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06/08/2017 12:01 AMHelping make life better for other people, now and in the future, is easier than you might think. It doesn’t require oodles of money or countless hours of time, just an open heart and the desire to make a difference in your community.
Over the past 20 years, the Community Foundation of Middlesex County (CFMC) has been fortunate to work with individuals from all walks of life, of various means, and with diverse interests and concerns. They all have one thing in common: the belief that working together and pooling resources has a far greater impact than one could ever have on his or her own. Each of these individuals has a unique and personal legacy story. Some, like Elisabeth “Liz” Petry, have a story that illustrates the many faces of philanthropy, leadership, and legacy. We share it here as a celebration and inspiration for all.
Petry, a writer, community volunteer, former journalist, and lawyer, grew up in Old Saybrook in a family of accomplished individuals. Her mother, Ann Petry, was an acclaimed author. Her great aunt, Anna Louise James, was the first African-American female pharmacist in Connecticut and ran the family business, James Pharmacy, for many years. Now a Middletown resident, Petry joined the CFMC Board of Directors in 1999, during the organization’s infancy, helping to shape the grassroots philosophy of giving as we know it today. In 2001, she established the Ann and George Petry Fund in memory of her late mother and father who were both passionate about the arts. The fund supports the arts with grants awarded through a competitive application process to nonprofit organizations throughout Middlesex County.
Petry also received an amazing gift upon her mother’s passing: an ice cream cone tin containing more than 400 letters and photographs handed down through five generations of family. When Petry shared what she found with her cousins Ashley James and Kathryn Golden, co-founders of Searchlight Films, the trio saw more than family memorabilia. They saw local history and legacy, and knew this story needed to be shared. They agreed on a documentary film project, For Dear Mother’s Sake: The James Family Letters that Shaped Ann Petry. The Community Foundation is proud to serve as the project’s fiscal sponsor to ensure that the James family story is shared today and for generations to come.
Petry certainly understands the importance of giving back. She volunteers in many ways now, offering her time and talent, including volunteering at Middlesex Hospital, leading a veterans writing and oral history workshop at Russell Library, and speaking with nonprofits and individuals of the importance of legacy and planned giving. Petry leads by example, having established a personal legacy through her own estate planning with a planned gift for CFMC. Petry understands the value of the community, and the need to remember and take care of the organizations you care most about now and forever.
We encourage you to share your story with us. Consider a gift in honor of a family member to support a cause they were passionate about. Give us a call at 860-347-0025, or drop us an email at info@MiddlesexCountyCF.org.