Dear Friends,
My tenure as Chair of The Village’s board of directors may have just begun, but I have been connected to this organization for 60 years! I was adopted through The Village when I was an infant, and I’m grateful every day for my good fortune. The Village connected me to my incredible family, who not only provided me with much love, but also with countless opportunities that have helped me become the person I am today. So, it is an honor and a privilege to give back to this special organization as chairman of its board.
My parents always stressed that my “birth parents” must have loved me a great deal to make the very difficult choice to let me be adopted by a family who could take better care of me. Growing up with that explanation always made me feel fortunate and never abandoned.
I went away to college, enjoyed success in various jobs and entrepreneurial endeavors and eventually took over the Thomas Hooker Brewery.
Early in the brewery’s existence, we were looking for a non-profit to support, and we decided to donate to The Village. That marked the beginning of my new relationship with the organization: as a donor, volunteer and eventually, board member.
It has been gratifying to play a small role in The Village’s success. I get to work with an incredible group of dedicated board members and a brilliant executive management team who value innovation, collaboration and accountability.
We are all committed to ensuring that we use The Village’s resources efficiently and constantly search for ways to maximize impact. Last year we launched one of the state’s only urgent crisis centers for youth experiencing mental health emergencies. Whether it be access to primary medical care for Hartford residents, substance use counseling for young adults or our fatherhood program for dads who often grew up without one, the breadth of our services is ever expanding.
None of this would be possible without our donors, volunteers, auxilians, government and private funders. The Village has proven itself to be a good partner, and that reputation helps us galvanize unwavering support for our mission to build a community of strong, healthy families who protect and nurture children.
This work remains personal for me. We each have a story, a time when we needed help to realize our full potential. That is what The Village is all about; trust me, I know.
Curt Cameron, Board Chair