Hartford Foundation Awards More Than $780,000 to Greater Hartford Summer Programs
More than 6,200 children and youth and individuals with disabilities will participate
Although summer vacation is an exciting time for school aged kids, it can present an array of challenges for caregivers and working parents. The summer months often weigh heavily on the minds of Hartford families because of the difficulty in finding reliable and affordable childcare that provides well rounded enrichment. For caregivers who tend to people with disabilities, finding a capable facility that offers quality care can feel unachievable.
The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving understands the concerns of Hartford families and caregivers during those summer months and is providing $782,283 to support 32 summer programs in Greater Hartford. The grants will support more than 6,200 Hartford youth, including more than 350 youth and adults with disabilities, who reside throughout our 29-town region.
Hartford’s Proud, Drill, Drum, and Dance Corp is one of this year’s grantees and provides an excellent example the kind of quality organizations long supported by the Foundation’s summer program grants. The nonprofit uses sound, movement and artistry to develop academic, social and positive behavior among youth ages 5-24. The Foundation awarded a $10,000 grant to allow the organization to engage 30 Hartford youth ages three to 18 to participate in activities that seek to foster empowerment through the arts by creating a safe environment for students to express themselves and develop a sense of belonging. The grant will also fund costumes and supplies, studio rental fees, workshops, travel expenses, and more, providing some financial relief to program participants.
“In 10 years, I envision Hartford’s Proud as a thriving, influential force both within our community and in the broader performing arts world,” said Hartford’s Proud founder Terry Starks. “Our goal is for every participant to leave Hartford’s Proud not only with artistic skills but also with values that shape them into engaged, compassionate adults.”
This year’s summer program grants will support free or reduced-cost opportunities for nearly 3,400 Hartford youth and Greater Hartford youth and adults with disabilities to attend summer camp and provide nearly 2,900 youth with access to summer enrichment programs.
In underserved communities like Hartford, there is a significant gap in paid opportunities for young people with supervised career leadership. The Foundation’s 2025 summer program grants include support for 131 counselor-in-training opportunities, providing Black and Latine youth with career exposure, employment opportunities and training, and the chance to develop essential life skills.
“This year’s summer program grants showcase and highlight the vast number of programs that are supporting our Hartford youth, and youth and adults with disabilities,” said Alexis Safo-Agyeman, a Community Impact Officer at the Hartford Foundation. “From grassroot programs making waves in their neighborhoods, to camps that support individuals from our 29 towns, we know that with each program comes support for working families, work experience for students, and opportunities for kids to engage in learning and fun all summer long.”
View the full list of grant recipients at https://www.hfpg.org/what-we-do/new-and-noteworthy/hartford-foundation-awards-more-than-780000-to-greater-hartford-summer-programs-more-than-6200-children-and-youth-and-individual