Middletown's Middlesex Health Gets Record $5.4M Gift From Wright Family Trust

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Middlesex Health announced Monday that it received a $5.4 million unrestricted gift from the Alfred R. Wright Trust, a donation the health system said is the largest single charitable gift in its history to date.

The April 7 announcement said the money will support patient-centered care through investments in facilities, technology and clinical excellence.

According to Middlesex Health, the Wright family was formerly of Essex and has ties to the region dating to the late 1800s. The announcement said the family founded Connecticut Valley Manufacturing in Centerbrook, described as an auger company operated by four generations of Wright family members until 1969.

Middlesex Health said Alfred R. Wright, identified as the third-generation owner of the company, established a trust after receiving care at Middlesex Hospital. According to the announcement, he directed that remaining trust funds support local charities, including Middlesex Health, to help advance the health system’s future growth and innovation. After the death of Betsyanne Wright Tippette in 2024, her estate fulfilled that plan, according to the announcement.

“I am truly pleased to see quality care for the community continue to move forward, just as my grandfather would have wanted. It brings me great joy to know that Middlesex Health is honoring his gift by continuing to serve those in need,” said Martha Wright Potter.

Three generations of Wrights. (The Wright Family Collection)

The health system said community philanthropy has long supported its growth, with roots dating to the hospital’s founding in 1904. Nearly every major expansion and advancement at Middlesex has been made possible, in part, through donor support, according to the announcement.

Middlesex Health said it plans to invest $90 million over the next three years in patient-centered care, including state-of-the-art facilities, advanced technology and clinical excellence. The Wright family gift will help support those priorities, according to the announcement.

“We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary gift and for the Wright family’s support of our mission. This investment will allow us to transform the way care is delivered - through state-of-the-art facilities, leading-edge technology, and continued innovation that keeps patients at the center of everything we do. Because of this generosity, we can strengthen our ability to provide exceptional, compassionate care today while building a healthier future for the communities we serve,” said Vincent G. Capece Jr., the president and CEO of Middlesex Health.