Hartford Foundation Offers Major Support For Summer Youth Programs

Hartford Foundation for Public Giving

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford-based regional foundation had doled out nearly $850,000 this year to help greater Hartford area youths enjoy supervised, summer activities.

"While many children eagerly await the arrival of summer, parents and other caregivers often struggle to secure reliable care for their children," wrote the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving Tuesday. "For low-income families, the challenge of finding an affordable childcare can feel insurmountable."

Fortunately, more than 7,200 school-age children and youth across Greater Hartford will participate in free and reduced-cost summer learning programs, thanks to $848,909 in grants from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

The grants will support 33 programs, including enrichment, tutorial and counselor-in-training programs.

Many of these opportunities run from four to eight weeks, with shorter sessions available.

The Hartford Foundation grants support summer programs serving Hartford youth and those with disabilities from throughout the Greater Hartford region.

These programs provide young people with an opportunity to explore new environments, learn new skills and make new friends.

“Summer learning programs provide thousands of Hartford families with the opportunity to ensure that their children have a safe and enriching experience while allowing parents and caregivers to continue working,” said Hartford Foundation Senior Community Impact Officer Kate Piotrowski.

“Summer programs also offer youth with paid employment and skill-building opportunities to enhance their academic, social, and emotional well-being.”

To assist families in applying for summer program opportunities, the oundation supports the Connecticut Afterschool Network’s 2023 Summer Program Directory, which can be found at ctyouthdirectory.org.

For more information on the foundation's summer program grants, including program recipients in the foundation's 29-town service area, click on this link.