CT State Library Earns Awards for Effectiveness During Veteran Saves Week

The Connecticut State Library has earned the 2025 Veteran Saves Week Savings Champion award, an honor explicitly reserved for organizations who effectively and actively promote saving strategies during the annual Veteran Saves Week campaign.

The CT State Library is one of 11 organizations honored with this distinction out of more than 900 individuals representing participating organizations of Veteran Saves Week, which took place November 4 – 7, 2025 as part of National Military Family Month and Warrior Care Month.

“Veteran Saves Week encourages a financial check-in, but it also relies on trusted organizations to help Veterans and military families access savings information and tools,” said Krystel Spell, Program Manager of Veteran Saves. “Savings Champion organizations focused on reaching Veterans and military families with savings messages and tools at a time when many households were navigating uncertainty.”

The work of these organizations contributed to an impressive collective impact of the Week.

These institutions helped to reach over 1.5 million individuals and encouraged nearly $1.9 million worth of deposits into new and existing savings accounts. Additionally, $370,000 was pledged during Veteran Saves Week to be saved into savings accounts.

“The Connecticut State Library values the partnership with Veteran Saves. Each year, the State Library is able to share valuable personal finance information with all libraries in the state to be shared with the veterans in their communities,” shared Brad Bullis, Digital Content and Innovation Coordinator, who retired from military service in 2015 after 34 years in the Connecticut Air National Guard. “This program enhances the value of services provided by our libraries and offers a unique opportunity to connect veterans with information that improves their quality of life.”

“We are honored to receive this award,” said CT State Librarian Deborah Schander. “Veterans Saves Week creates vital connections between our local libraries and Veterans and military families in Connecticut. Thank you to Consumer Federation of America for this award, and a special thank you to Brad Bullis, who coordinates Connecticut’s participation each year.”

Veteran Saves is a program under the America Saves umbrella and is coordinated by the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America (CFA). Veteran Saves encourages the entire veteran community to take the Veteran Saves Pledge and for organizations to promote savings year-round. Through financial education, resources, behavioral economics and support, Veteran Saves aims to help the Veteran community improve their financial well-being and achieve their long-term financial goals.

The Connecticut State Library – located in Hartford across the street from the State Capitol - is an independent Executive Branch agency of the State of Connecticut. It is home to the State Archives, Office of the Public Records Administrator, Museum of Connecticut History, the Division of Library Development and the Connecticut Library for Accessible Books, and three reference departments (history and genealogy; law and legislation; and government information).

Veteran Saves Week will return for its third year in November 16-19, 2026.