Longtime supporter says Western integral part of community

It’s no secret that the wife of Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton has a strong commitment to the community in general — and Western in particular. Phyllis Boughton has been a longtime supporter who has contributed to the university in a variety of ways, including financial support for the annual alumni golf outing. This year she decided to make a general-purpose contribution to WCSU.

“I thought it was important to make a general donation so the university can use the money any way it needs to,” said Boughton, who owns and manages Connecticut Kitchen and Bath in Danbury. “Western is a great university that attracts local talent and its growth can only continue to improve the community.

“I talk to a lot of young people who are impressed with Western and thankful that it remains an affordable and high-caliber school. It’s a treasure for the area, and it makes me proud to see the people who come out of the school,” she said. Mark Boughton earned his master’s degree in educational psychology from Western.

She vividly recalled the celebrations in 2003 marking the university’s 100^th anniversary where she witnessed numerous alumni who testified how Western had shaped their lives. She realized then that the university was continuing to grow with the community.

“The university also is a great example of multicultural diversity,” said Boughton, who has been active with the WCSU multicultural fair. “It helps promote diversity and build a more peaceful community. The more we learn from one another, the stronger our community becomes. Making contributions to help strengthen those bonds is important for everyone.

“It doesn’t matter what your donation is, large or small, it’s what it amounts to at the end of the day,” she said. “Just give what you can afford so you can make a difference.”