A new college course in philanthropy at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) has led to $10,000 in grants that will support fresh produce in New Britain neighborhoods, and help teen girls learn about college and career pathways.
The course - Introduction to Philanthropy, designed and taught by Dr. Richard Judd and Dr. Carol Austad - is the first known class of its kind taught in a Connecticut public college or university.
As part of a curriculum, in addition to required readings and guest speakers, students also spent a lot of time "in the field," interviewing community leaders and meeting with nonprofits to uncover important needs in New Britain.
For their culminating project, the students presented carefully-researched proposals to the New Britain-based American Savings Foundation, which committed to funding up to two of the proposals presented by the students.
"I learned how important it is to put together something compelling -- you can't bog down a presentation with data," said student Tavon Pettway.
Of the four proposals presented by the student teams, American Savings Foundation funded two at $5,000 each.
