Former Waterbury Mayor Neil O’Leary raised nearly $500,000 for the newly created Mayor Neil M. O’Leary Fund for Waterbury Student Success, with donations and praise pouring in from sponsors at a retirement reception this past October.
The funding will go towards programs at the University of Connecticut’s Waterbury branch campus, with the goal of helping students who attended Waterbury Public Schools “be better prepared for success, explore life-transformative experiences, and help fulfill their higher education goals,” per the UConn Foundation website.
“We have an obligation to ensure student success post-high school graduation …We have to be there to help them along the way,” O’Leary said.
Having served as Waterbury’s lead official for twelve years, O’Leary is intimately acquainted with the needs of the city’s teachers and students. “We know there is an achievement gap. We know that urban students don’t score as well as our suburban partners,” O’Leary said.
The primary tool for ensuring student success is the highly regarded Center for Access and Postsecondary Success (CAPS). The CAPS program assists students who may be unable to obtain supportive resources elsewhere, granting specialized counseling and mentorship in sessions over the summer prior to their first semester.
Although only those students with the greatest need may participate in CAPS, around 25% of the incoming class of 750, the O’Leary fund has wide-reaching benefits for all UConn Waterbury attendees. General campus resources including tutoring, experiential learning, and employment opportunities, will all see advancements as a result of the former mayor’s fundraising efforts.
O’Leary’s support has been met with resounding gratitude from the UConn branch, with director Fumiko Hoeft planning to rename the Odd Fellows Fraternal Organization Hall in honor of the long-standing mayor.
Other attendees of the fundraising event shared in their appreciation for O’Leary’s commitment, with Governor Ned Lamont saying, “When I need a little counsel, and things are getting complicated out there, Neil is one of the first people I reach out to. Don’t underestimate what Neil meant for this town and this state.” Lamont further expressed his confidence in O’Leary by inviting the former mayor to serve as the UConn President’s Council of Advisors chairman.
The O’Leary trust is the most recent in a series of programs designed to grant disadvantaged Waterbury students opportunities in the post-high school setting. Beginning in 2022, the Waterbury Promise scholarship offers city students up to $20,000 of support in pursuing higher education based on their financial need.
After 43 years of service in various positions for the city of Waterbury, O’Leary reflected on his achievements and tenure.
“It is all about collaboration, all about love and commitment to the city. It is all about what is important to all of us,” O’Leary said.