The children of Eastern European immigrants, John and Ethel Kashulon were also products of the Great Depression. They grew up during challenging times, facing scarcity, hardship, and considerable financial struggles, which instilled in them the lessons of modest living, and the value of frugality and hard work. They held strong beliefs in the importance of financial responsibility and long-term economic sustainability.

Seeking a better life, John Kashulon came to Bridgeport from the coal fields of northeastern Pennsylvania in the early years of the Great Depression. John entered the manufacturing workforce in Bridgeport during World War 2, where he experienced the industrial frenzy produced by the war effort in the area. Witnessing the economic forces of America coming together to address the wartime challenges, John was inspired by our country’s economic might. His post-war business success laid the groundwork for his lifelong interest in American industry and economic growth, which inaugurated a lifetime of financial investment.

Ethel [nee Orco] was born and raised in Bridgeport. A devout Catholic, she was a lifelong member of Saints Cyril and Methodius Church and was one of the Bridgeport Housing Authority’s longest-tenured employees. The couple also owned Kashulon’s Market on Sheridan Street in Bridgeport. John passed away in 1996, and Ethel in 2017, when The John and Ethel Kashulon Foundation was created. Today the family legacy lives on through the Kashulon Foundation’s focus on philanthropic activities that help to address society’s challenges. John and Ethel’s optimism and resilience, shaped by their early hardships, help to foster the Foundation’s desire to affect positive change for the most underserved.

“John and Ethel were proud of the life they made in Bridgeport. They lived simply, created a nest egg, and through the years their nest egg continued to grow” said Gail Kashulon, John and Ethel’s niece, and a trustee of the Kashulon Foundation. The Kashulon Foundation’s mission is to improve people’s lives, including funding programs that enhance education, and opportunities for children. Quite simply, it is about giving those most in need a helping hand.