Gilead would like to thank the Heart of Gold Donors who have donated cash, goods or services valued at $500 or more during our 50th Anniversary Campaign.  If you would like to become a Hearts of Gold Donor, you still have time!  If you would like to see how close you are to becoming a Heart of Gold Donor, please reach out to Lucy McMillan.  If we inadvertently omitted or misspelled your name please accept our apologies and contact us.

Founded in 1968, Gilead was created by two Wesleyan undergraduate students who were completing volunteer work at Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH).  What these students discovered was that many people who had been discharged from the hospital soon returned to the hospital because of the overwhelming odds that they faced  within the community:  no income, no stable living situation, no employment and no social support systems.  Quite often, there were no family or friends to assist them and it wouldn’t take long before they returned to the only place that they knew would accept them: the hospital.  This often created a painful cycle of admissions and discharges.  Meanwhile their self-esteem, motivation and hope were failing.  These two innovative students turned to Connecticut Valley Hospital and to other area health officials for guidance and they approached Wesleyan for a suitable facility. The University agreed to rent a large home (what today is “Gilead I”) located close to campus so that students could live there and participate fully while still carrying a normal academic course load. A broadly representative board of directors was formed and the organization was incorporated with non-profit, tax-exempt status. This grass-roots response was formed with the primary purpose of providing a “home” in the community individuals in need.  As a result, Gilead was born!

Gilead is grateful to Suzanne Gaskell for creating this beautiful commemorative art to celebrate Gilead’s anniversary!