Chelsea Groton Foundation Awards Over $160K in Grants to Area Organizations

Chelsea Groton FoundationThe Chelsea Groton Foundation awarded $160,722 in grants to 57 non-profit organizations from Connecticut and Rhode Island this spring. This dollar amount marks the greatest total awarded to area organizations in a single giving cycle since the Chelsea Groton Foundation was founded. Inclusive of these donations, the Foundation has provided over $2.3 million in total grants to the community since 1999. The Foundation reviews applications and awards grants two times per year.

Chelsea Groton Bank’s gift of a $5 million endowment to the Chelsea Groton Foundation in December 2016 enabled the Foundation to provide a greater level of financial support to organizations that impact our region in the areas of health, human and social services; education; economic development; and arts and culture.

“At Chelsea Groton, community is at the core of our values,” said Michael Rauh, President and CEO of Chelsea Groton Bank. “Through the Foundation, we are able to support non-profits who play a critical role in our communities. These organizations work to provide education, alleviate hunger and homelessness, improve healthcare, support economic growth, deliver arts and cultural experiences, and more. Our team is always honored to contribute to our shared community and this year, we were grateful to have additional funds available so we could contribute more.”

Spring grant awards included: $5,000 to the Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut, Inc. to serve children in New London in an after school and summer program emphasizing literacy, pro-social behavior, and the arts; $5,000 to the Housing Development Fund, Inc. to counsel low to moderate income households across the state of Connecticut to increase their success as homeowners; $7,500 to Mystic Area Shelter and Hospitality to prevent homelessness for 125 families; $500 to the New London Community Orchestra for free concerts for the elderly, and violin and cello lessons for a lesser-served population of children; $1,500 to the Norwich Community Backpack Program at Norwich Free Academy to provide  backpacks and other school supplies to students in need; and $4,000 to Westerly Area Rest Meals, Inc. to provide meals in the soup kitchen, bagged lunches to at-risk children, purchase food for the community and support employee salaries.

Each year, Chelsea Groton Bank and the Chelsea Groton Foundation support more than 200 local organizations through monetary gifts, grants, sponsorships, scholarships and employee volunteerism. More information, including a list of all spring grant recipients, is available at chelseagroton.com


About the Chelsea Groton Foundation
The Chelsea Groton Foundation was formed in June 1998 as a Section 501(c) (3) organization. Initially endowed with a $2 million donation from Chelsea Groton Bank, and recently gifted an additional $5 million from the Bank, the Foundation has, to date, awarded over $2.3 million in grants to hundreds of scientific, educational and charitable organizations located within the Bank’s market area. To learn more, visit: https://chelseagroton.com/OurstrongCommunitystrong/ChelseaGrotonFoundation.aspx.