About Foundation
The Peter French Memorial Foundation is a charitable trust which has been established in memory of Peter. This tax-exempt organization was created with two purposes in mind: to provide direct financial assistance to needy persons and to provide grants for worthy charitable causes.
One of Peter's greatest qualities was his unwavering loyalty and devotion to his friends and family. Remembering his compassion and generosity, the Foundation will provide temporary grants to those suffering severe hardship due to loss of employment, illness, or other setback. Our goal is always to make a positive impact on people's lives, and the Foundation has been proud and honored to make grants to several families in dire need --- a single mother who was about to be evicted because of Covid-related unemployment issues, a family who had fallen behind on their bills due to medical problems and loss of job, a young man who needed help getting back on his feet after a string of unfortunate events, and others. Those who think they are eligible, or know of others who may be, are encouraged to contact any member of the French family for specific criteria. A general summary of eligibility requirements can be found at the bottom of this page.
The other purpose of the Foundation is to provide grants for charitable causes. A large amount has been donated for research in ARVD, the heart condition from which Peter passed away. ARVD (Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia) is a rare, progressive heart disease in which the muscle of the right ventricle is replaced by fat and fibrosis, causing abnormal heart rhythms. Although it is a relatively uncommon cause of sudden cardiac death, it may account for roughly 1/5 of sudden cardiac deaths in people under 35 years of age and is one of the leading causes of death of young athletes. More research is needed to solve the problems of understanding, diagnosing, treating, and ultimately curing this relatively unknown heart condition. For more information on ARVD, you can visit Johns Hopkins Medicine's ARVD website at www.arvd.com. Other causes we have donated to include Northeast Animal Shelter, GloBall Giving, Camp Casco, and Sarver Heart Center.
One of Peter's greatest qualities was his unwavering loyalty and devotion to his friends and family. Remembering his compassion and generosity, the Foundation will provide temporary grants to those suffering severe hardship due to loss of employment, illness, or other setback. Our goal is always to make a positive impact on people's lives, and the Foundation has been proud and honored to make grants to several families in dire need --- a single mother who was about to be evicted because of Covid-related unemployment issues, a family who had fallen behind on their bills due to medical problems and loss of job, a young man who needed help getting back on his feet after a string of unfortunate events, and others. Those who think they are eligible, or know of others who may be, are encouraged to contact any member of the French family for specific criteria. A general summary of eligibility requirements can be found at the bottom of this page.
The other purpose of the Foundation is to provide grants for charitable causes. A large amount has been donated for research in ARVD, the heart condition from which Peter passed away. ARVD (Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia) is a rare, progressive heart disease in which the muscle of the right ventricle is replaced by fat and fibrosis, causing abnormal heart rhythms. Although it is a relatively uncommon cause of sudden cardiac death, it may account for roughly 1/5 of sudden cardiac deaths in people under 35 years of age and is one of the leading causes of death of young athletes. More research is needed to solve the problems of understanding, diagnosing, treating, and ultimately curing this relatively unknown heart condition. For more information on ARVD, you can visit Johns Hopkins Medicine's ARVD website at www.arvd.com. Other causes we have donated to include Northeast Animal Shelter, GloBall Giving, Camp Casco, and Sarver Heart Center.
Eligibility Requirements
All are eligible, but priority will be given to those who meet the following criteria:
To apply for a grant, applicants are required to send a letter to the Trustees, with specific details concerning each of the following areas:
This information should be sent to:
Trustees of the Peter French Memorial Foundation
23 Hollywood Road
Winchester, MA 01890
Application deadline is October 15 of each year.
- Graduates of Winchester High School in the classes of 1989 through 1998 and their immediate families;
- Graduates of Colgate University in the classes of 1994 through 2000;
- Those who participated in Winchester club sports and graduated from any high school in the classes of 1989 through 1998;
- Individuals who were on a high school or college varsity team located in the Northeast between 1987 and 2000; and/or
- Individuals who began their careers in the years 1990 through 2004 in the northeastern portion of the United States and their immediate families.
To apply for a grant, applicants are required to send a letter to the Trustees, with specific details concerning each of the following areas:
- Income over the last three years,
- Present assets,
- Reason for request (problem), and
- Statement from one other person attesting to the need.
This information should be sent to:
Trustees of the Peter French Memorial Foundation
23 Hollywood Road
Winchester, MA 01890
Application deadline is October 15 of each year.
Contact Information
Leslie French (Peter's mother) - e-mail Leslie
Van French (Peter's older brother) - e-mail Van
Chris French (Peter's younger brother) - e-mail Chris
Van French (Peter's older brother) - e-mail Van
Chris French (Peter's younger brother) - e-mail Chris