Customers pick Essex Savings grant winners

The Shoreline Soup Kitchens, High Hopes Therapeutic Riding and Valley Shore Animal Welfare League were the top three vote-getters and aid recipients in balloting conducted by Essex Savings Bank.

The vote, from Feb. 1 to March 15, allowed customers to determine how much each of 94 qualified nonprofits would receive in the first round of funding from the financial institution's Community Investment Program.

Each year, Essex Savings Bank donates 10 percent of its after-tax profit to charitable organizations in an eight-town area that includes Lyme, Old Lyme and Old Saybrook. This year, $255,666 will be distributed, with nearly $80,000 being released this month.

"Our Community Investment Program is designed to provide vital financial support and visibility to these dedicated organizations and their people who enhance the quality of life in our communities," said Gregory R. Shook, bank president and chief executive.

The bank said Shoreline Soup Kitchens would receive nearly $7,000, based on its 864 votes.

Others receiving more than $1,000 were the Lyme Fire Co., Essex Library Association, Lyme Ambulance Association, Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley, Old Lyme-Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, Old Saybrook Youth & Family Services Foundation, Essex Ambulance Association, Bushy Hill Nature Center, Ivoryton Library Association, Ivoryton Playhouse Foundation, Essex Land Trust, Old Lyme Visiting Nurse Association and Child & Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut.

Receiving more than $500 but less than $1,000 were Old Saybrook Education Foundation, Lyme Land Conservation Trust, Camp Hazen YMCA, Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau, Lymes' Youth Services Bureau, Lyme Public Library, Friends of the Acton Public Library, Graduation Night-Old Saybrook, Valley-Shore YMCA, Literacy Volunteers of the Valley Shore, Florence Griswold Museum, Westbrook Youth and Family Services, Region 4 Education Foundation, Old Lyme Land Trust, Deep River Fire Department, Deep River Ambulance Association, Old Lyme Children's Learning Center, Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Community Music School, Connecticut River Museum and Essex Elementary School Foundation.