In the fall semester of 2002, the John F. Welch College of Business was asked if it could provide assistance to the Diocese of Bridgeport Regional Catholic School systems with their strategic planning process. The request was referred to Dr. Rawlin (Pete) Fairbaugh, the instructor for strategic planning in the MBA program.

Dr. Stephen Brown, Dean of the John F. Welch College of Business at the time, and Dr. Fairbaugh agreed to ask students in the capstone MBA class, Global Management Integration, if they would be willing to undertake this challenge in place of writing a significant research paper individually. A number of students volunteered and four were selected to work with the Fairfield/Easton Regional Catholic Schools.

The project was extremely well received by educators, pastors, parents and administrators and in subsequent semesters, students in the capstone course have continued to volunteer to do strategic planning for not-for-profit groups. Numbered among these organizations have been:  Fairfield/Easton schools; the Stamford Regional Catholic School system; Amos House, a homeless shelter in Danbury; Operation Hope, a homeless shelter in Fairfield; the Bridgeport Area Youth Ministry, a center to instill working skills in inner-city teens; The Cardinal Shehan Center, the inner-city organization for family activities and development; a Cancer Camp proposed for China, similar to Paul Newman's "Hole in the Wall" camps; Valley United Way located in Ansonia; The School for Ethical Education located in Milford, CT.

The overwhelmingly positive response received from the organizations served, coupled with the students' enthusiasm, led us to believe that these efforts were winning ones for all constituents and should be pursued in a more formal manner. To this end, The Center was established within the University.