Putnam Area Foundation Awards Grant to Support Rectory School’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

The Putnam Area Foundation, Inc. (PAF) has awarded Rectory School a community grant in support of the school’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, part of a broader $30,000 investment in nonprofit organizations serving families and residents across Northeastern Connecticut.

The grant will support Rectory’s 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, a schoolwide initiative that engages every student K-9 in meaningful, hands-on service while helping them better understand their role in the communities they belong to—locally, nationally, and globally.

This year’s program reflects a thoughtful evolution of Rectory’s long-standing commitment to service, guided by the theme Cultivating a Beloved Community, inspired by Dr. King’s vision of a society grounded in care, fairness, and mutual responsibility. Through a combination of a keynote presentation, interactive workshops, and community-based service projects, students will explore how service is not a single act, but a way of living thoughtfully and responsibly alongside others.

Throughout the day, students will be encouraged to see themselves as members of many interconnected communities—from their families, dorms, classrooms, and teams to their towns, their country, and the wider world. The experience is designed to help students understand that meaningful change does not require grand gestures, but begins with everyday choices, compassion, and action.

“Dr. King believed that everyone can serve, and this grant allows our students to bring that belief to life,” said Head of School, Julie Anderson. “With the support of the Putnam Area Foundation, our students will take part in service that strengthens local organizations while deepening their understanding of what it means to belong to—and contribute to—a caring community.”

“The Putnam Area Foundation is pleased to fund Rectory’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service because it connects students with real needs in Northeastern Connecticut,” said Kyle Borner, Putnam Area Foundation (PAF) Board Member. “By partnering with local organizations and taking on hands-on projects, students see that Dr. King’s call to serve starts right here—through practical action that strengthens the community around them.”

The Putnam Area Foundation’s community grant program supports organizations that strengthen youth opportunities, preserve and share local history, promote volunteer service, and provide critical public-safety and veteran resources across Northeastern Connecticut. Rectory School was selected in recognition of its commitment to developing young people who lead with empathy, responsibility, and purpose.