Suffield Groups Awarded Grants, Foundation Says

SUFFIELD, CT — Twelve Suffield organizations have received grants totaling $94,008 through the Amiel and Mary Anne Zak Public Service Fund at the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, according to a release shared by the foundation.

The fund, formerly known as the Amiel P. Zak Public Service Fund, has a long history of supporting programs that benefit the Suffield community, according to the foundation.

The fund was established in 2002 by Mike Zak to honor the service of his late father, Amiel Zak, who taught at Suffield High School for 35 years and served on numerous town boards, civic groups and public associations.

The fund was later renamed to also honor Mary Anne Zak, who died in 2022. Mike Zak said Mary Anne shared her husband’s love of Suffield, and both sought to support the community in a variety of ways.

To date, the Amiel and Mary Anne Zak Public Service Fund has made 206 grants for the Suffield community totaling $1,716,345, according to the foundation.

The 2026 grant recipients are:

2-4-1 CARE, Inc. received $3,555 for nine scholarships for Suffield residents attending the 2026 youth sports-based development camp.

Boy Scouts Troop 66 received $4,499 to purchase equipment for the Outdoor Skills and Program Capacity Initiative.

Connecticut Landmarks received $15,000 for the Phelps-Hatheway House Entrance Stabilization and Accessibility Project.

Junior Achievement of Southwest New England received $5,000 for the Junior Achievement Future Ready: College Credit program for Suffield High School students.

Nutmeg Senior Rides, Inc. received $2,625 to print and mail postcards to Suffield residents to recruit volunteer drivers.

The Suffield Fire Department received $6,100 to buy and install three thermal imagers.

The Suffield High School Parents Association received $7,754 for new wind screens for all tennis courts at Suffield High School.

The Suffield Historical Society, Incorporated received $9,000 toward an electrical upgrade for the HVAC system infrastructure project.

Suffield Players, Inc. received $20,000 for the Mapleton Hall parking lot upgrade project.

Suffield PMC Kids Ride, using fiscal sponsor Pan-Massachusetts Challenge Trust, received $2,975 for the Suffield Pan-Mass Challenge Kids Ride.

The Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association, Inc. received $10,000 for its 50th Anniversary Gala.

The Friends of The Farm at Hilltop, Inc. received $7,500 toward a public internet access project at Hilltop Open Space.

Greater Hartford Gives Foundation said it works as a community foundation focused on funding, connections and community-driven change throughout Greater Hartford and beyond.

The foundation said it has invested more than $1 billion throughout the region during its 100-year history.