Sept 2021 Letter to the Community

September 30, 2021

   Throughout our 25 year history, American Savings Foundation has been a steady, broad-based funder in the communities we serve. Our priority areas have been unchanged from our very first grants – we provide support for education, human services, and the arts, with a special emphasis on the needs of children, youth, and families.   

   Being a steady funder has allowed us to provide long-term support in the community.  This includes sustained support as a program evolves and changes, and support for new programs and collaborations that align with our mission and goals. Although we don’t put a limit on the number of years we might consider support for a specific program, continued support is never automatic. We evaluate every funding application on its merit, making sure programs follow current best practices and are meeting the changing needs of the individuals they serve. The YWCA of New Britain’s STRIVE program has grown and adopted new, research-based best practices over the past 25 years. We also provide seed funding for new models and innovative new ideas. The New Britain Summer Enrichment Experience (SEE) started as a unique pilot, and we and other early funders continued support as the program grew into a national model. After the disruptions caused by Covid, Summer SEE was more important than ever, as it helped students prepare to return to school this fall, ready to learn. And we have made a long-term commitment to our Robert T. Kenney Scholars – over the years investing over $14 million in college scholarships – and evolving to now include a paid summer internship program as well as a new Scholar Assistance Program.

   As a steady, broad-based funder we also are ready and able to adapt to new challenges faced by the communities we serve. In 2020, we increased funding for basic needs to help families, seniors, and individuals through the unique challenges caused by Covid-19. We joined our funding partners to support collaborative efforts to meet emergency needs. And we provided sustaining support for many of the after school, arts, and human services programs that we’ve supported in the past - helping agencies weather the storm and prepare to come back stronger than ever. We are seeing that resurgence now, and are proud that we were able to make a difference through a difficult year.

  As we look to 2022, we stand ready to consider funding for both current programs and innovative new ideas that will serve our community as we enter a new phase in the recovery. We are currently accepting applications for Community Grants, due October 14. We also are accepting Letters of Intent for Capital Grants, especially for one-time capital needs that are essential to the delivery of core services, and are closely aligned with American Savings Foundation’s mission and the needs of the community. The online applications for new Program Grants and the Robert T. Kenney Scholarship Program will open later this fall.    

   Over the past 25 years, needs in the community have evolved, and we know that new challenges will continue to emerge. One thing will always remain the same – our mission to strengthen the community by supporting education, human services, and the arts, with a special emphasis on the needs of children, youth and families, through grants to community organizations and college scholarships.  

   That is our Lasting Commitment. 

Charles J. Boulier III                 Maria Falvo
Chairman of the Board             President & CEO