Greater Hartford College Scholarship Recipients Honored at Hartford Foundation for Public Giving Reception

The newest recipients in a college scholarship program that awards more than $1 million annually to Greater Hartford students were honored at the thirteenth annual Scholarship Recipient Reception held by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 at The Autorino Center – Bruyette Atheneum's Hoffman Auditorium at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford. The Hartford Foundation's investment in the scholarship program is a major component of the vision of its strategic plan to enhance educational equity and opportunity for all students in Greater Hartford.

More than 150 scholarship recipients and their families attended the reception. These students received new scholarships to attend two-year and four-year schools across the nation. Scholarship donors also had the opportunity to meet the students they are assisting. Fox 61's anchor and political reporter Jenn Bernstein served as master of ceremonies for the event which included a speech from Winifer Rosario, Alumna, Providence College, Class of 2017 and 2013 Wendy and Boyd Hinds Memorial Scholarship Fund Recipient. Those in attendance also enjoyed a musical performance by Jonathan Rush, the 2013 Sylvia H. Koski Scholarship Fund and the Daniel Clark Perkins Scholarship recipient, and a member of the Ohio State University Class of 2017. This year's event focused on the long-term impact these scholarships have had on the lives of past recipients and featured a video with some of the statistics on previous awardees.

Many of the scholarships are renewable, enabling students to receive support for each of their years in college as long as they maintain a good academic record. Numerous scholarships are significant and award $3,000 per year. Students may use the grants for tuition, fees, room and board, and textbooks. Overall, more than 600 students received new and renewing scholarships in 2017 through the Hartford Foundation program, totaling more than $1 million. The Hartford Foundation's scholarship program includes $140,000 in block grants to local two-year colleges for scholarships to needy students and $100,000 in block grants to local four-year schools for awards to students transferring from community colleges.

Scholarships are awarded through the General Scholarship Endowment Fund and 125 funds created at the Hartford Foundation by individuals, families and organizations. The Foundation matches recipients with the donor's criteria.

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is the community foundation for Hartford and 28 surrounding communities. In 2015, the Foundation celebrated ninety years of grantmaking in the Greater Hartford region, made possible by the gifts of generous individuals, families and organizations. It has awarded grants of $687 million since its founding in 1925. For more information about the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, visit www.hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888.