Featured in The Day on December 28, 2020

Stonington -- The Eugene Atwood Fund will begin accepting applications for its 2021-22 interest-free loan program on Jan. 1, 2021.

This will be the 105th year the Stonington-based organization has provided interest-free loans to college-bound students from New London County.
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In 2020, an additional loan program was added for those attending trade school. Applicants must be New London County residents who are high school seniors and/or are currently enrolled in college or a trade program.

Applications will be accepted through Feb. 28, 2021. For more information about programming or to apply, visit www.eugeneatwoodfund.org. 

The fund was established in 1916 by Eugene Atwood, the head of the Atwood Machine Company, located in Stonington. Atwood, an inventor who prized the value of education, established the fund with a mission to help "deserving industrious young people who are making an honest effort to accomplish the best results in life."

In the early 1950s, the Board of Trustees established the Eugene Atwood Award which provides an award to a student or students based on academic achievement and the individual aligning with the organization's mission statement.

In June 2020, the fund established a Trade and Tech Committee with the goal of adding a new program that provides interest-free loans for individuals in the New London County area who will be attending a technology or trade program. Two months later the committee announced the addition of the Eugene Atwood Innovation Award which provided an award for the purchase of tools and equipment needed for a student pursuing a career in a trade.

 For more information, contact fund administrator Stacey Haskell at [email protected]
or (860) 535-0005.

​The Eugene Atwood Fund announces the launch of a new loan program for individuals interested in attending trade and technology schools. 
 
Established in 1916, the Eugene Atwood Fund a private non-profit has been providing interest free loans to New London County area college bound students for over one hundred years.  The Trade and Technology Interest Free Loan Program will be a new addition to their programming and will be geared towards individuals looking to start a career, make a career change or to follow a passion.  The program was overwhelmingly approved at the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees this past April.  “The idea to focus attention on the area of technology and trades came from within the spirit of our mission statement which is to help industrious hardworking people build careers,” said Managing Trustee Erica Lindberg Gourd. 
 
The Eugene Atwood Fund Trade and Tech Committee members were appointed at their initial meeting in early in June and include Matt Taylor, Wes Dawley, Aidan Haskell as well as Erica Lindberg Gourd. “This committee will work separate from our Board of Trustees, stated Erica Lindberg Gourd, and includes a well-rounded group of individuals who are all skilled tradespeople.” 
 
“We are so excited to roll out this program, said Eugene Atwood Fund Administrator Stacey Haskell, especially with the need for experienced skilled workers and tradespeople being in such high demand.” 
 
The application process will run from July 1-31 for those looking for interest free loans to attend school in the fall.  “After this round of applications, the Trade and Technology Interest Free Loan Program will run concurrently with the other programs we offer including the College Bound Interest Free Loan Program and the Eugene Atwood Award Scholarship Program which runs yearly beginning January 1st and ending on February 28th ,” said Stacey Haskell.
 
For more information or to apply, please visit www.eugeneatwoodfund.org.