Gillis Family Gives $6.3 Million for Literacy
The donation funds a literacy program across Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic schools, with the Gillis Literacy Center opening at two campuses.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The Gillis family donated $6.3 million through Foundations in Education to Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic schools for a literacy program. The Gillis Literacy Center was named at Kolbe Cathedral Preparatory School on October 30 and operates there and at Catholic Academy of Bridgeport.
Why it matters
Fewer than 20% of Bridgeport public school students read at grade level, according to Connecticut Department of Education data cited in January 2025. The initiative aims to ensure every student in Bridgeport's Catholic schools learns to read well.
The $6.3 million gift is administered through Foundations in Education, which has contributed $29 million and awarded 27,000 scholarships since 2015. Results of the reading intervention for the more than 1,000 students expected to be served have not yet been reported.
The players
Gillis family
A philanthropic family whose $6.3 million gift funds the literacy program through Foundations in Education.
Foundations in Education
A nonprofit that administered the Gillis donation and granted the funds to the Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic Schools.
The details
Students were identified through a universal screener using Amplify DIBELS, followed by diagnostic screening of flagged children. At St. Raphael Academy, three interventionists are surveying students, and the Center is designed to extend the work of Bridgeport's Catholic schools for students who need it most.
Timeline
January 2025: Connecticut data cited showing fewer than 20% of Bridgeport public students reading at grade level.
September: St. Raphael Academy opened the Gillis Literacy Center.
October 30: The Gillis Literacy Center was named at Kolbe Cathedral Preparatory School.
June 2030: The Gillis Literacy Education Program is scheduled to end.
Philanthropy Context
Foundations in Education uses Connecticut's federal scholarship tax credit, which permits gifts of up to $1,700, to fund its programs. The Gillis literacy gift extends that model of donor-funded school support into reading intervention.
Over 1,000 students across inner-city Bridgeport will have access to one-on-one reading intervention. Teachers serving those students will receive personalized coaching, which may change classroom support in participating schools.
The takeaway
Private gifts routed through established nonprofits can fund targeted, measurable reading support in schools. Families interested in similar philanthropy can review how Connecticut's scholarship tax credit works before giving.
What happens next
The Gillis Literacy Center is the first of five spaces opening across Bridgeport, and the program runs through June 2030.
Further reading
Explore more Philanthropy coverage to see how donors are funding education initiatives across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Westfair Communications.
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