Damato Gift Brings MCC Foundation Holdings to $11 Million

MANCHESTER, CT – The MCC Foundation’s holdings now exceed $11 million after the final installment of a sizable bequest was received last week.

The MCC Foundation last week received the final disbursement of the bequest made to Manchester Community College from the Estate of Raymond F. “Sonny” Damato. A check for $5.6 million was presented to the college last week.

In 2015 MCC Foundation received its largest ever bequest from Damato, who passed away at the age of 86 on April 25, 2014 after "a lifetime of dedication to the development of the town of Manchester," foundation officials said.

While the full Damato estate was being settled, portions were distributed over during the past few years, according to foundation officials.

The MCC foundation previously received nearly $2 million. With the liquidation of the remaining Damato real estate assets, the total bequest added up to $7.6 million. In honor of the gift, the MCC library and the campus Learning Resource Center building were renamed the Raymond F. Damato Library and the Raymond F. Damato Learning Resource Center.

Funding from the Damato bequest has also been used to support retention grants to help continuing students remain in school, scholarships, lab and related fees, developmental courses and supplemental flexible funding as needed, as well as campus upgrades and program equipment.

“This very generous donation enables MCC Foundation to make a significant impact for our students,” MCC President Gena Glickman said. “We are excited and grateful to Mr. Damato, who valued public higher education and had connections to Manchester Community College.”

Damato began his first independent venture at the age of 20, when he started Frankie’s Drive-In, a successful hot dog stand. He went on to develop several apartment complexes and, over the course of his life, his real estate portfolio grew to nearly 400 units.

He was an active board member for various community organizations, including the Savings Bank of Manchester, ECHN and the Eighth Utilities District of Manchester.

Photo Credit: MCC