1947 Townsend Street, Inc. Fund

When John Roberts and Dr. Leroy C. Williams met at Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church in Hamden, they quickly formed a close friendship. Over time, their friendship grew into a brotherhood of more than a dozen men, who were members of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Chi Omicron Chapter.

“We all had like-minded concerns,” said Roberts.

They also had a desire to give back to New Haven, which led them to launch 1947 Townsend Street, Inc.

The organization’s mission is to increase community cohesion by providing, encouraging and supporting programs that enhance scholastic endeavors and strengthening families. Williams and Roberts said they aim to develop community sports and academic support programs and provide scholarships to college-bound students from New Haven.

In 2026, Roberts and Williams established the 1947 Townsend Street, Inc. Fund, a scholarship fund at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, to ensure they can serve the community supporting students in perpetuity.

“When I was younger and starting out on the college application journey on my own, I didn't have a lot of assistance,” said Roberts. “Now that I'm grown and I'm able to give back to the community, that's my focus. Since I didn't have that access, I want to make sure that others do – and that we can do through The Foundation.”

“We met with Erica G. Bradley, The Foundation’s manager of community philanthropy, and she made it very, very easy” said Williams, from early discussions to finalizing bylaws.

“There are a lot of organizations, churches and other civic organizations doing the same kind of thing,” Williams notes, “but if we all go together, it'll be a lot easier. We're not in a competition. The only competition we have is with ourselves to make sure that we're doing all we can to meet the needs of the community as it relates to moving a generation upward, giving them hope through this financial assistance.”

Williams emphasizes the importance of thinking about philanthropy as fundamentally intergenerational. “We're thinking long-term,” he said. “We want to make sure things are available for this generation, but also the next generation and the generation after that.”