About
The Q. Walter Peabody Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit charitable corporation interested in supporting and fostering the academic, creative, and unique qualities of deserving individuals throughout the United States.
Incorporated in North Carolina, to date, the Foundation has focused our philanthropic efforts on providing assistance to students within the school system of Meriden, CT. Our long-term organizational goal is to be able to provide additional support to students across a broader spectrum of interests and needs, as well as throughout a larger geographic region.
The origins of the Q. Walter Peabody Foundation are shrouded in mystery, lost in the winds of time. Under the guidance and tutelage of the reclusive Q. Walter Peabody, a group of Orville H. Platt Alumni banded together with the intention of giving back to their hometown by supporting the creativity and unique pursuits (academic or otherwise) of Meriden youth. Throughout the years, this purely volunteer-based group has raised money through various events and fundraisers and reinvested those funds back into students of Meriden, CT.
Donations made to the Foundation are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged with a receipt.
Mission & Impact
The Q. Walter Peabody Foundation is devoted to academic achievement and service to the community. We support these ideals through the granting of scholarships and awards to individuals pursuing a higher degree of education in diverse area of study. We are also committed to the establishment of a community of learning dedicated to the ideals of the Foundation.
Since 2005, the Q. Walter Peabody Foundation has distributed $48,000 to 46 students and community members in Meriden, CT.
Board of Directors
The Q. Walter Peabody Foundation is entirely run by a volunteer board of directors with historic and/or current ties to Meriden, CT.
President
Luciano Racco
Luciano Racco is one of the founders of the Q. Walter Peabody Foundation. He serves as the Foundation’s president and chairman of the board of directors. He is also a member of the Foundation’s finance committee. Born and raised in Meriden, Connecticut, Luciano attended Meriden public schools before graduating from the College of the Holy Cross and Vanderbilt University Law School. He is the co-chair of the international trade and national security practice of the international law firm, Foley Hoag LLP.
Vice President
Christopher White
Chris White is a professor of Music Theory at UMASS Amherst. He likes to write intriguing articles about the influence of music on popular culture and vice versa. He also enjoys eating decadent foods.
Treasurer
Jesse Caputo
Jesse Caputo does research for the Forest Service to learn about who owns land and why. He enjoys carving spoons out of wood, folding laundry as soon as possible, and going for very long walks with his children.
Secretary
Cristina Jardine
Cristina Jardine is a Resource Development professional, specializing in non-profit fundraising, special events, and donor relations. Cristina’s hobbies include writing limericks, watching reruns of old murder mysteries, and traveling to unpopular places.
Director
Clarissa Clegg
Clarissa Clegg is an English teacher at Platt High School in Meriden, CT. While some may describe her as "bewitching," there has been no conclusive evidence to indicate any connection between her and dark magic. She and her family enjoy foraging for mushrooms, making their own wine, tending to herbs and greens, and hosting lavish parties.
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Director
Zachary Corey
Zachary Corey is a Social Studies teacher at Platt High School in Meriden, CT, where he has been teaching since 2013. In addition to being a graduate of the PHS Class of 2008, he is also a proud recipient of the Zachary Weston Memorial Scholarship.
Mr. Corey is a resident of Meriden, CT, where he lives with his wife and five children. He is an avid gardener and keeper of poultry.
Director
Jessica Racco
Jessica Racco is a Platt alumna and former high school English teacher. She is now a naturalist and environmental educator at Westmoor Park in West Hartford, as well as a parent of three children who sometimes indulge her impromptu lessons on backyard critters. Jessica's hobbies include embroidery, cello, and birdwatching.
Director
Ethan Warner
Ethan Warner is an English teacher at Platt High School in Meriden, CT where he also directed the school's theatre program for fourteen years. Outside of work he is a theatre artist, father to two amazing kiddos, and serves on the board of the CT Drama Association.
Director
Angela Weston
Angela Weston is a high school Spanish teacher, with interests in languages, culture, travel, and community service. She speaks Spanish, Italian, and Brazilian Portuguese and has traveled in Central and South America as well as Europe, Northern Africa, and Asia. She may or may not have once lived in a library.