Building a Generation of College Graduates and

Transforming Our Community

Summer 2025 Newsletter

As our scholars head back to school at 23 Connecticut colleges and universities this fall, we are in awe of the incredible growth and impact we have witnessed, the critical milestones we have achieved and the tremendous support we have received from a generous community that makes it all possible!

2025 is THE YEAR when Waterbury Promise:

Celebrated our very first scholars who graduated with a life-changing bachelor’s degree— in just three years’ time!

Reaches our goal of providing scholarships of up to $5,000 per scholar per year of college!

Supports four cohorts concurrently!

Grows to serve 875+ scholars!

Looks ahead to our first 4-year graduates in May of 2026 with the goal of having a 70% or higher graduation rate!

For the first time, the Promise team will proudly support freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors at accredited 2 and 4-year institutions of higher learning across the state. We’re excited to introduce you to our newest—and largest—cohort yet, our fabulous new staff member and the truly special partners that have joined our family in recent months.

Read on for inspiring program highlights and be sure to mark your calendars for Thursday, November 13th at 5:30 p.m. Our signature fall fundraiser, A Night of Promise, returns to kick off the holiday season and celebrate our transformative impact. We hope to see you there!

This summer, Waterbury Promise proudly welcomed 301 new scholars—an unprecedented 25% increase over last year! These exceptional students represent the city’s best and brightest and the next generation of leaders, innovators and change-makers for our state. Here’s a look at our impressive freshman class.  

Our 4^th Annual Scholar Celebration & Ceremony was a HUGE success and we are immensely thankful to everyone who helped make this daylong event so impactful. Together, we officially welcomed the Class of 2025— kicking off their transition to college and building a special community that will carry them through this exciting next chapter.

We witnessed a record-breaking turnout of 220 scholars and their families, plus dedicated board members and WP partners, at the Mainstage Theater and Leever Atrium at CT State Naugatuck Valley, which were bustling with activity.

Scholars and families received a powerful keynote from motivational speaker Janai Kemp, who urged scholars to prioritize self-care and its importance. He reminded them to never stop using their IMAGINATION to build the future THEY want.

Author and Professor Regina Martin led an interactive "You Belong Here: Transition to College Success" workshop, which was designed to equip students with the tools needed for the college journey ahead.

Scholars were provided WP swag items and attended a resource fair offering invaluable information and guidance on everything from mental health and well-being to financial literacy.

Scholar Ambassadors shared their most valuable insights with the group and answered questions regarding their first-year college experience. A heartwarming certificate ceremony was held to celebrate our newest cohort's achievements and the day wrapped up with a fun-filled trip to Lake Compounce!  

Meet Our New College Success Team Member Ediye Redzepi

Waterbury Promise is thrilled to announce that our small but mighty team now includes a full-time College Success Coordinator! Ediye Redzepi, a Crosby High School and UConn Waterbury graduate, brings an infectious energy to this new role as well as extensive experience in direct student support, program coordination, and educational outreach—right here in Waterbury. She will earn her Master of Arts in English from SCSU this fall.

We loved what she had to say about this exciting new role:

Welcome aboard Ediye—we are so happy to have you!

Partnerships Power Our Promise

Our quickly growing program will require even more resources in the coming year and beyond and we are tremendously grateful to have welcomed several new partners while leveraging existing partnerships to provide our scholars with invaluable opportunities. A HUGE THANK YOU to The Scripps Family Fund for Education and the Arts, the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA) and The Hometown Foundation for believing in our mission and the power of promise to change lives!

We are also forever indebted to the members of the Waterbury legislative delegation for advocating on our behalf at the State Capitol and helping us secure a two-year grant through the Department of Education.

Click below to view a video created by our media partner, WORX, that beautifully captures how our incredible village of support is fueling our scholars’ success—every step of the way!

Ion Bank Foundation Awards $50,000 to Support Waterbury Promise Scholarships

 “Ion Bank Foundation is proud to renew our support for Waterbury Promise. We believe every Waterbury high school student deserves the opportunity to attend college and succeed. Our contribution helps lessen the financial burden, making higher education more accessible and achievable.”  

~ Kathleen A. Brochhausen, SVP, Community Relations,

Executive Director, Ion Bank Foundation

Invests $200,000 in Waterbury’s Future

Joins Our Partner List

Internships Help Scholars Reach Their Dreams

We are thrilled to see our scholars taking on door-opening opportunities to reach their career goals and are grateful to the many partners who have welcomed them with open arms. From global insurance companies like Travelers to our local United Way, our scholars are gaining invaluable experience, building their networks and making us promise proud!  

Save the Date

A Night of Promise Is Back!

Help us give the gift of a college education to hundreds of talented and deserving Waterbury students! Our signature fall fundraiser, A Night of Promise, returns on Thursday, November 13th at the Mattatuck Museum. MARK YOUR CALENDARS for an unforgettable night of holiday cheer, featuring live music, delicious food, festive drinks, and fabulous raffle prizes. 

Come and meet our inspiring scholars, celebrate a MILESTONE year of growth and impact, honor the champions who made it all possible, and witness the power of community to drive lasting change!

An invitation and registration details will follow soon. Become an event sponsor today and help us reach our $75,000 fundraising goal!  

Contact Hedy Ayers, Director of Development and Community Engagement, at hedy.ayers@waterburypromise.org for more information and to learn how you can become a sponsor for this magical event!

Let's continue to work together to make a BIG impact for our scholars and the Waterbury community!

Thank You to our Funders &

Community Partners!

Founding Champions

Community Partners

Partner Colleges and Universities

Thank you to our major and individual donors! Your generosity is changing the lives of Waterbury students every day!

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Established in late 2021 in collaboration with the City of Waterbury and Waterbury Public Schools, Waterbury Promise is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to building a generation of college graduates in Waterbury. Our mission is to increase college aspirations, reduce financial barriers and inspire every student toward post-secondary education and completion. The program’s comprehensive college success model provides a generous last-dollar scholarship as well as critical support services to help talented Waterbury students get to college, thrive there, persist through graduation and be career ready to help create a robust and diverse talent pipeline for the local economy.