The Peter French Memorial Foundation is a charitable trust which has been
established in memory of Peter. This tax exempt organization was created with two purposes in mind: to provide direct financial
assistance to needy persons and to provide funds for medical research.
One of Peter's greatest qualities was his unwavering
loyalty and devotion to his friends and family. Remembering his compassion and generosity, the Foundation will provide
temporary grants to those suffering severe hardship due to loss of employment, illness, or other setback. A general
summary of eligibility requirements can be found at the bottom of this page. Those who think they are eligible, or know of
others who may be, are encouraged to contact any member of the French family for specific criteria.
The other purpose of the Foundation is to donate funds
for research in ARVD, the heart condition from which Peter passed away. ARVD (Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia)
is a rare, progressive heart disease in which the muscle of the right ventricle is replaced by fat and fibrosis, causing
abnormal heart rhythms. Although it is a relatively uncommon cause of sudden cardiac death, it may account for roughly
1/5 of sudden cardiac deaths in people under 35 years of age and is one of the leading causes of death of young athletes.
More research is needed to solve the problems of understanding, diagnosing, treating, and ultimately curing this
relatively unknown heart condition. For more information on ARVD, you can visit Johns Hopkins Medicine's ARVD website
at http://www.arvd.com.
The Foundation is supported by generous donations,
as well as coordinated fundraising activities and events. If you have any ideas/suggestions for future fundraising events,
or would like to help with one, please contact the French family. Contributions, which are tax deductible, are gratefully
accepted and may be eligible for employer matching gift programs. Donations may be sent to the Peter French Memorial Foundation,
Attn: Tina, Winchester Savings Bank, 661 Main Street, Winchester, MA 01890.
Eligibility Requirements
Beneficiaries must be in one or more of the following
groups:
1. graduates of
Winchester High School in the classes of
1989 through 1998 and their immediate families;
2. graduates of Colgate University
in the classes of 1994
through
2000;
3. those who participated in Winchester
club sports and
graduated
from any high school in the classes of 1989
through
1998;
4. individuals who were on a high
school or college
varsity team
located in the Northeast between 1987 and
2000; and/or
5. individuals who began their careers in the
years 1990
through 2004 in
the northeastern portion of the United
States and their immediate
families.
To apply for a grant, applicants are required to send a letter
to the Trustees, with specific details concerning each of the following areas:
1. Income over the last three
years,
2. Present assets,
3. Reason for request (problem),
and
4. Statement from one other
person attesting to the need.
This information should be sent to the Trustees of the Peter French
Memorial Foundation, 23 Hollywood Road, Winchester, MA 01890. Application deadline is November 15 of each year.
Contact Information
