The Guilford Foundation (TGF) recently welcomed donors and community partners to Dudley Farm for an evening of appreciation and a firsthand look at one of Guilford’s most treasured historic properties. Guests enjoyed tours led by Museum Director Kaitlyn Goodwin before gathering in the historic Munger Barn to celebrate philanthropy, community connections, and the impact of long-term partnerships.

Dudley Farm was a particularly fitting setting for the event. TGF’s relationship with the Farm dates back more than 30 years, to the early days of the Dudley Farm Foundation, when a dedicated group of volunteers began transforming the property into a living museum of 19th-century farm life.

In 1995, Guilford High School teachers Jim Powers and Tom Leddy developed an innovative educational program that brought students to the Farm each week to help restore its buildings, research the Dudley family, and explore local agricultural history. A $10,000 grant from TGF helped make the program possible, providing hands-on learning experiences while advancing the Farm’s preservation efforts. In a particularly meaningful moment during the evening, TGF donor Chris Conti, who participated in the program, shared his own memories of the experience.

That spirit of collaboration continues today. Most recently, TGF awarded nearly $5,000 to help launch Dudley Farm’s first summer camp, developed in partnership with Guilford Parks and Recreation. The five-week program welcomed 63 campers and offered experiences ranging from animal care and archaeology to Indigenous storytelling, blacksmithing, cooking, and traditional farming practices. Five high school counselors-in-training also contributed 127 volunteer hours.

In her remarks, Goodwin reflected on the importance of local philanthropy in making these opportunities possible.

“Your generosity does more than provide financial support; it gives organizations the ability to dream bigger, reach further, and turn ideas into opportunities that directly benefit the people who call the Shoreline home,” she told attendees.

Today, Dudley Farm offers much more than a glimpse into Guilford’s agricultural past. The Quinnipiac Dawnland Museum explores the region’s Indigenous history, while the farmhouse, barns, gardens, weekly farmers’ market, educational programs, and community events offer visitors of all ages opportunities to learn, explore, and connect.

“Dudley Farm is such a wonderful example of what makes Guilford special,” said TGF Executive Director Liza Janssen Petra. “We were honored to bring our donors and community partners here to experience all that the Farm has to offer. Our relationship goes back decades, and it’s rewarding to see how the dedication of its volunteers, staff, and community supporters has helped it grow and evolve. It’s exactly the kind of lasting community impact that philanthropy can help make possible.”

The evening also celebrated the many donors and community partners whose generosity enables TGF to support organizations like Dudley Farm. As the Farm continues to preserve Guilford’s history while creating new opportunities for learning and engagement, the partnership reflects the lasting value of investing in local institutions and the people who bring them to life.