Background and History

Hartford Education Foundation was started in 2002 thanks in large part to the vision of Theodore Sergi, Thomas Ritter and other members of our Board and joins a growing number of local education funds across the country committed to the quality of public education. The idea of forming local education funds grew out of a need to help enhance public education. Initially stimulated by a grant from the Ford Foundation to the National Education Fund in 1983, local education foundations now exist in 30 states, supporting 16,600 schools and 10.6 million students. Funding for local education foundations comes from corporate and private foundations and from corporations and businesses, as well as from individuals who are committed to public education.

HEF’s mission is to increase involvement of the general community in the Hartford Public Schools, organize and solicit financial and other support for innovative programs in the Hartford Public Schools, and encourage Hartford Public School educators to be creative and effective. We launched Teacher Grants in 2003.

In the organization’s first year of operation HEF gave out  72 Teacher Grants, awarding $50,000 in grants of $300 to $1000 each to teachers in 27 of Hartford public schools.  Teacher Grants give Hartford Public School teachers the means to take great ideas and make them come alive in the classroom.

Since the inception of the teacher grant program, HEF has awarded over $300,000 to classroom teachers including the 59 grants awarded for the current academic year

"The level of engagement on the part of the children was phenomenal and this was a deeply enriching time." Marilyn Ponte, Sanchez Elementary School

"This was such a wonderful and far-reaching experience for both students and teachers." Pam Brunell, Noah Webster Elementary School

Hartford Education Foundation
111 Charter Oak Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 803-2887

 E-mail:  info@thinkhartfordschools.org