Everyone knew Marc Mills. Growing up in New Milford, Connecticut, he was active in youth sports, art and especially music. When Marc passed away in 1989 at the age of 18, he left a void in the community.
“Marc had a true zest for life. He could get more out of a day than anyone I have ever met. We were young and his death had a lasting impact on all of us,” recalled Dave Nicosia, a close friend of Marc’s and founder of The Marc R. Mills Memorial Fund at Connecticut Community Foundation.
In late 2013, Nicosia and a group of Marc’s closest friends decided to honor Marc’s legacy in a formal way. The group first considered creating a private foundation, but found that option expensive and time consuming. Ultimately they turned to Connecticut Community Foundation.
“Connecticut Community Foundation has a great reputation and long-term commitment to serving the local community. We could not be more satisfied with our decision to partner with the Foundation, a trusted organization that truly understands the needs and issues of the Northwestern Connecticut area,” said Nicosia.
The Marc R. Mills Memorial Fund was established at the Foundation in February, 2014. It is an advised fund, meaning that advisors selected by the Fund’s founders recommend grants from the Fund to serve community needs. The Fund aims to bridge the gap between the community and philanthropic endeavors by contributing to a broad range of local, regional and national nonprofit organizations.
Nicosia said, “The ability to help community members in Marc’s name is a powerful way to remember and honor Marc’s legacy and legitimizes our collective efforts.”
