Residents and Town Organizations Helped
By Wide Foundation Outreach


The Westbrook Foundation has many faces in our community.

To graduating High School seniors, it's a financial boost in the form of scholarships to colleges
that may have been beyond their means. To townspeople seeking to change, sharpen or add skills
after college or high school, its funds to help pursue those opportunities. For town agencies and
organizations, it's Grants to buy items, equipment or offer services that may not have been in a
budget, but are critical to achieving their community goals or mission.

In 2006, the Foundation gave out $163, 390 in grants and scholarships. In the Grant category, the
Foundation provided a wide range of rewards. For example, tuition assistance at Camp Hazen
YMCA went to Westbrook students in need, the library upgraded its computer technologies and
expanded free internet access for townspeople, St Mark Church received funds to start building
an outdoor non denominational labyrinth, funds for high tech safety suits ensured that members
of our local Ambulance Association are better protected when they arrive on scene, and the High
School Theater Department will be able to purchase a storage shed and a new sound system for
its productions.

The total outlay for all Grants was $82,940.

For graduating seniors, the Foundation manages 13 Scholarships bearing the name of a donor or
benefactor. The primary one is the Barbara Spencer Memorial Scholarships, comprising four
categories of academic excellence, Leadership, Good Citizenship and Special Awards. Several of
the other Scholarships reward graduating seniors for excellence in specific areas such as nursing
and engineering. Last year, the Foundation began a new scholarship for post secondary and
continuing education study. It is funded by a $237,000 gift from the Messerschmidt family, and
seven Westbrook residents are already benefiting from this money.

In total, $80,450 in scholarship funds was given to 35 students in 2006.

Applications for all the Scholarships and Grants are on the Foundation's web site
www.westbrookfoundation.org or may be requested by mail at the Westbrook Foundation,
P.O. Box 528, Westbrook, CT 06498.