Joan Cretella, Board Chairperson of Bridges Healthcare announced that applications are now being accepted for The Barry Kasdan Scholarship for the pursuit of a graduate or undergraduate degree in human services and The Stella Cretella Scholarship for those in pursuit of higher education through graduate or undergraduate degrees focusing on advocacy and policy reform in mental health services.
Three $1,500 scholarships will be awarded. The successful candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a Bridges employee, or spouse, child or grandchild of a Bridges employee, or a resident of Ansonia, Bethany, Derby, Milford, Orange, Seymour, Shelton, Stratford, West Haven, or Woodbridge Connecticut
- Must be pursuing a graduate or undergraduate degree in human services; or must be pursuing a graduate or undergraduate degree in mental health advocacy / public policy
- For high school applicants, must be completing high school or have GED equivalent in the year the scholarship is awarded.
Completed applications are due no later than March 31, 2025. Applications can be submitted online using the Bridges Healthcare Board Scholarship Application which can be accessed at www.bridgesct.org. Please contact scholarship@bridgesmilford.org with any questions.
These scholarships were established by Bridges’ Board of Directors, the Board Endowment Fund Committee, and the Board Scholarship Committee in honor of Barry Kasdan’s 30-plus years of leadership and service to Bridges Healthcare, Inc. and in memory of West Haven resident Stella Cretella’s 40-plus years in advocating for mental illness health reform in Connecticut and her 10+ years serving on the Board of Directors at Bridges Healthcare, Inc.
Kasdan was appointed President and CEO of Bridges, then known as Milford Mental Health, in 1984. Under his leadership, the organization grew from a small mental health agency with 22 employees to an integrated healthcare system with 160 employees. Bridges Healthcare, Inc. continues to grow in size and scope serving over 5,000 area residents in Ansonia, Bethany, Derby, Milford, Orange, Seymour, Shelton, Stratford, West Haven, and Woodbridge.
Cretella was a firm believer in higher education, especially for women. She was a pioneer in mental health advocacy, awareness and treatment through her volunteerism on the board of directors for both Region II in Connecticut of the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) and Bridges Healthcare, Inc.
Bridges is the state-designated local mental health authority for Milford, Orange, West Haven and the surrounding communities, offering a comprehensive range of services and programs for children, families, adults and young adults. Bridges’ recovery-focused services support individuals with severe and prolonged mental illness, addiction problems, as well as emotional and behavioral issues. For more information about Bridges’ programs and services, visit bridgesct.org.