Davison Retires from ASF
By Chris Seymour | Correspondent at January 7, 2024 | 6:15 pm | Print
At the helm of the American Savings Foundation (ASF) since 2000, David Davison called it a career last week and retired Dec. 31.
The President and CEO of ASF, Davison’s successor at the independent New Britain-based charitable foundation is Maria Falvo, previously Chief Operating Officer.
As one might imagine, Davison said he will most miss the many people he got to know over the years as the head of ASF, which has a service area of 64 towns, and is “dedicated to strengthening the community by supporting education, human services, and the arts, with a special emphasis on the needs of children, youth and families, through grants to community organizations and college scholarships,” according to its website.
“I would like to say thank you to everybody in New Britain who I have worked with and who has worked so hard to make New Britain a better place, and has used the funding of the ASF towards that goal—making it possible for the foundation to pursue our mission of trying to help people, especially people who need help the most,” stated Davison last Wednesday, Dec. 30, one day before his final day.
A resident of Guilford, Davison said he looks forward to spending time with his wife Emily and taking part in the various activities the couple, who have two grown daughters, enjoy most, including traveling.
Davison said the two are “very outdoors oriented” and enjoy snowshoeing, hiking, canoeing, biking and swimming. “I like doing all that and we will have more time for that,” he said.
Davison will take a year off and return to the ASF as a volunteer board member in January 2017.
“I am a member of the board right now but am just going to take a year away from the foundation,” said Davison last week.
“And not because I need to for my sake but because the new administration, Maria Falvo and her team, they need to develop their teamwork and their presence in the community without me around,” he added.
“So it’s something that Maria and I planned on well in advance and I discussed with our board of directors,” continued Davison. “But I am really looking forward to coming back and continuing to contribute as a volunteer board member [in 2017]; in the meantime, I am hoping perhaps to do some teaching and consulting work and will continue to be professionally active.”
Davison praised Falvo and said that working with her for about 16 years at ASF was “a profoundly rewarding professional relationship.”
In terms of significant achievements during his time at ASF, Davison pointed to what he called the “signature initiative during my tenure:” ASF’s After School Initiative.
“It was an initiative that we worked on over many years, going back to when we first started doing the research on it in 2003 and it really continues to today even though it’s morphed and developed,” stated Davison last week.
The After School Initiative has “led to a lasting collaboration between the New Britain Youth Network and the school system, which has led to improved outcomes for youth,” Davison said in a press release from ASF announcing his retirement. And, ASF’s capital grants have aided in expanding the art museums and modernizing cancer treatment centers in both New Britain and Waterbury, according to Davison.
More good things are in the works from ASF.
“Right now we have an application into the state for funding to build a new supportive housing apartment building on North Street in conjunction with the Friendship Center, the city, the mayor’s office,” added Davison.
Davison was brought on board to be ASF’s first president in 2000, when it had assets of $34 million and a contributions budget nearing $1 million, according to the foundation, which is an independent, private entity with (current) assets of $85 million.
In 2015, ASF was slated to distribute $3.5 million in grants and scholarships; during Davison’s tenure, the foundation has made over $40 million in total contributions, according to ASF.
“As the face of American Savings Foundation, Dave has earned the respect and admiration of all our constituent communities,” said Harry Mazadoorian, Chairman of the American Savings Foundation board of directors, in the ASF press release. “He is respected and admired by civic, educational, and governmental leaders alike.”
