Oxford Man Named Chairman of Valley United Way Board

Fred Ortoli was raised in the Naugatuck Valley by parents who donated their spare time to improving their community through volunteerism.

His mother, now in her late 80s, still volunteers at local blood drives for the American Red Cross, Ortoli said.

“Her and my dad set the example,” he said.

So it's no surprise that Ortoli grew up to carry on the tradition of volunteerism that his parents instilled. He donates his time to several local nonprofit organizations, and was honored for those efforts Tuesday. The 63-year-old photographer who has volunteered for the Valley United Way for at least the past 25 years was recognized as a top local volunteer when he was named chair of the local United Way’s Board of Directors for the upcoming year.

The Valley United Way, which is the leading philanthropic resource for Ansonia, Seymour, Shelton and Oxford, announced at its annual meeting at The Villa Bianca in Seymour Tuesday that it has surpassed the $1 million mark for donations during the organization’s fundraising drive and may reach $1.1 million once all donations are received.

“I hope we can continue the wonderful work that the Valley United Way has been doing so well for so long,” said Ortoli, who is married and owns a business in Oxford. “We can use everyone’s help; all of the donations add up.”

Michael S. Marcinek, chairman of this year’s Valley United Way Board of Directors, set the tone for next year’s campaign by urging everyone to get behind fundraising efforts and to help spread the word.

He said 48 percent of local businesses got involved with this year's campaign. “That means 52 percent did not; think of what we could have done if we got everybody involved,” he said.

Jack Walsh, president and chief operating officer of the Valley United Way, said it will be extremely important to get more volunteers and donors involved in the upcoming campaign because government support for nonprofits may dry up.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that government is going to get smaller, and the number of dollars that were available are going to be shrinking,” he said. “But the needs aren’t going to shrink. So nonprofits are worried, yet at the same time, they are serving more people than ever. So if government is not going to do it, then it is up to us.”  

The following news release about Fred Ortoli is from Valley United Way's website:

Valley United Way elected Fred Ortoli, owner of Fred Ortoli Photography as chair of the Board of Directors at the 43^rd annual meeting and awards dinner on April 26, 2011.  Fred is a long time Board member and past Campaign Chairman as well.

He began his photography career at Chesebrough Ponds where he was an in-house photographer for 18 years, leaving in 1990. He had started Fred Ortoli Photography in 1969 and expanded that into his full time occupation.

When not behind the camera, Fred is very busy contributing his time and talents as a member of the Board of Directors of the Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Birmingham Foundation and the Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross. He is a member and former president of the Ansonia Rotary Club, and a member of the Derby Historical Society and Valley United Way's Corporate Volunteer Council.

He is an active member of the Knights of Columbus of Seymour and St. Augustine Church, and a former member of the Oxford Economic Development Corporation. Fred was a 2003 recipient of the Valley Chamber of Commerce Gold Seal Award, presented for outstanding service through dedicated and effective leadership. He was also the 2009 recipient of Valley United Way's highest award, the Charles H. Flynn Humanitarian Award.

Prior to Fred's's election, the members in attendance elected the Corporators for 2011-2012. Click here for the full list.

Ned Miller (Ned Miller Associates), Rich Rosen (The RH Rosen Group) and Tom Sutnik, (Attorney at Law) were elected to four year terms on the board. Bill Purcell (Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce), Janice Sheehy (Webster Bank), Dominick Thomas (Cohen & Thomas), Ron Villani (University of New Haven), and Phil White ( Better Packages) were re-elected for second terms.

The Board then elected the following officers for the upcoming year in addition to Ortoli:

Vice Chair - Bill Bubbico - Pitney Bowes
Treasurer - Greg DeStefano - Konowitz, Kahn & Company
Secretary - Melissa Pucci - Director of Admissions - Yale School of Nursing.