Bobby and Carolyn Crabtree Celebrated as Corporate Leadership Award Honorees at the American Red Cross Ruby Red and White Ball

On April 25, 2026, Bobby and Carolyn Crabtree were recognized for sustained, meaningful service — named Corporate Leadership Award honorees at the American Red Cross Ruby Red and White Ball, one of Connecticut’s most prestigious philanthropic events of the year.

The Ruby Red and White Ball marked the American Red Cross’s 40th anniversary in the region, bringing together Connecticut’s most dedicated community leaders for an evening of celebration and purpose. The event raised over $1.3 million to support the American Red Cross’s lifesaving programs across the state, and the Crabtree Motor Group was proud to stand as a presenting sponsor — a reflection of a commitment to this community that runs far deeper than business.

Here at Crabtree Nissan in Middlebury, CT, we couldn’t be prouder of Bobby and Carolyn. This recognition is a long time coming, and it means everything to our team.

Leadership That Goes Beyond the Dealership

The Corporate Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have made an extraordinary and lasting impact on the communities around them — not through a single act of generosity, but through years of consistent, purposeful involvement. Bobby and Carolyn Crabtree were selected because their commitment to Connecticut is exactly that: consistent, purposeful, and deeply personal.

From where we sit at Crabtree Nissan, that leadership is part of our DNA. It informs how we treat our customers, how we engage with our neighbors in the Middlebury and greater Waterbury, CT area, and how we think about our role as a business in this community. Bobby and Carolyn set that tone, and we are proud to follow it.

Middlebury, Connecticut — Proud to Be Part of Something Bigger

Crabtree Nissan has been serving drivers in Middlebury, Waterbury, and across the greater Connecticut region as part of the Crabtree Motor Group’s five-location family of dealerships. From Middlebury to East Haven to Milford to Watertown, every Crabtree location shares the same foundation: a belief that a dealership’s true value is measured by the strength of the relationships it builds — with customers, with employees, and with the broader community.

Bobby and Carolyn have spent years nurturing those relationships — quietly supporting nonprofits, sponsoring local events, and stepping forward when Connecticut families and organizations needed a partner. The American Red Cross Corporate Leadership Award puts a name to work that has always been its own reward.

What the American Red Cross Does for Connecticut

The American Red Cross is embedded in Connecticut life in ways that often go unseen — until the moment someone needs them most. Whether it’s responding to a family displaced by a house fire at 2 a.m., ensuring that blood is available for a patient in surgery, or training a parent in infant CPR, the Red Cross is there. That presence is made possible by the generosity of community partners across the state.

The $1.3 million raised at the Ruby Red and White Ball will strengthen the Red Cross’s ability to continue that work — responding faster, reaching further, and serving more Connecticut residents when it matters most. We are honored to have contributed to that effort alongside Bobby and Carolyn and the wider Crabtree Motor Group family.

Get Involved

The team at Crabtre Nissan appreciates Bobby and Carolyn Crabtree for setting the standard, for leading with generosity, and for building something in Connecticut that we are all proud to be a part of. This award is a reflection of our culture — and it is richly deserved.

If this story inspires you to get involved with the American Red Cross — through volunteering, a blood donation, or a financial gift — visit redcross.org to learn more.

To explore Crabtree Nissan’s community involvement and learn more about the full Crabtree Motor Group family of dealerships across Connecticut, visit our About Us page or stop by and see us in Middlebury, CT.