Diana Atwood Johnson of Old Lyme wanted to create lasting opportunities after her lifetime for young people and women and girls of color in Eastern Connecticut. She did—by creating a charitable fund through a bequest to the Community Foundation.

The Diana Atwood Johnson Fund reflects Diana’s love of nature and her advocacy for open space, arts education, and racial equity. Her fund will provide annual scholarships to students with financial need in New London County pursuing arts-related or environmental studies.

Grants from her fund will also be awarded annually Grants from her fund will also be awarded annually through the Community Foundation’s Southeast and Norwich Women & Girls Funds.

Diana directed all scholarships and grants from her Diana directed all scholarships and grants from her fund prioritize Black, Indigenous, and people of color.

Attorney Jeanette Dostie of Suisman Shapiro in Attorney Jeanette Dostie of Suisman Shapiro in New London assisted Diana with estate planning. She observed, “I was impressed by the effort and energy Diana put into trying to make sure her community had what it needed. She was pretty clear what her priorities were, and I think she had thought about these issues for a long time.”