H0w we began

Listening to the stories of the people, families and communities we partner with has always been an essential part of our work and a Graustein family value. Building upon our long tradition of supporting early childhood educators and their communities, the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund has shifted its initial focus from early childhood toward a new vision of equity in education.

Photo of Adolf Graustein as a boy. — Archibald Graustein as a boy.

Adolf Graustein and his brother immigrated to Boston from Prussia in 1874. Adolph, a young, barely-literate teen,understood the value of learning. A decade later, Adolph started his own family. Determined that his children should make the most of the opportunities of this country, he encouraged all six to pursue education as a way of creating their own opportunities. Each Graustein child – Archibald, William, Jeannette, Alice, Edward, and Winifred – pursued advanced education and dedicated their professional lives to business, education, science, and government service.

Archibald Graustein, the eldest child and father of trustee Bill Graustein, became a very successful businessman. He created the Memorial Fund in 1946 to honor the memory of his brother William Caspar Graustein, a mathematics professor, who died tragically in an automobile accident one year earlier.

Photo of Archibald Graustein — Archibald Graustein in 1900

Archibald believed that academic accomplishment could benefit both individuals and society as a whole. The Memorial Fund was established to support the kind of institutions that made it possible for his immigrant family to thrive within the United States.

Archibald’s widow, Hallie Hubbard Graustein, along with her son, decided that assets left to her in trust at her husband’s death should go to the Memorial Fund when she passed away. Mrs. Graustein died in 1993 leaving a significant amount to the Memorial Fund. As a result of this gift, the Memorial Fund was able to focus its philanthropy more purposefully on supporting education. That same year, the Trustees established the organization’s first mission: To improve the effectiveness of education in fostering both personal development and leadership. That mission reflected the enduring values that the Memorial Fund sought to promote as a memorial to its namesake and to honor the experiences and achievements of an immigrant family of the nineteenth century.

Where the Financial Resources Come From
In 1949, Archibald Graustein was one of the founding investors in the Aubrey G. Lanston Company. The Aubrey G. Lanston Company is a research and brokerage firm that specializes in U.S. government securities and in 1957 was appointed the primary dealer for Treasury securities by the Federal Reserve. In 1987, per the terms of the trust to Archibald left his wife, Hallie, the shares were sold, yielding more than $50 million.

From its inception, the endowment of the Memorial Fund was managed following general practices, with the goal being maintaining the wealth of the endowment. In 2019, the Graustein Memorial Fund’s Board approved an Investment Policy Statement (IPS) that sought to align the management of the endowment with the mission of the Memorial Fund. Currently, 70% of the endowment is aligned with the mission.

1974

Graustein Family Immigrates to the U.S

The Graustein family immigrates from Prussia to Boston. Adolph Graustein, only 12 at the time, understands the value of education. A decade later, as he starts his own family, Adolph is determined that his six children—Archibald, William, Jeannette, Alice, Edward, and Winifred—should make the most of the opportunities in the U.S. He encourages them to pursue education vigorously, which they do, applying their skills to innovate, lead, and establish new directions.

1946

WCGMF Established

Archibald Graustein creates the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund in honor of his brother William, a Harvard math professor who died in a car accident the previous year. The Memorial Fund is founded to support education, inspired by the Graustein family's belief in the transformative power of education.

1993

Major Expansion of WCGMF

The Memorial Fund undergoes significant growth as the assets from Archibald Graustein's widow pass into the trust, increasing its resources a hundredfold. Mission Refined: WCGMF focuses on improving education, with a strong emphasis on early childhood education. It begins partnerships with communities and statewide organizations to develop and strengthen educational programs, parental engagement, and leadership training.

2001–2015

Discovery Initiative Launched

WCGMF launches the Discovery Initiative, investing over $60 million in 54 Connecticut communities and other partners. The initiative focuses on early childhood education, community involvement, and leadership development in collaboration with local organizations.

2014

David Addams Appointed Executive Director

WCGMF appoints David Addams as its new executive director. Addams is tasked with leading a shift toward addressing race and inequality more explicitly in the Memorial Fund’s work. He brings a background in diversity leadership, including roles at the ACLU and New York Urban League

2015

Sub Label

New Mission Statement Announced

WCGMF adopts a new mission statement, committing to "achieve equity in education by working with those affected and inspiring all to end racism and poverty." This marks a strategic focus on addressing systemic disadvantages affecting communities of color and low-income populations.

2019

Continued Focus on Racial and Economic Equity

WCGMF deepens its commitment to addressing racial and economic disparities in education. The Memorial Fund continues to work closely with communities, parents, and leaders to refine its approach and drive systemic change in Connecticut's education system.

2024

Dr. Gislaine Ngounou Appointed Executive Director

WCGMF announces Dr. Gislaine Ngounou as its new Executive Director, succeeding David Addams. Dr. Ngounou, with 20 years of experience in education and philanthropy, continues the Memorial Fund’s work toward equity and justice in education, particularly focusing on disrupting systemic racism and poverty.