Liberty Bank awards $90K to nonprofits

The Liberty Bank Foundation has announced nearly $90,000 in grant awards to 21 nonprofits in Middlesex and New London counties.

"The ripples from the grants being awarded today will spread out to touch hundreds of people and improve their lives," said Liberty Bank president and chief executive Chandler Howard in a presentation this week at the Old Saybrook headquarters of the Estuary Council of Senior Citizens.

The awards ranged from $1,500 to $5,000, including more than $40,000 in grants to organizations based in southeastern Connecticut.

Hope Partnership Inc., an affordable housing group in Old Saybrook, the Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut in New London, the Women's Center of Southeastern Connecticut in New London, F.R.E.S.H. New London in New London, the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board in Franklin (for summer youth employment) and United Community & Family Services in Norwich each received $5,000.

Other local organizations receiving money were the Estuary Council of Seniors in Old Saybrook, $3,500; Expressiones Cultural Center in New London, $3,000; Thames Valley Council for Community Action in Jewett City, $3,500; Madonna Place in Norwich, $3,000; Thames Area Citizen Advocacy Program in Norwich, $1,500, and the Furniture Bank of Southeastern Connecticut in Gales Ferry, $2,500.

Regional groups receiving money that support programs in the region included the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, $5,000; Helen Keller International (for vision screenings at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School in New London), $2,500, and Prevent Blindness Tri-State, $4,989.

l.howard@theday.com