Join The Gates Society

A Planned Giving Community

You can provide for your heirs through your estate plan and create a lasting legacy for the Valley. Your planned gift will impact what you are passionate about and make a difference regardless of the amount. The Gates Society is the Valley Community Foundation’s (VCF’s) planned giving community.
 

Joining is simple. All it takes is for someone to let us know that they plan to remember VCF in their estate, regardless of the fund, amount or percentage.

The Society is named in honor of Ross and Frank Gates, brothers of the last generation of a prominent Derby family, who created trusts in their family name to benefit charitable causes they were passionate about. The trusts established The Gates Fund with our partner in philanthropy, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, and specified that in the selection of beneficiaries due consideration be given “…to the benefit of the inhabitants in the vicinity of Derby, Connecticut…” Created over a half a century ago, the Gates Fund continues to distribute substantial resources for the benefit of Valley communities, and beyond.

Today, a person doesn’t need to set up a trust to support a charitable cause after their lifetime. Whether your gift is endowed or for current use, there are many ways to establish a legacy of giving forever by making a planned gift using the Valley Community Foundation as a partner.

VCF has deep roots in the Valley and strong knowledge of our community’s needs and opportunities. Establish your legacy of giving forever through the Valley Community Foundation. Contact VCF at 203-751-9162 and your trusted professional advisor to explore your options.

Gates Society Members

As of November 19, 2024

• Anonymous (5)
  Dayne and Dawn Bachmann
  Twan and Karen Bentlage
  Leslie Bondos
  Sharon Closius
  Jamie Cohen
  Jane Cohen*
  Edmund J. Conklin*
  John Corraro
  Angela Curas*
  Patricia DeCicco
  Walter and Bonnie Drozeck
  Helen Dubrava*
  Patricia Dziuba
  Ed Fogarty
  Gregg Goumas
  Bob and Sheri Grier
  William and Jo-Anna Holden
  Michael Hyder*
  Heidi Kaplan
  Deborah Kelo
  M. Elizabeth Kennard
  Richard Knoll
  Laura Lane
  Robert Lang*
  Barry and Josephine Lifrieri
  Bette Mae Luedecker*
  Raymond F. Mackowski*
  Mary Theresa Mahoney*                                                                                                                     
  Arthur C. Martin

  Ned Miller
  Raymond Oppel
  David and Dale Ortoli
  Fred Ortoli
  Lynn Ortoli*
  Joseph Pagliaro, Jr.
  Dorothy Palazzi
  Carol Pendagast
  Lynne Bassett Perry
  David & Joan Rifkin
  Beth Ann Smith
  Donald W. Smith Sr.*
  Brad and Marianne Smythe
  Fred Stanek
  Karen Stanek*
  Nicholas and Patricia Tarasovic
  Alan Tyma
  Robert and Eleanora Van Egghen
  Marc C. Vincent*
  Valentina Vitali*
  Kathie Vrlik
  Jack Walsh
  Donald E. Warichar
  Joseph R. Warichar*
  Lynn Wozniak
  John and Laura Zaprzalka

* Deceased