Projects
One School, One Book
The Larson Foundation in partnership with East Hartford Rotary Club supported the district focus of literacy improvement through a project called "One School, One Book". This program is designed to create a shared reading experience within each elementary school.
Together both entities provided funding for the district to purchase the book, Cleo Edison Oliver, Playground Millionaire by Sundee Tucker Frazier, to all students in the district - grades 3-5. The Larson family also was on hand at Mayberry School to distribute the books during the roll out of the project.
Students read assigned chapters at home while listening (via chromebooks) to the chapters read by various staff members and community leaders - including Governor Lamont. This project provided for in school reading support and parent/child engagement at home. Teachers were encouraged by the energy and excitement to read the book.
Because it was a successful project, The Larson Foundation has agreed to generously support the “One School, One Book” program for the 2022-2023 school year at Mayberry Elementary School in East Hartford. With the Larson family having a connection to Mayberry School (the elementary school near the Larson homestead and the elementary school in which the the Larson children attended), East Hartford school administration felt that partnering with Mayberry School for this project would be a great way to enhance the district goal to increase literacy.
The 2023 chapter book, Almost Super, by Marion Jensen was selected and every student and staff member received a copy. Each week throughout the project, there were opportunities for students to hear the book read to them at school by staff, community leaders and members of the Larson Foundation. Students in turn completed activities to engage and excite them in the literacy process.
Partnership with the Connecticut River Conservancy
The Larson Foundation strongly believes that Community Leadership starts with caring for, and teaching the youth of our community to care for where you live. Additionally, access to and spending time outdoors has been proven to improve health and mental well-being. The Connecticut River Conservancy offers a myriad of programs that are designed to empower youth to feel more confident and comfortable with water and river safety, as well as programs that teach about the local ecology and history of the waters in our neighborhoods.
The Raymond and Pauline Larson Foundation, Inc. partnered with the Connecticut River Conservancy to expand programming offered to the youth of Greater Hartford Area to increase environmental literacy, make avenues to obtain Service-Learning Hours more readily available for students, and support the ongoing conservation and clean-up efforts along the Hockanum River and Linear Trail.
