The organization’s Board of Directors has chosen a new executive team headed into 2025

HARTFORD (Dec. 13, 2024) – Hartford’s Camp Courant’s Board of Directors has elected a new leadership slate going into 2025. Richard Brown, managing partner of Five Eight Holdings, LLC and Chief Membership Officer & Director of Coaching at the CT Real Estate Investors Association, has been elected board chair.

“It’s a true honor to assume this role within such an esteemed and vital organization in our capital city,” said Brown. “Summer learning and enrichment are essential components of a child’s development, and for Hartford to have had Camp Courant — a safe haven where children can simply be kids — for the past 130 years is incredibly special. I’m enthusiastic about the future and eager to embark on this next chapter alongside the Camp team.”

Brown, who has years of experience working with organizations in Greater Hartford, assumes the role of chair following 15 years of involvement with Camp Courant, including 14 years as an at-large board member.

“Rich has been a true champion for Camp since even before I’ve been involved,” said Corrianne Chipello, Camp Courant’s CEO. “To have someone with his passion for helping Hartford and its families is a blessing, and I’m so thankful for his willingness to step up and take on this leadership role.”

Josh Sylvester of Consigli Construction, Inc., a former Camp Courant counselor and at-large board member for seven years, was elected the board’s vice chair. Angelo Costantini of WM steps into the role of treasurer, after eight years of at-large service. Liz Salvatore of FOX61, who joined the board in 2024, takes over as secretary.

“Board service is something I appreciate so much, because at the end of the day it’s volunteer work that’s based on genuine belief and commitment to the mission,” said Chipello. “I want to give my sincerest thanks to all our outgoing board members and incoming officers. Each person’s commitment to our mission and our campers is truly heartwarming.”

More about Hartford’s Camp Courant

Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2024, Hartford’s Camp Courant is a youth development organization and the oldest and largest free summer day camp in the United States. For six weeks every summer, Camp Courant hosts 750 children a day who get to participate in over a dozen educational and enriching programs, in addition to the summer camp classics like sports & recreation and arts & crafts. Campers receive breakfast and lunch on site daily and transportation is covered to and from the City of Hartford. Additionally, Camp Courant launched a spring enrichment program in 2023, a specialized one-week session during spring break. Continuing in 2025, Camp Courant is expanding its offerings into the Town of East Hartford, to provide more summer enrichment opportunities for children in Greater Hartford. Camp Courant’s 36-acre facility is also available to be rented for any event or gathering, where all proceeds directly fund camp programs. For more information on the organization and its happenings, visit http://campcourant.org