Winnifred Ellen Bennett, Bloomfield, Connecticut February 18, 1935 - October 30, 2020

Entrepreneurial Spirit Award

Background

This award is given in memory of Mrs. Winnifred Bennet who valued education, entrepreneurship, hard work and a commitment to community. Winnifred Ellen “Molly” Tate-Bennett was born in St. Andrew, Jamaica. In 1956, she migrated to the United States and married her husband of over forty years until his death, Collin B. Bennett.  In the 1960’s, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett established the Collin B. Bennett Real Estate and Insurance Agency in Hartford. Mrs. Bennett ran the day-to-day operations of the business until its closing around 2017. She was also the business manager of the Collin Bennett Building at 1229 Albany Avenue, one of the first privately funded black owned commercial buildings in the state. Mrs. Bennett was very knowledgeable in construction, particularly the rehabilitation of buildings and loved to visit her various properties throughout the city to “check up on them”. She valued homeownership and encouraged people to invest in a home.

 

She and her husband helped to establish a (CNA) Certified Nursing Aide Program. This Nursing Aide Program educated and graduated more than 600 students over 15 years at no cost to the students. Molly valued education and hard work. She loved and respected all people and particularly her brothers and sisters in the West Indian/American community in Hartford. Her favorite motto was “do all the good you can.”

Scholarship Focus

The Entrepreneurship/Business Award will be awarded to an individual who is interested in pursuing a career as an entrepreneur or business owner. Funds can also be used towards a business degree, business certification, or a professional license.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Applicant must be interested in being an entrepreneur or business owner or pursuing a career that requires certification or a license. Preference will be given to someone following a career in insurance or real estate.

  • Applicant must be applying to and/or accepted to a business or professional training program or enrolled in a certification or licensing class.

  • Applicant must have graduated from an accredited high school or obtained a GED certificate.

Application Requirements

A complete application packet must include the following:

  1. One (1) letter of recommendation, one letter written by the applicant’s current teacher, employer or community person who can speak to the applicant’s entrepreneurial spirit.

  2. A 300-word essay responding to the question, “Why is entrepreneurship/business ownership important to me and my community?”

Applications must be submitted by March 1st of each year to be considered.