Cedric C. Ellis has created a scholarship endowment fund for Waterbury residents of African descent. The fund is supporting students today and will grow in the future through a bequest in Cedric’s estate plan.

As a product of Berkeley Heights projects in Waterbury’s North End and a product of a combination of Waterbury’s public schools and Sacred Heart High School, the power of education was instilled in Cedric from incredible teachers and mentors. “I wanted to pay it forward and build a legacy in helping young people who look like me fulfill their dreams by providing scholarships to ease the burden of the cost of education. Education was the door opener for me and afforded me opportunities I thought unimaginable. I want to give similar opportunities to others, particularly young people of African descent. Although I no longer live in Waterbury, Waterbury is part of me, and I want my community to thrive.”

Cedric has no doubt that the scholarship fund he established will contribute to increasing Black community members’ access to and opportunities for higher education. He believes that college degrees are significant for Black Americans in the context of ongoing inequality. Cedric says,“Students can acquire the analytical and critical thinking abilities necessary to successfully traverse the world by pursuing higher education. Higher education can give young people the chance to get the knowledge and skills they need to contribute back to their communities, innovate in their chosen fields, and build a better, more equitable world. Even though higher education alone cannot eliminate the racial wealth gap, it can at least provide opportunities for greater social and financial mobility that would otherwise be out of reach. — Connecticut Community Foundation is a trusted partner helping me put into action my wish and legacy.”