An important part of our mission is to support Branford’s youth and ensure a brighter future for our entire community. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the Branford Community Foundation (BCF) is able to provide 18 scholarship awards each year to Branford High School (BHS) seniors.

In addition, BCF occasionally awards a unique, one-time prize. One such award—the Robert Gill Scholarship Prize—was presented at the BHS Senior Awards night on June 7 by its namesake, Robert (Bob) Gill, a former BCF board member.

Bob served as Branford’s police chief for nine years, retiring in 2007 with 45 years on the force. In retirement, Bob remains committed to giving back to his community, most recently serving on BCF’s board.

When Bob’s term on the board ended this year, BCF acknowledged his dedicated service with a one-time prize to be given to a graduating senior. The Robert Gill Scholarship Prize was awarded to an individual who had overcome diversity during their high school career. BCF provided $500, which Bob matched to provide a prize totaling $1,000.

Non-profit entities like BCF are only able to assist future generations because of the hard-work and dedication of volunteers like Bob. A heartfelt thank you goes out to Bob and all our volunteers, past, present and future!

Graduating seniors can apply for BCF awards through the BHS Guidance Office. To learn more about establishing a scholarship, call 203.444.4898 or email us. You can also learn about starting a fund or make a donation today!