Fred Ortoli’s photographs of the Valley are well known, as are his volunteer activities. He’s the guy who makes everyone else look great in many different ways.
Though many already recognize his photographic skills which have made him the Valley’s “Community Photographer,” Fred is also a person who has rolled up his sleeves and provided his leadership skills to many of the Valley’s nonprofit agencies.
And now United Way Board Chairman, Mike Marcinek, has announced that Fred is assuming the leadership of this year’s Annual Community Campaign.
In making the announcement Marcinek said, ‘We couldn’t be more pleased with Fred’s acceptance of this position. Fred has a unique perspective of the Valley because he has been an active participant for so many years. On top of that, he has personally had the opportunity to see and photograph just about every aspect of life in our Valley. He has a real grasp for the importance of campaign in meeting the needs of our community, and we are thrilled that he will be leading this year’s effort”.
Ortoli said, “In my work and my volunteering, I have seen the needs in our community and the impact that United Way dollars have had on delivering services in the Valley. This annual campaign is critical to our community, and it is a pleasure to lead the effort. I am looking forward to the support of the entire community to help us through these difficult economic times when the demand for services increases every day”.
Fred began his photography career at Chesebrough Ponds where he was an in-house photographer for eighteen years, leaving in 1990. He had started Fred Ortoli Photography in 1969 and expanded that into his full time occupation.
When not behind the camera, Fred is very busy contributing his time and talents as a member of the Board of Directors of the Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Birmingham Foundation and the Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross.
He is a member and former president of the Ansonia Rotary Club, and a member of the Derby Historical Society and Valley United Way’s Corporate Volunteer Council. He previously served as a member of United Way’s Board of Directors and has rejoined the Board this year.
No stranger to the Annual Community Campaign, he has been an active member of its Campaign Cabinet for the annual fundraising campaign for many years.
He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus of Seymour and St. Augustine Church, and a former member of the Oxford Economic Development Corporation.
Fred was the 2009 recipient of the Charles H. Flynn Humanitarian Award and is a 2003 recipient of the Valley Chamber of Commerce Gold Seal Award, presented for outstanding service through dedicated and effective leadership.
Fred has donated his services to nearly every non-profit organization in the Valley. He credits his commitment to volunteerism to his father, Frederick F. Ortoli, who was a very active leader with several Valley organizations and his mother Josephine Ortoli, who was a 2008 recipient of the Valley Women Making a Difference Award. Fred nominated his mother for the award and cites her organizing and working at American Red Cross Blood Drives for 55 years as well as being an active volunteer at Holy Rosary Church.
John J. Walsh is the president and COO of Valley United Way.
Valley United Way is the leading philanthropic resource for the Valley towns of Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton matching the needs of the community and the interests of donors to improve the quality of life in the community. United Way supports and creates initiatives addressing youth, families and people in crisis. Each year Valley United Way funds programs and organizations that make a measurable difference in the lives of people living and working in the Valley.
