FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2024
CONTACT
Jill Pearson
475.300. 6891
New Haven, CT [April 29, 2024] – The Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology (ConnCAT) received a grant of $50,000 from the Liberty Bank Foundation through the bank’s Market President, Jeff Hubbard. The funding is expected to boost ConnCAT’s Youth Summer Program and improve educational opportunities in the Dixwell community. The summer program, which runs for six weeks, will provide materials and transportation for the youth enrolled in the program and hire college interns for an opportunity to have hands-on experiences.
The Youth Summer Program at ConnCAT also serves as a safe space for middle and high school students to explore skills alongside mentors and supportive peers. Since its inception, ConnCAT has continued to offer its summer program at no cost to its participants, as well as a year-round calendar of after-school activities geared towards investment in youth.
"We are always grateful for the investment into our communities, particularly those that benefit youth. Jeff Hubbard and his team at Liberty Bank have always shown support for the youth in the Dixwell community," said President of ConnCAT and ConnCORP Erik Clemons. "This grant will allow us to deepen our impact; providing more young people the opportunity to facilitate their hopes and dreams through artistic discovery and expression."
“The continued investment in the community is beneficial for all within it,” added Steve Driffin, Director of Programs at ConnCAT. “I'm always excited for opportunities like this; the arts open doors and expose youth to things that they may not have a chance to experience otherwise. To know that these kinds of opportunities are available to us has great impact,” he said. “We've seen youth become great people because of what we started there. This Liberty Bank Foundation grant will do wonderful things for the community.”
Since 2023, the Liberty Bank Foundation has approved over $480,200 in grant awards for over 40 community partners that serve communities in Greater Hartford, Middlesex County, Greater New London, and Western Massachusetts. Several other grants have been slated for basic community needs, including affordable education, food insecurity, workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and programming for various youth initiatives in the region.
Applications for ConnCAT Youth Summer Programs are currently open and interested persons are encouraged to apply here.
About ConnCAT The Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology (ConnCAT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit post-secondary career training institution. The center was established in 2011 as a means to make training opportunities available to all people regardless of race, religion, ancestry or national origin. ConnCAT provides job-training programs intended to give unemployed and under-employed adults the skills needed to secure meaningful, well-paying jobs in the health sciences and culinary professions. ConnCAT provides adults with the academic support needed to succeed in the programs. Career preparation is linked with the hospitality industry and corporate partners who assist in the design of the training. Learn more at ConnCAT.org
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