Hartford Foundation Awards Nearly $800,000 to Region's Summer Programs

More than 10,000 school-age youth in Greater Hartford are expected to participate in summer learning programs thanks to nearly $800,000 in grants from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. The grants have been awarded to support 55 programs, operated by 43 agencies, including 34 reduced fees camperships, as well as enrichment, tutorial and counselor-in-training programs. Many of these opportunities run between four and eight weeks with shorter sessions available. The Hartford Foundation targets summer program funding to support the participation of youth from Hartford and East Hartford and those with disabilities from throughout the Greater Hartford region, most  with free or at reduced rates.  

While offering parents with a safe, affordable option for their children, the programs also support summer learning in a variety of ways. By promoting reading, writing and other learning activities, programs supported by the Foundation are designed to help prevent summer learning loss by helping students retain and build on skills gained during the school year as well as to grow developmentally. 

A directory of the programs, produced by the Hartford Foundation and Hartford Public Schools, can be found at Hartford schools and local libraries and community centers. The directory, which is produced in English and Spanish, is also available for download at www.hfpg.org/summer or www.hartfordschools.org/summer2016.

The Hartford Foundation has a long history of supporting summer programs with grants dating back to the 1930s. Over $5 million has been awarded for these programs just in the last six years.

“The Hartford Foundation’s investment in summer programs relates directly to its strategic focus on improving education success for the region's students by working to prevent summer learning loss, a key component to reducing the education achievement gap,” said Judith McBride, the Hartford Foundation’s director of Grants and Partnerships “Our funding enables access to these programs for many students from low-income families. Many programs are linked to school-year or summer school, which provide continuity by providing learning opportunities throughout the year. Full day programming is available for many summer school students. Our funding also focuses on enhancing literacy efforts by increasing access to age-appropriate books and integrating use of local libraries and educational field trips to reinforce the skills being developed in the programs.”

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, established in 1925, is the community foundation for Hartford and 28 surrounding communities. It is dedicated to putting philanthropy into action to create lasting solutions that result in vibrant communities within the Greater Hartford region. The Foundation’s grantmaking is made possible through generous gifts from individuals, families, and organizations. It has awarded grants of $687 million since its founding. For more information about the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, visit www.hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888.