The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation—a private foundation created by Subway's president and co-founder, Fred DeLuca—awarded grants and scholarships to nearly 180 Connecticut organizations.
“I’m very pleased that we are able to lend a hand to deserving regional schools and associations for the 13th year in a row by allocating more of our grant resources than ever before,” DeLuca says.
Focused on education, job training, and the arts, the DeLuca Foundation primarily assists public charities, non-profit organizations, community associations, and area high school scholarship programs.
Recipients will use their 2011 DeLuca Foundation grants in many ways – including efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect; improving child health services; encouraging reading and language proficiency; assisting in animal rescue; and teaching food safety.
“Thanks to generous donors like the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, we are able to serve nearly 700 children in southwestern Connecticut, providing them with caring mentors in their lives,” says Ellen Tracy, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Connecticut.
Twenty-nine scholarships were granted to high schools and colleges throughout central and western Connecticut. Two scholarships each were presented to the Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation and the Greater New Haven Chamber Foundation, while the University of Bridgeport (Fred DeLuca’s alma mater) also received a scholarship award.
The year 2011 marks the second time that the Community Culinary School of Northwest Connecticut has received a Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation gift.
“The grant is extremely helpful to us. We are a very grateful recipient, being that we are a non-profit, giving people a chance to enter or re-enter the work force,” says Dawn Hammacott, executive director of the vocational school. “It will allow students to learn ServSafe® food safety procedures, giving them an advantage when looking for foodservice employment.”
Grants were also extended to 33 associations—some of whom received multiple gifts—where more than 80 Subway corporate headquarters’ employees volunteer their time. These include the Coordinating Council for Children in Crisis, Pet Protectors, the Children’s Tumor Foundation, The Literacy Center of Milford, Bridges Community Support System, the Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer, and other local associations.