Waterbury Promise

09/03/2026

We are thrilled to share that we have received the second $25,000 installment of the Ion Bank Foundation’s incredibly generous $50,000, two-year commitment to Waterbury Promise, designated specifically to support our last-dollar scholarships!

This investment comes at such an important time as Waterbury Promise continues to grow and serve more than 1,000+ talented and deserving students. We are deeply grateful to the Ion Bank Foundation for believing in our mission, investing in our scholars, and helping ensure that more Waterbury students have the opportunity to pursue a college education.

THANK YOU, ION BANK FOUNDATION, for your continued partnership and for helping us keep pace with our tremendous growth while making an even greater impact in our community!

A very special SHOUTOUT to Kathy Brochhausen, SVP of Community Relations and Executive Director of the Ion Bank Foundation, for being such a dedicated advocate for Waterbury Promise.

We are so grateful to have champions like the Ion Bank Foundation in our corner as we continue building brighter futures for Waterbury students. Thank you for helping us make college possible!

09/02/2026

📣 Waterbury Promise Scholars — We’re Coming to UConn Waterbury! 💙

Need to check in, ask a question, get connected to a resource, or just want to stop by and say hi? We’ll be on campus TOMORROW!

📍 UConn Waterbury
📅 Thursday, September 3
⏰ 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📌 Room 228K

Stop by anytime during the hours above — no appointment necessary! Whether you’re a returning Scholar or part of our newest cohort, we’re here to support you as you start the semester. 🎓

Come see us, ask questions, and get connected! 💙

08/28/2026

Exciting news for Waterbury Promise Scholars!

We’re thrilled to announce that our university partner, Western Connecticut State University, is taking its support to the next level!

In addition to providing valuable on-campus support, WCSU is now contributing up to $5,000 in financial support, starting with cohort 2026, to help make an even greater impact on the students and families we serve.

We’re incredibly grateful for this partnership and for WCSU’s commitment to investing in our community.

Thank you, Western Connecticut State University, for believing in our mission and supporting Waterbury students!

08/24/2026

A big thank you to Jessia Gonzalez and Hector Portillo, our Waterbury Promise Scholar Ambassadors, for representing Waterbury Promise at the Annual Back-to-School Rally hosted by Waterbury Youth Services at Fulton Park! They helped staff our resource table, connect with families, and share more about the Promise program with the Waterbury community.

Want to get involved, build leadership skills, and make a real impact like our Scholar Ambassadors? Become a Waterbury Promise Scholar Ambassador today!

08/22/2026

📣 Waterbury Promise is hiring! Join our small but mighty team!

We are hiring for a full-time Director of Development. This individual will:

• Develop and execute a multi-year development strategy aligned with organizational priorities.
• Expand and diversify philanthropic revenue to support annual operating needs and long-term organizational sustainability.
• Identify emerging philanthropic trends and recommend innovative fundraising strategies and more!

To access a copy of the full job description and to apply, click the link https://www.waterburypromise.org/join-our-team.html.

08/21/2026

Flashback Friday! 🎓
Our 5th Annual Scholar Celebration was a HUGE success, and we are IMMENSELY THANKFUL to everyone who joined us and helped make this annual event so impactful!

We gathered to celebrate student success, begin the important transition to college, and engage in meaningful workshops focused on building a sense of belonging on college campuses across Connecticut, developing essential skills, and strengthening financial literacy. These experiences inspired and empowered our scholars as they prepare to take these critical next steps toward their futures. Here’s a sneak peek at a few photo highlights, including our Lake Compounce Amusement Park community-building event the next day!

A special thank you to:
• Mayor Paul Pernerewski, Waterbury Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Darren Schwartz, WP Board Members and many of our community partners for joining us and supporting our scholars.
• Frank E. Brady, our incredible motivational speaker, for inspiring our students as they embark on this important next chapter.
• Our Scholar Ambassadors for volunteering their time, helping with setup, and sharing their personal experiences during our College Success panel.
• Regina Martin for her impactful presentation on college success that encouraged students to think outside the box.
• Julie Freeman and her M&T Bank team for providing an important—and very engaging—budgeting workshop.
• Ana Alfaro and the Eversource Energy volunteer team for helping with setup and guiding students throughout the event. Two of the volunteers even had relatives in attendance who are part of our newest cohort!
• Waterbury native and WP Board Member Judge Maurice Mosley for sharing his new memoir, Bishop Street to the Bench: An Improbable Journey. His story reminded our scholars that while challenges may come their way, their circumstances do not have to define their future.

And finally, thank you to Blayre Millo, Gabrielle Nocera and their staff at CT State Naugatuck Valley for being incredible hosts and making sure our event ran smoothly, RISE Balloon Designs LLC for the terrific decorations and Spirit Café for the delicious food that helped fuel scholars throughout the day!

We are so grateful to everyone who continues to invest and believe in our scholars. Here’s to celebrating their success and supporting them every step of the way!

08/10/2026

Join our small but mighty team at Waterbury Promise!

We’re looking for a passionate, strategic Director of Development to help us build on our momentum, grow philanthropic partnerships, and expand opportunities for our Promise Scholars.

If you’re a relationship-builder, storyteller, fundraiser, and community-minded leader who believes in the power of education to transform lives, we want to hear from you!

Make an impact.
Build meaningful partnerships.
Help more Waterbury Scholars reach their goals.

Come be part of something BIG!

Apply today and help us keep the Promise!

Waterbury Promise is now hiring for the position of Director of Development in Waterbury. Apply today.

08/05/2026

Waterbury Promise is thrilled to welcome 271 new scholars to our growing family as part of our 2026 Cohort! These incredible graduates from Waterbury Public Schools, W.F. Kaynor Technical High School, and Holy Cross High School stayed on track and finished their high school journey strong. Congratulations to each of you!

This fall, our scholars will begin the next chapter of their journey at 17 colleges and universities across Connecticut. Waterbury Promise will be there to support them every step of the way! Congratulations to the Class of 2026—we can't wait to see all you'll accomplish!

Watch for shoutouts and lots of photos from yesterday’s inspiring Scholar Celebration event! Welcome Cohort 2026!

07/09/2026

Sponsor Our Team!

As an official charity partner of the Eversource Hartford Marathon, we need tons of local sponsors to support Team Promise and help us reach our $26,200 fundraising goal! Become a Gold, Silver or Bronze Medal sponsor today and ensure our more than 1,000 scholars this fall have the resources and support they need for success in college and beyond!

Sponsorship forms are available on our website at https://www.waterburypromise.org/events.html. Don’t miss out on the chance to have your corporate logo prominently displayed on Dr. Schwartz’s race day gear on October 10th!

Looking for another way to support Team Promise? Become a fundraising runner/walker and register for the marathon, half marathon, Team 26.2 Relay or the Charity 5K. Waterbury Promise will cover all race registration fees and will pick up and distribute race packets in Waterbury before the big day! There’s no need to pay online to have yours mailed to you! You can also sign up to be one of 30 volunteers or donate to our team or a specific member’s fundraising efforts. Check out our website for more details.

A HUGE thank you to all of the runners/walkers who have already registered and to everyone who has donated so far! Go Team Promise! 🏃🏾🏃🏼‍♀️🥇

07/03/2026

Happy Fourth of July! Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday! Our offices will be closed on July 3rd.