlesex County. Middlesex United Way serves the towns of Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook.