Why the Raymond P. Lavietes Foundation Is the Inaugural Legacy Award Recipient
As the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley celebrates its 70th Anniversary, we are proud to recognize a legacy that has shaped our organization for generations.
For seven decades, the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley has provided safe spaces, life-changing programs, academic support, and mentorship to youth throughout Shelton and the Lower Naugatuck Valley. That impact would not be possible without visionary leaders whose belief in youth development helped build and sustain our mission.
Among them, few names are more deeply woven into the fabric of our Club than Raymond P. Lavietes.
A founder and devoted champion of the Club, Ray believed wholeheartedly in creating opportunity for young people. His dedication helped establish a strong foundation for growth, ensuring that local youth would always have access to a safe, supportive environment where they could learn, grow, and thrive.
Today, his legacy is visible in both name and impact. Our Shelton clubhouse proudly bears his namesake as the Lavietes Clubhouse — a lasting tribute to his leadership and generosity. The facility continues to serve as a cornerstone of youth development in our community, providing thousands of children and teens with afterschool programs, summer camp, leadership development, and academic support.
Following his passing in 2003, the Raymond P. Lavietes Foundation was established to continue his philanthropic vision. The Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley was named an ongoing beneficiary, ensuring sustained investment in the programs and infrastructure that support our youth.
For more than two decades, the Foundation has provided annual funding to maintain and improve the Lavietes Clubhouse through capital improvements and to strengthen the Club’s highly successful Summer Camp Program. In addition, the Raymond P. Lavietes Scholarship has supported countless Club members in pursuing higher education — helping remove financial barriers and opening doors to bright futures. Through this scholarship, Ray’s commitment to opportunity continues to change lives well beyond the walls of the Club.
As part of our milestone 2026 Service to Youth Awards, the Awards Committee made a unanimous and heartfelt decision to introduce a first-ever Legacy Award — created to honor a foundation whose long-standing commitment has profoundly shaped the Club’s mission, culture, and sustainability.
There could be no more fitting inaugural recipient.
“Ray Lavietes was instrumental in the foundation, growth, and enduring legacy of our Club,” said CEO Shaye Roscoe. “From the clubhouse that carries his name to the scholarship that continues to support our youth, his impact is woven into every generation we serve. As we celebrate 70 years of service, it was only fitting that our first-ever Legacy Award honor the Raymond P. Lavietes Foundation and the extraordinary difference they continue to make.”
The presentation of this inaugural Legacy Award is more than a tribute — it is a celebration of visionary leadership, sustained philanthropy, and the enduring power of community investment in youth.
As we honor our past, we recommit to building the next 70 years of opportunity for children and families throughout the Lower Naugatuck Valley.
Join Us for the 2026 Service to Youth Awards
Celebrate 70 years of impact and help us continue shaping great futures.
📅 Thursday, March 26, 2026
📍 Il Palio Restaurant | Shelton, CT
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now.
👉 Visit our Service To Youth Awards page to learn more and reserve your seat. Space is limited and this signature fundraising event is expected to sell out.
Together, we honor legacy. Together, we build great futures.