WATERBURY, CT -- The American Savings Foundation board of directors recently announced nine grants supporting a wide range of Waterbury area programs and services totaling $156,000. This includes a $45,000 grant to the Mattatuck Museum to support the organization’s youth and family programs. The Museum’s outreach and education programs include Story Time for Toddlers, Poetry @ The MATT, Summer Youth Art and Teens @ The MATT. The Museum offers free use of Family Art & History Packs designed to encourage families with young children to explore at their own pace with activities and games.
The Museum also hosts “Community Free Days” on the second Sunday of each month where visiting families are invited to learn and explore the Mattatuck’s collections and exhibits at no cost. During Community Free Days, the Museum offers guided tours and family friendly art activities. The next Community Free Day will be on October 8, featuring an autumn-inspired art activity based on the exhibition “An Artist All Seasons: Dmitri Wright,” on view through November 5th. There will also be seasonal activities in the museum’s CAMPsite, a Children’s Art Maker Space, which invites families to play and learn together.
“Access to the arts enriches communities and provides opportunities for individuals to discover new skills and to explore the world around them,” said Maria Sanchez, director of grantmaking and community investment at American Savings Foundation. “This will be our fifth year supporting the Mattatuck Museum’s educational programming.
In addition to the Mattatuck Museum, the Foundation’s Board of Directors announced the following grants:
$1,500 to After School Arts Program, Inc. for a week-long theater workshop that teaches history, social studies and reading thorough plays at the Children’s Community School in December.
$25,000 to Bridge to Success to support its efforts to improve how youth are prepared for success from cradle to career. Bridge to Success is a collaborative working together to empower youth, promote social/emotional skill development, improve early literacy and parent and caregiver skills, and encourage college and career readiness.
$12,000 to Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries for their soup kitchen and food pantry.
$12,500 to Operation Fuel for their Energy Assistance Program for Waterbury residents. The program provides emergency energy assistance to residents who do not qualify for government subsidies.
$10,000 to the Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury to provide an emergency housing and relocation program for victims of domestic violence and their children.
$25,000 to the St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Waterbury for their soup kitchen and food pantry.
$15,000 for the United Way of Greater Waterbury Home Visiting and Literacy Initiative. This initiative is a multi-agency partnership that provides early literacy programs through home visits for children in low-income families.
$10,000 to the Greater Waterbury YMCA for their Basketball Academy, which provides student athletes with academic supports and guidance along with basketball training.
American Savings Foundation is a permanent charitable endowment which provides grants to local nonprofit organizations, and college scholarships to area students. Since its inception in 1995 the Foundation has contributed over $53 million in total grants and scholarships in central Connecticut.
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Contact:
Cierra Stancil
Associate Program Officer
American Savings Foundation
cstancil@asfdn.org
860-827-2556
Website: www.asfdn.org