About Us

Our Story

In 2015 the historic (1914) 13,000 square foot, two and a half story Bridgewater Village School closed to consolidate. In 2017, a group of community members formed a Select Board-sanctioned committee to explore potential use for the building. The closed school was quickly recognized as an opportunity, due to the combination of village location, documented community service needs, and local interest and support for reusing the building. In 2018 The Bridgewater Area Community Foundation, Inc. (BACF), a newly formed local non-profit was formed to preserve, revitalize, and enhance the former Bridgewater Village School Building, an important cultural and historical landmark located in the Ottauquechee Valley into the Bridgewater Community Center and Bridgewater Community Childcare.

BACF offers life enriching activities for the whole family and community while strengthening social ties and reduce social isolation. Anchoring the foundation is the Bridgewater Community Childcare, a Vermont Licensed childcare. Childcare and early education became an obvious choice based on community need and location. The Town and BACF executed a lease agreement in January 2019 allowing BACF to utilize the building and immediate grounds for the community center and childcare center with a sustainable lease extended in 2024 to a twenty year lease. This is a wonderful opportunity for the town as it remains a town asset but the foundation will cover the cost of the building while working to improve and program it.

Board of Directors

Brian Bontrager, President

Charles Shackleton, Vice President

Jeremey Bhatia , Treasurer

Michael Caduto

Collen Doyle

Wendy Jenne

John Hiers

Founding Board Members of the B.A.C.F., no longer sitting on the board:

Henry Smith, Vice President Emeritus - Business Owner, Venture Capital Investor; Co-founder of the Mount Tom School

Kathleen Dolan, Executive Director of ArtisTree Community Arts Center

Joni Kennedy, Secretary for the BACF, Co-Director of the Spectrum Teen Center, Woodstock Union High school & Middle school Student Opportunities & Scholarships