Hedy Ayers

Hedy brings to the Foundation more than thirty years of experience building innovative programs, forging meaningful partnerships, and advancing the work of communities across Connecticut. Most recently, she served as the inaugural Director of Development and Community Engagement for Waterbury Promise, where she successfully built out and scaled up a comprehensive development strategy to keep pace with the program’s exponential growth. Prior to that, she spent nearly four years with Eversource Energy’s Community Relations team and more than two decades with Connecticut’s largest regional planning agency, the Capitol Region Council of Governments.

Hedy holds a B.A. from Trinity College and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Connecticut. She is a graduate of Leadership Greater Hartford’s signature Quest program and has served in executive board roles across numerous professional, philanthropic and nonprofit organizations. Her greatest accomplishment is raising two truly wonderful sons, Jack and Charlie, with her husband Neil. The family resides in Simsbury.

Favorite Experience in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills

Exploring the special character, rich history and architectural gems that make each town so spectacularly unique; experiencing the magic of fall foliage around every corner; and realizing (yet again) that the person you just met is related to someone you already know!

Ask Hedy about

Her family’s Waterbury roots, growing up near the ocean, her obsession with palm trees and the MANY ways you can support the Foundation’s work and the vibrancy of our communities today, and for generations to come!