Former School District Employee and School Board Member Fran Wolski Establishes Family Fund to Enrich Lives of New Britain School Children
NEW BRITAIN, CT -- Working for nearly 30 years with New Britain educators and on behalf of school children, first as a school district employee and later as a school board member and president, Fran Wolski got to see first-hand just how much a helping hand could mean to a New Britain child.
“When I left my job in the school administration building to work at Northend School, I thought I had died and went to heaven,” says the 83-year-old New Britain native, who worked 16 years in the school system before retiring and serving as a school board member for another 12 years – including four as president – through 2007. “It was such an eye-opener to see how invested our teachers were in students’ lives, and how much need our children and families faced. It was heartwarming and heart-wrenching at the same time.”
When Wolski encountered a young boy and his mom who registered for kindergarten but faced enormous challenges at home, she vowed then and there to somehow, someway do her part to help New Britain children. The new Raymond and Frances Wolski Family Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain embodies Fran Wolski’s love of New Britain children and her dream to help them.
The new donor-advised fund will make small but vital annual grants to enrich the lives of New Britain school children, with Fran playing the leading role in choosing how grants are distributed.
“I love New Britain, the school district and I am proud to be a New Britainite,” says the former Fran Wodarski, who grew up on Smith Street, graduated from Mary Immaculate Academy in 1952 and still resides in the city today. “I feel we need to better prepare our children and to give them whatever joy we can to inspire them. The more help we can give these children at a younger age, the better.
“I don’t want to supply these children with paper and pencils. I want to supply them with experiences.”
Fran is quick to point out that the fund is a true family affair. Her husband Raymond, who passed away last year, was also a New Britain native who graduated from New Britain High School in 1949. Raymond, who went on to a successful career as an engineer, lost both of his parents before graduating and shared Fran’s compassion for children in need. The Wolski’s three adult children, Peter and Ken Wolski and Karen Prendergast, are all supportive of their parents’ charitable intentions.
For more information about how the Community Foundation can help donors leave their legacy, contact Ann Bova at 860-229-6018, ext. 302, or abova@cfgnb.org. You may also visit the Foundation’s Planned Giving website at www.cfgnbgiving.org.
Established in 1941, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain is “Where Good Begins” in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington. The Foundation works to inspire philanthropy, manage permanent charitable assets effectively, and partner to address key community issues through strategic leadership. For more information, visit www.cfgnb.org.
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Contact:
Dennis Buden
DBPR
860-558-0514
dennis@dbpr.net
Website: www.cfgnb.org