The Memorial Fund’s 2001-2003 Triennial Report is now available
( PDF Icon

PDF, 6MB)

What's New

2001-2003 Triennial Report

The William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund's 2001-2003 Report is now available for download in PDF Icon

PDF Format (6MB).

The Discovery Initiative

Through the Discovery Initiative, nearly 50 Connecticut communities, statewide organizations, and other partners are working with the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund to improve the lives of young children from birth through age eight.

The Memorial Fund is committed to supporting the Discovery Initiative through 2007 with grants, technical assistance and other supports. Two core values also support the work: parent engagement and collaboration. Experience shows that communities that work collaboratively and meaningfully engage parents are more successful over the long term.

Childrens First Initiative

A "How To" Manual from The Children First Initiative: A Community & Parent Engagement Strategy in Connecticut

Produced by the Children First Initiative Editorial Board, representing the CFI communities of Danbury, Hartford, Meriden, Middletown, New London, Norwich, and Windham, Connecticut, and the Graustein Memorial Fund.

If you want to:

strengthen your community’s programs for young children,
develop a collaboration of parents, caregivers, educators and policymakers
help children transition to school, or
initiate or improve early childhood programs,

you’ll find this manual full of ideas, methods and background information that have been successful in promoting children's readiness to learn and early school success.

The CFI Manual provides an overview of the Children First Initiative and shares the participating communities’ best practices and projects with others interested in engaging communities in improving the lives of young children.

Contact information is included for support and consultation.

View the manual online, download the .PDF version (21MB), or E-mail us to request a printed copy.