ASF Announces Fall Community Grant Awards

December 19, 2025

The American Savings Foundation Board of Directors recently awarded 12 Community Grants totaling $37,450. These grants are designed to meet a wide range of local needs throughout the Foundation’s 64 town service area.  The current grants will support local programs in Bristol, Coventry, Durham, Madison, Middletown, Middletown, Naugatuck, New Britain, Waterbury, West Hartford, and Winchester

In keeping with the Foundation’s mission, Community Grants support programs that strengthen the community through education, human services, and the arts, with a special emphasis on the needs of children, youth, and families.

Grant awards include:

American Mural Project was awarded $3,000 for Summer @AMP 2026, an art enrichment program that engages children in creative projects, fosters imagination, and introduces them to large-scale public art.

Naugatuck Valley Soup Kitchen received $4,000 for its Free Meal Delivery Program, ensuring that vulnerable residents have access to nutritious meals delivered directly to their homes.

Seven Angels Theatre was awarded $2,500 for Seven Angels in the Schools, bringing live theatre experiences and arts education into Waterbury classrooms to inspire creativity and cultural appreciation among students.

Connecticut Storytelling Center received $4,000 for Start with Stories and Littlest Listeners Literacy Residencies, which use storytelling to strengthen literacy skills, spark imagination, and build communication abilities in young learners in New Britain.

Boys & Girls Club of Bristol was awarded $5,000 for Power Hour: Making Minutes Count!, an after-school program that provides academic support, homework help, and enrichment activities to help students succeed in school.

Coventry Lake Community Rowing received $1,000 for Seniors "Rowing 101" Sessions, introducing older adults to the sport of rowing as a way to promote physical fitness, wellness, and community connection.

Durham Middlefield Youth and Family Services was awarded $3,000 for its Expressions of Healing Workshop Series, which uses art and creative expression to support emotional well-being and resilience among youth.

Girls on the Run Greater Hartford received $3,000 to expand programming in (can you list Berlin, Coventry, East Hartford, Naugatuck, New Britain, Seymour, Simsbury, West Hartford, and Winchester. This initiative combines physical activity with lessons in confidence, leadership, and healthy decision-making for girls in grades 3–8.

MARC Community Resources was awarded $3,200 for MARC Players at Oddfellows, a theater program in Middletown that empowers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to express themselves through performance and the arts.

New Haven Symphony Orchestra received $1,750 to support Free Family Concerts in Middletown, offering accessible, high-quality musical experiences in Middletown to bring families together and foster appreciation for the arts.

Women & Family Life Center was awarded $3,500 for its Guided Assistance Program, which provides support and resources to women and families in Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Killingworth, Madison, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook to help them navigate challenges and build stability and resilience.

The University of Bridgeport, Inc. received $3,500 for its STEM on Wheels Bus, a mobile classroom that brings hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math learning directly to schools and communities in Waterbury, sparking curiosity and expanding access to STEM education.

“Our Community Grants support non-profits that are making a difference in their community,” said Jim Williams, Program Officer for Grants & Communications. “These grants are designed to support a wide range of direct service programs including diaper and food distribution, support for the arts, youth programs, and community health and wellness, across all the towns we serve.”  

The Foundation is now accepting applications for Community Grants, which will be reviewed in one grant cycle this year.  Applications are due September 30, 2026. Applications for up to $5,000 can be submitted using the online application available at https://www.asfdn.org/grants/community-grants.