Grant to Help Provide Access for 200 Local High Schoolers to Education-Related Programs

David W. Glidden, President & CEO of Liberty Bank and President of the Liberty Bank Foundation, today announced the Liberty Bank Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to the Connecticut Science Center to help provide access for 200 local high school students to education-related programs through their Teen Programs.

The Connecticut Science Center’s Teen Programs range from one-time events to immersive opportunities to explore a broad range of STEM fields and careers. The programs run throughout the year with increased activities during the summer season. 

The $25,000 grant will be invested in various education-related programs, including hands-on STEM education, workforce development, peer mentoring and 21^st Century skill building. It will also enable teen participants during the summer receive stipends and bus passes so they can meet employment and financial obligations.

“The Connecticut Science Center’s ongoing commitment to youths of all ages through initiatives like Teen Programs gives them access not only to first-class educational programming but it also teaches them leadership skills as they become mentors themselves,” said Glidden, a Vice Chair of the Connecticut Science Center’s Board of Trustees. “The $25,000 grant award comes at the right time as we approach the summer and more students will need access outside of the classroom to the Connecticut Science Center’s educational and career building programs.”

“Since we opened the doors to the Connecticut Science Center in 2009, we’ve remained steadfast in our mission to inspire lifelong learning through interactive and innovative experiences,” said Matt Fleury, President & CEO of the Connecticut Science Center. “Thanks to generous corporate sponsors like the Liberty Bank Foundation, we will continue to drive innovation through our robust education-related programs that are structured in a way that builds on what students are learning in the classroom to ultimately deliver the next generation of STEM talent in the region.”

Since 2022, the Liberty Bank Foundation has awarded $60,000 to the Connecticut Science Center for various programming opportunities for local youth. Liberty Bank also annually sponsors the Connecticut Science Center’s gala as well as their exhibits, including this year’s Science Fiction Science Future exhibit.

To learn more about the Connecticut Science Center’s Teen Programs, CLICK HERE.

About Liberty Bank Foundation

Since its inception in 1997, Liberty Bank Foundation has awarded $18 million in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Liberty Bank’s market area.  Following the Bank’s ‘Be Community Kind’ spirit, the Foundation seeks to improve the lives of individuals and families by investing in three key areas:  Education & Training, Affordable Housing, and Food. 

About Liberty Bank 

Established in 1825, Liberty Bank is the oldest and largest independent mutual bank in the country. With nearly $8.0 billion in assets, Liberty has 56 banking offices across Connecticut and two in Massachusetts. As a full-service financial institution, Liberty offers consumer and commercial banking, cash management, home mortgages, business loans, insurance and investment services. Named ‘Top Workplace’ by the Hartford Courant every year since 2012 and designated a 2021, 2022 and 2023 Best-In-State Bank in Connecticut by Forbes Magazine. 

About the Connecticut Science Center

The LEED- Gold certified Connecticut Science Center, located in downtown Hartford, sparks creative imagination and an appreciation for science by immersing visitors in fun and educational hands-on, minds-on interactive experiences while maintaining an environmentally conscious presence. Serving more than 3.5 million people since opening in 2009, the Science Center features more than 165 exhibits in ten galleries, covering a range of topics including space and earth sciences, physical sciences, biology, the Connecticut River watershed, alternative energy sources, Connecticut inventors and innovations, a children’s gallery, and much more. Other features include the state’s only year-round butterfly habitat, five educational labs, a 200-seat 3D digital theater, function room, gift store, and ongoing events for all ages. The Science Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing science education throughout the state of Connecticut and New England, providing learning opportunities for students and adults of all ages, and engaging the community in scientific exploration. The Connecticut Science Center is the home to the Joyce D. and Andrew J. Mandell Academy for Teachers, offering powerful professional development for educators. More information: CTScienceCenter.org or (860) SCIENCE.