STAMFORD - In the world of high-stakes philanthropy, names like Rockefeller or Carnegie often conjure images of Gilded Age mansions and public posturing. But in the village of Stamford, the fortune fueling millions of dollars in community growth came from a couple who lived so quietly that most neighbors didn’t even know they were wealthy.
The Robinson Broadhurst Foundation, Inc., a philanthropic powerhouse that has pumped more than $87 million into its three partner communities since 1984, is currently in its annual “grant consideration” phase. For Don Van Etten, the Foundation’s president and a lifelong Stamford resident, it is a period of reflection on a legacy that began with savvy investments and a deep, humble love for the Catskills.
Van Etten, who doubles as fire chief in Stamford, brings the demeanor of a cheerleader to his work at the foundation, reveling in the joy of being able to provide everything from a swimming pool and a little league baseball complex to the Headwaters ambulance service, to improve the quality of life in his community.
The Foundation’s wealth originated with Sam Robinson, once president of the National Bank of Stamford, who invested early and wisely in both bank and IBM stock. In 1947, Robinson’s nephew, Avery Robinson and his wife Winnie moved to Stamford to care for the ailing Sam. Upon his passing, Avery inherited both the fortune and the responsibility of stewardship.
“The Robinsons and Anna Broadhurst [Avery’s sister] lived very, very frugal lives,” Van Etten explained. “They didn’t flaunt their wealth. Until the Foundation was kind of formed, a lot of people didn’t even know.”
While they lived simply, they gave boldly. Long before the formal incorporation of the foundation in 1984, Avery Robinson was known for generosity. A legendary example was a story of Avery watching the traditional Flag Day parade in Stamford. Van Etten said the benefactor determined from watching that the fire department needed a new truck. Robinson called the local fire department after the parade to tell them they needed a new truck and then wrote a check to pay for it. He even built the Stamford Firehouse and once handed local leader Lad McKenzie three blank checks with a simple instruction: “I want you to go down there and I want you to fix that building.”
The “Stamford Focus”
Today, the Foundation serves three specific locations: Winchendon, Massachusetts (where the family originated); Worcester, New York; and the town and village of Stamford - in some cases following residents into Kortright, Hobart and Harpersfield. In the 2025-26 cycle alone, the foundation gave away $3.1 million, with Stamford and Winchendon each receiving nearly $1.4 million.
In Stamford, that money isn’t just a line item in a budget; it is the lifeblood of essential services. The foundation supports everything from Little League and Cub Scouts to religious organizations and historic preservation. Among the most flexible giving programs in the region, the Foundation will cover anything from programming to capital improvements, will do anything from seed money to funds for completion of a project, and will give to municipalities and religious institutions in addition to traditional non-profit organizations.
“Our mission is essentially to provide a better quality of life for the community members,” said Van Etten. “Supporting projects that promote community spirit, volunteer organizations, youth programs, and safety,” is the focus and how that plays out varies from year to year.
Saving Lives: The Headwaters EMS Story
Perhaps the most critical recent intervention by the Foundation was the birth of Headwaters Emergency Medical Services. As volunteer numbers dwindled and training mandates increased, Stamford found itself in a crisis where ambulances were no longer “going out the door.”
“There were times where someone would call 911 and they would wait an hour plus; times you might not get an ambulance at all,” Van Etten recalled.
Drawing on the founders’ historic commitment to healthcare, the board took a proactive step. Working with the towns of Harpersfield, Stamford, and Kortright, the foundation helped initiate Headwaters EMS in May 2023. It is a not-for-profit, commercial paid ambulance service that ensures residents aren’t left waiting during a “golden hour” emergency.
The Foundation’s impact is also visible in the laughter of children at the village pool. When the original community pool - built by Fred P. Murphy in 1962 - became unfeasible to maintain due to its location on an old pond site, the Foundation stepped in.
The new community pool opened in July 2022. However, building the pool required taking over the existing Little League field. True to their holistic approach to community health, the Foundation didn’t stop at the water’s edge. They funded a brand-new baseball complex for Little League, which now draws players from as far as Roxbury and Delhi.
Van Etten, who joined the board in 2010 as its youngest member (jokingly referred to as “the grandson” by older trustees), has made it his mission to modernize the Foundation’s reach while keeping its small-town heart.
Under his leadership, the board has become more diverse, moving from an all-male group to one that includes three female directors. They have also launched a Facebook page to reach younger organization leaders who might not read the traditional legal notices in newspapers.
Despite the millions of dollars at his disposal, Van Etten insists on accessibility.
“I have an open-door policy,” he said. “Anybody can walk into my office anytime... I want to make myself accessible to anybody. That’s why the board selected me. They’re paying me and I want to help the communities as much as possible.”
As the board prepares to meet in March and April to finalize the next round of awards for May, the goal remains the same: leveraging their funds to make the biggest impact possible. Whether it’s helping a local church repair a roof or partnering with other regional heavyweights like the O’Connor Foundation, the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation remains the quiet engine driving Stamford forward.
“Spending the money is no issue,” Van Etten joked, noting that they often receive over $3 million in requests for their $1.3 million Stamford allocation. “The challenge is trying to whittle through the applications and spread as much of that money into as many as you can.”
For a foundation built on the frugal savings of a quiet family, that money continues to speak volumes for the future of the Catskills.
More information is available by visiting robinsonbroadhurst.org or calling 607-652-2508.
