In the early 1940s Fred Robbins, a veteran who had served in both World War I and II, moved to Stamford from Baltimore, where he had been active in civic and veterans affairs, and had organized and run a successful Citizen of the Year recognition program. Once settled in Stamford and involved in our community affairs, Robbins approached then Mayor Webster Givens to sponsor a similar award here to what he had done in Baltimore.
This annual award was to honor an ordinary citizen who was an extraordinary member of the Stamford community. Robbins identified four parameters that the honoree had to exemplify: a demonstrated belief in interfaith harmony; high standards of responsibility in civic life; support of projects for the public welfare; and personally work with distinction to benefit Stamford on a community-wide basis.
While Mayor Givens wholeheartedly embraced the idea, he could not authorize a direct sponsorship based on Stamford’s city charter. The mayor, however, could authorize a private organization to sponsor the award on the City’s behalf, and he did so.
In 1945, Mayor Givens appointed Post 142 of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States, of which Robbins was the commander, to be that sponsoring organization, and the City of Stamford Citizen of the Year award was established. Post 142, now named Fred Robbins Post 142, has sponsored the award on behalf of the City for years. Over this time, the Post has honored 117 men and women who have served our community so well.
In 2005, Fred Robbins Post 142 expanded this recognition effort. It established the JWV Community Scholarship Program to help foster and promote community service and recognize in a tangible fashion high school seniors who had made significant contributions to our community.
These exceptional and motivated high school men and women have demonstrated similar attributes as our Citizens of the Year have. They are clearly candidates to be selected in the years to come as a Citizen of the Year themselves, either here in Stamford or in another community. Fred Robbins Post 142 awards these scholarships in the names of Stamford veterans who have selflessly served our country and our community.
