The Pillar Story
The Pillar Community Development Corporation, founded in 1995 by Pastor LeRoy Bailey, Jr. as The Pillar Foundation, Inc., a 501c3 organization, was created with a vision toward fostering broader community engagement in the Greater Hartford area. This non-profit organization would initially work to engage people in the community through education and health programs while demonstrating Christian principles and practices.
In 2010, after several name changes, The Pillar Community Development Corporation emerged with a new Vision and Strategic Plan, and a recommitment to making a difference in the Greater Hartford community and beyond. With a renewed focus, emphasis has been placed on improving the health of people in the community and through offering educational awards to Greater Hartford students seeking higher education degrees.
Pillar continues to deliver on these commitments through our Annual First Step to Better Living Walk, Run, Bike-A-Thon on-going monthly health initiatives in addition to our biennial community-wide health fair. By partnering and working with Aetna, Connecticut Department of Public Health, St. Francis Hospital and other community health providers, people in the Greater Hartford community gain access to important free medical screenings for hypertension, diabetes, breast cancer, prostate cancer in addition to diabetic foot examinations and eye examinations. To date, The First Step to Better Living initiative has serviced over 5,000 members of the Greater Hartford community.
In the area of education, Pillar has focused on increasing both the number of students and education aid award amounts for students working towards an undergraduate college degree. Over the past 22 years, education awards have been presented to over 600 high school graduates and undergraduates in the Greater Hartford community. These awards are renewable each year as long as the student is in good standing with their college or university.
A major source of funding for these education aid awards is Pillar’s Annual Golf for Educational Excellence Tournament. In the last 22 years, our golf tournament, along with individuals and community donors, have raised more than $575,000, with proceeds going towards funding educational aid awards to the next generation of future leaders. Concurrently with the Pillar Education Aid Awards, we established and funded The Pillar Community Development Corporation Scholarship Fund in 2016 managed by The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Pillar is one of more than 1,000 funds created by individuals, families and organizations managed at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. This has assisted Pillar in expanding our community outreach.
Today Pillar has strong community partnerships with St. Francis Hospital, The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, The First Cathedral, World Vision, FaithCare, Boys and Girls Clubs of Hartford, Urban Alliance, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, and the YMCA as well as area high schools and businesses to address other major issues affecting community residents.
While Pillar has made great progress since its founding 28 years ago, there is still much work to be done in continuing to broaden Pillar’s footprint and most importantly, to make a significant impact on improving the lives of the people in the Greater Hartford area.
The Pillar Community Development Corporation’s future is bright, and we look forward, with much optimism, dedication and determination, to impacting more people in ways that will change their lives and their futures through Pillar’s programs, initiatives and strategies.