United Way Of Milford CEO Retiring After Decades Of Service

MILFORD, CT — United Way of Milford President and CEO Gary Johnson will retire at the end of June after nearly 44 years of service, the organization announced Wednesday.

Johnson spent a majority of his career at United Way of Milford, a nonprofit designed to connect people in need with information, education and services.

He joined as a campaign associate in 1978, and was named CEO in 1986. The next year he led Milford United Way's first $1 million fundraising campaign, and the organization raised over $1 million every year after through 2008.

Under his leadership, in 1991 United Way partnered with Milford schools to form Kids Count of Milford, a collaborative aimed at improving children's readiness for school.

He led United Way through several times of community need, officials said in a news release. The nonprofit provided $750,000 in assistance to victims of Super Storm Sandy, and during the COVID-19 pandemic it started the Milford Diaper Bank.

He would often say, "Whatever their need might be, we're here to help," officials said.

Milford United Way Board Chair Joseph Dey called Johnson a "fierce champion" for the nonprofit and a "true advocate for those in need."

"His dedication, leadership, and vision for our Milford community has made an immeasurable impact on this city and on countless individual lives," Dey said.

Outside of United Way, Johnson serves on the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce and Subway Cares Foundation boards. He's part of the Milford Rotary and a corporator of The Milford Bank, and was awarded the Robert Kapusta Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chamber of Commerce.

Johnson holds a B.A. from UConn and a J.D. from Quinnipiac University.

"On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, we wish him and his family all the best in his retirement, and we are committed to continue building on this exceptional foundation Johnson has established for us," Dey said.