In 2014 and 2017, two landmark bequests—from Peter Grayson Letz and from Mary Janvrin and Natalie Janvrin Wiggins—transformed our capacity to invest in the future of Eastern Connecticut. These gifts, totaling more than $18 million, were designed to support animal welfare, environmental protection, and community resilience.
Their legacy helped redefine what it means to care for our environment—not just protecting wildlife and ecosystems, but promoting environmental equity: ensuring that all communities, especially those most vulnerable, benefit from clean air, healthy land, and climate resilience.
Since then, we’ve granted over $6.1 million to support conservation, watershed health, climate justice, and humane animal care—while also adopting a socially responsible investment policy that aligns our endowment with our values.
From local land trusts to youth-led climate action, we continue to honor their vision through bold, equity-centered environmental leadership.