THE WESTFIELD FOUNDATION

One of New Jersey's Community Foundations

Post Office Box 2295; Westfield, New Jersey 07091

(908) 233-9787 email:foundation@westfieldnj.com

The Westfield Foundation was founded in 1975 by a group of local citizens led by former Westfield Mayor H. Emerson Thomas. Its mission is to enhance and support the quality of life of the citizens of Westfield.  The Foundation is an independent non-profit organization funded entirely by contributions.

The Foundation, which was started with assets of $2,000 in 1975, has experienced a steady growth in assets, and is currently valued at approximately $9.8 million.  Growth was enhanced by a transfer in 1981 of more than $600,000 in assets from the Westfield-Wallace Fund and by major gifts in 1994 from the estates of Robert L. Rooke ($400,000) and Nancy Reynolds ($321,000), both long time residents of Westfield. Growth was also enhanced by the addition of many individual endowment funds over the years, by annual supportive contributions from Westfield citizens and by funds managed by the Foundation for community groups such as the United Fund, Rotary Club, Friends of the Westfield Memorial Library, Youth and Family Counseling Service, Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad, and Westfield Day Care Center.   In 1998 the Foundation received its largest ever individual bequest from the estate of Charles W. Anderson, a long-time resident of Westfield.  Mr. Anderson's bequest  exceeded $1,000,000.  The Charles W. Anderson Fund, an unrestricted fund, increased by almost 50% the amount of funding available to the trustees for the Foundation's ongoing grants program.  In 2005, Harry Sturcke, a long time business owner in the Westfield area and a long time member of the Westfield Rotary Club, donated stock valued at over $97,000 to the Westfield Foundation to establish the Harry Sturcke Fund, an unrestricted fund to augment the Foundation's grants program.

The Foundation has a governing body of 15 civic leaders with a thorough knowledge of the community.  Trustees for 2006-2007 are:

    Barbara Doyle Frantz, President
    Susan Pepper, Vice-President
    George A. Lewis, Treasurer
    Warren K. Hanscom, Secretary
    Anthony J. R. Cook
    Joseph D. DeMaio
    Lois D. Hely
    Thomas C. Jardim
    Charles A. Kroloff
    Geoffrey Mann
    Ingrid McKinley
    John P. O'Leary
    Mary P. Ruotolo
    Miriam Span
    Victoria Wicks
 
 

PRESIDENTS

H. Emerson Thomas - 1975-1982
Charles H. Frankenbach, Jr. - 1983-1988
William S. Jeremiah II - 1989-1990
Allen R. Malcolm - 1991
Lee M. Hale - 1992-1994
Michele M. Picou - 1995-1997
Frank A. MacPherson - 1998-2000
Gerald J. Glasser - 2001- 2003
Gail A. Cassidy - 2003 - 2005
David E. Owens - 2005 - 2006

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

E. Alfred Herberich - 1979-1987
Jeremiah A. Lott - 1988-1993
Freia Mitarai - 1994-1995
Elizabeth B. Chance - 1995-

Please choose from the following . . .

Mission Statement

Methods of Making Long Term Gifts

Westfield Foundation Advantages

Donor Advised Funds

Grants Program

Financial Statements

Funds in the Foundation

Grant Application

Note: Grants are made to qualifying non-profit programs and projects serving the Westfield community.  Grants are not made to individuals, and no Grants will be made to religious organizations for religious activities, or to other organizations for legislative activities or political campaigns.

The Westfield Foundation wishes to thank Daryl Walker of Westfield, NJ for donating this web site for the Foundation's use.