Roshambo Hair Studio Celebrates Five Years

and Promotes the Women & Girls Fund

An important focus of the Northwest CT Community Foundation Women & Girls Fund is to encourage financial self-sufficiency, and we can think of no better representation of that concept than Roshambo Hair Studio in New Hartford. Owners Megan Rogers and Carissa Sherwood started their salon five years ago, and they have succeeded beyond all expectations, even their own.

As a special thank you to the community that supports them, they will collect and match donations for the Northwest CT Community Foundation Women & Girls Fund through the end of October. 

Roshambo Hair Studio is located at 283 Main Street in New Hartford. Their phone number is (860) 909-1414. They are offering an amazing giveaway! Clients who donate are automatically entered into a raffle to win an AirPods Pro.

Are you a woman-owned business? Do you want to celebrate your community? Follow the model set by Megan and Carissa and create your own promotion to support the Northwest CT Community Foundation Women & Girls Fund. We can help. Contact us to learn more. 

Women & Girls Fund Supports Internships For Young Women



Please join us in celebrating our very successful program to support young women in Northwest Connecticut. This summer the Northwest CT Community Foundation Women & Girls Fund awarded a grant to Brooker Memorial and New Opportunities, so three young women, Marissa Kulesza, Jackie Kuns, and Vanessa Aguirre Rodriguez could participate in paid internships.

"We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of these young women," said Cathy Coyle, Brooker Memorial Executive Director. "We are confident that this experience will help them achieve their career goals."

Cathy Coyle submitted a Request For Proposal in January detailing the program. Like most internships, the program included hands-on work experience for the participants, but Cathy’s plan went much further. Interns attended workshops in résumé writing and interviewing skills, networking with professionals, and managing personal finances. 

Two of the three interns have already secured professional positions, and the other is well on her way. They all credit their experience in the program for helping them develop life-long skills in establishing their careers.

The Northwest CT Community Foundation Women & Girls Fund hopes to expand this program as we move forward. We feel that it is an excellent fit for our mission to empower women and girls to reach their full potential.

Women & Girls Fund

Annual Reception at Torrington Country Club​​

On May 12, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, we reinstated our Annual Reception at the Torrington Country Club.

More than a hundred loyal supporters joined us for an evening of reconnection. We announced our grant recipients: Brooker Memorial and New Opportunities collaborated on an internship program; and Housatonic Youth Services Bureau developed a COVID-recovery skills program for summer campers.

Everyone enjoyed the presentation by Krista Rizzo, CPC, a transformational life coach and motivational speaker. Recognized as a reinvention specialist, she is the author of #Why Am I Yelling? Learn more about Krista Rizzo. 

Up Next: Girls Empowerment Internship Program

Many teens continue to struggle in the aftermath of the pandemic. In collaboration with the Torrington Youth Service Bureau, the Northwest CT Community Foundation Women & Girls Fund is providing support for an eight-week internship program this fall. Girls between the ages of 13 and 17 will have the opportunity to gain real-world experiences, build skills, and learn about different career opportunities.

The girls will be placed at Torrington Savings Bank, Hartford Health Care, Kids Play, New Opportunities, and Brooker Memorial. Your donations make programs like this possible for vulnerable young women.

Summer Series Program

A grant provided by the Northwest CT Community Foundation Women & Girl’s Fund allowed the Housatonic Youth Service Bureau to facilitate a Summer Series Program that attracted nearly 30 students from the Region 1 area. The two young women who were hired to serve as interns actively engaged in the creation, promotion, and facilitation of the program for students.

The program consisted of three unique weeks geared toward different empowerment areas. Week one, entitled Mighty Minds, focused on mindfulness and meditation practices. Week two, The Hang Out, focused on friendships, social skills, and team-building activities. Week three, Superhero Bootcamp, taught students about everyday heroes and included visits from the Resident Trooper and his K-9 Dexter, the local fire department, and the First Selectman of Kent. The interns showed participants how to be their own superheroes with their own superpowers.

Through fun games, arts and crafts, and outdoor activities, the children made new friends, let their creativity flow, and enjoyed the summer sun. The summer interns were invaluable assets to this program and in many ways were the reason HYSB was able to host it.

"Thank you to the Northwest CT Community Foundation Women & Girls Fund for your incredible support of the Housatonic Youth Services Bureau," said Kelly Parker, HYSB Executive Director.

Meet the Board: Kathy Minck

A member of the Northwest CT Community Foundation Women & Girls Fund executive committee since 2017, Kathy is committed to providing community service across a broad spectrum of organizations.

During her long career, Kathy worked in management for major insurance companies. For the last 13 years of her career, she ran her own company, Executive Program Consulting, helping companies with high-risk projects, both at home and internationally.

In her retirement, Kathy founded the Northwest Connecticut chapter of Food Rescue US. She is also an award-winning board member of Prime Time House. Look for her this Fall as she co-manages their pop-up store.

In her free time, Kathy is an avid gardener. She enjoys swimming and walking, and she makes jewelry. She loves to spend time in Newport, RI, but she calls Litchfield home. That’s where she lives with her husband, Fred, and her two Australian shepherds.

The Giving Circle



Wouldn’t it be great if people celebrated your values 100 years from now? You can make that happen by leaving a legacy gift to the Northwest CT Community Foundation Women & Girls Fund.

Please designate the Northwest CT Community Foundation Women & Girls Fund in your estate planning. It is quick and easy to make a gift to us. Contact Vice President of Philanthropic Services Bradford Hoar at 860.626.1245 or BHoar@northwestcf.org to learn more. 

Visit the Northwest CT Community Foundation Women & Girls Fund