(1945 – 2021)
The Village community was heartbroken to hear of the recent passing of actress, playwright and author Linda Carlson Hart, a longtime supporter and advocate for The Village’s mission in Greater Hartford.
When she retired from acting in 2003 and moved to Connecticut from California, Linda learned of The Village’s work and was drawn to help further its mission. She was particularly struck by Village programs that help girls and young women—many of whom have experienced abuse and neglect—manage behavioral and emotional issues so they can build bright futures.
For Linda, and for The Village, it was the beginning of a beautiful partnership.
In a past interview with The Village, Linda shared, “I immediately knew that the girls served by The Village were the girls I wanted to support because they had overcome many challenges and had the discipline to succeed.”
Over the years, Linda donated more than $204,000 to The Village to support services that help girls and young women heal. She also created a scholarship to help young women served by The Village become financially self-reliant. The Abbott- Carlson Scholarship has enabled young women to attend college, and to be paired with a mentor from the business, nonprofit or volunteer community.
In 2013, The Village named Linda the Girl Within Woman of the Year in honor of her dedication to helping several young women in Greater Hartford realize their dreams.
An annual Village event and fundraiser, the Girl Within Event helps enable at-risk young women and girls in Greater Hartford to become resilient, confident and independent, and helps those who have experienced abuse and neglect to heal. Each year, a Woman of the Year is honored for their commitment to the community.
The support that Linda has provided The Village has made an immeasurable difference in the lives of many young women and has helped them access the tools to turn dreams into reality. Some of those young women have even returned to The Village, to give back, as staff.
Though them, and through The Village’s continued mission, Linda’s legacy continues.
