The Nonprofit Leadership Award is presented annually to a local nonprofit organization or individual that has significantly contributed to the betterment of the Greenwich community. This year, the Chamber of Commerce chose to recognize the Greenwich Historical Society, an organization dedicated to preserving and educating the community on the rich history that Greenwich holds.
The Society was founded in 1931 with a mission to collect and chronicle the history of Greenwich. The centerpiece of the organization is the Bush-Holley House located in Cos Cob, which serves as a museum and National Historic Landmark. The Society also holds a variety of events, exhibitions and collections for members of the community to enjoy and experience the history of their town.
“We are thrilled to announce the selection of the Historical Society as this year’s winner,” said Chamber President Marcia O’Kane. “Once we considered its immediate and ongoing impact on the community and the importance of preserving town history, the Historical Society immediately rose to the top. The timing was perfect, since we are all very proud of the events that will honor Greenwich’s 375th anniversary and the Historical Society’s ongoing education and preservation programs.”
In celebration of the town’s 375th anniversary, the Society has designed an audio time capsule of life in Greenwich in 2015. Curators spread around town recording the voices of residents in response to questions about what their town represents to them and what it’s like to live in Greenwich in 2015. These recordings can be listened to at the “Greenwich Voices” exhibition from April 20th through August 30th.
By heading unique projects such as this, the Greenwich Historical Society bridges the gap between the past and the future of our town. The Society’s campus also includes historic archives of Greenwich, the Vanderbilt Education Center, the Storehouse Gallery and Toby’s Tavern. “We are elated and very proud to receive the honor,” said chairman of the Historical Society board Davidde Strackbein.“It represents a respected seal of approval and endorsement of our organization and its mission to collect, preserve and disseminate the history of our town.”
