September 9, 2021
For more information, contact Pam Mola, Communications Officer, at pamela@cfect.org
New London, CT – The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut awarded $963,649 in scholarships to 307 students from across the region this year, a 27% increase in award dollars from 2020. Recipients come from 32 of the 42 towns in the Foundation’s service area. Scholarship amounts more than doubled in the Norwich region and nearly tripled in the Northeast region compared to last year.
Scholarships are a critical part of the Foundation’s “cradle to career” commitment to supporting youth. “Ensuring that all young people in our community have the opportunity to get to and through college is a key strategy in advancing equity in our region,” stated Program Director Jennifer O’Brien. This year, the Foundation made a record-high 85 multi-year awards to help students afford to complete their higher education.
Working with local nonprofits and school systems to identify the needs in each community, the Foundation also supports other efforts for the region’s most vulnerable youth, including early childhood education, after school programs, mentoring, college internships and financial resources beyond tuition assistance.
A key partner in the area of college readiness and completion is Higher Edge, a nonprofit that guides low-income and first-generation students through enrollment, retention, and graduation from college. “This year, eight of our high school seniors and 18 of our current college students received scholarships from the Community Foundation. This financial support is a critical component in removing the barriers for them to achieve their educational goals,” stated Katie Hallisey, Executive Director of Higher Edge.
The Community Foundation’s scholarships are made possible through the generosity of donors who understand the value of opening doors for students and investing in the future. These caring donors have established 123 scholarship funds at the Community Foundation, awarding nearly $8.8 million to over 2,800 students since 1983.
For a full list of scholarship recipients, visit our website: 2021 Scholarship Recipients
About the Community Foundation
Serving 42 towns and comprised of over 570 charitable funds, the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut puts philanthropy into action to address the needs, rights and interests of the region, focusing on four priority areas: empowering youth, promoting basic needs and rights, preserving the environment, and advancing animal welfare. The Foundation stewards net assets of over $120 million and has awarded over $77 million in grants and scholarships to nonprofits and students since its founding in 1983. To learn more, visit cfect.org.
