During his lifetime, Henry Fowler English (b. June 5, 1851) made one of the earliest gifts to what became The Community Foundation's General Fund, a pool of unrestricted dollars that could be used in the most flexible way to respond to current needs and opprtunities. In 1946, he made another gift to establish the Henry F. English Fund, for the benefit of Yale Hope Mission and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, the later of which he was a founding member in 1894. Today, of course, the Yale Hope Mission no longer exists. Through the community foundation vehicle, however, the English Fund now supports other organizations, like the Salvation Army Rehabilitation Program, which carry on the Mission's work. As Mr. English knew, the ability to update beneficiaries, without court involvement is one of the advantages of using a community foundation. 

Henry was a founding member of New Haven's Park Commission (established in 1887) who served on the Commission for 57 years. English Drive in New Haven's East Rock Park is named after his father, Governor James E. English. Henry's son Philip and grandson Richard shared his enthusiasm for conservation and community-involvement.