Liberty Bank Seeds New Scholarship Fund for Catholic Academy of Hartford

Standing outside the school on Asylum Avenue in Hartford, Glidden handed over a jumbo-size replica of the check as staff from the Archdiocese of Hartford, officials from its Office of Catholic Schools and others looked on.

“Liberty Bank and community partners like the Connecticut Catholic Foundation are perfectly aligned when it comes to our shared commitment to improving the lives of individuals and families in our communities,” Glidden said in a prepared statement.

With branches in Connecticut and Massachusetts, Liberty Bank is a large community bank with corporate headquarters located in Middletown. The bank also operates the Liberty Bank Foundation, noted for its philanthropic giving in the communities in which it serves.

“Team Liberty is proud to build on our longstanding commitment to Catholic Charities – this time by ensuring younger students have access to affordable and supportive educational opportunities right here in Hartford, and at an early age,” Glidden said.

Glidden praised Archbishop Coyne for having the vision to create a new educational destination in the capital city that will not only serve children but also revitalize the surrounding neighborhood. He predicted, “It will have a profound impact in this community for generations to come.”

Expressing gratitude for the large donation, Archbishop Coyne said, “This means a lot. It’s the first major donation from a bank right here in Hartford. We’re very, very grateful. This generous contribution will help to ensure that all families in Hartford have access to quality education, regardless of their ability to pay.”

“For Hartford, we’re offering an alternative education. Catholic school outcomes are very good, and we want to bring that to Hartford, especially to the North End,” said Archbishop Coyne, stressing the merits of Catholic schools.

Describing the new program as an “endowment fund,” McMahon noted it will be used to educate the children of Hartford in the hopes that a Catholic education will help them to achieve their potential. “I think a good, sound Catholic education is going to make a very big difference in the lives of many,” McMahon added.

In September 2025, the Archdiocese of Hartford purchased a former three-story office building at 765 Asylum Ave. for use as a school. In October 2025, Archbishop Coyne announced the creation of a new Catholic school, in keeping with his promise to bring Catholic education back to the city of Hartford after a more than 10-year absence.

The school property is located diagonally behind the Cathedral of St. Joseph. Plans are to renovate the former office building before opening it as a school, possibly in the fall of 2028.

The Catholic Academy of Hartford will initially welcome Hartford students in pre-kindergarten through the second grade. The plan is to add one grade each year, expanding up to the eighth grade.