People's United Community Foundation Announces Recent Connecticut Grants

BRIDGEPORT, CT – People’s United Community Foundation (PUCF), the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, N.A., today announced that it awarded $372,000 to Connecticut non-profits during its most recent grant cycle.

This cycle’s grants were focused on addressing a wide variety of needs across the State of Connecticut. Funding was allocated to 70 non-profit organizations for programs and services that range from efforts to end homelessness, services for victims and families of domestic violence, creating and increasing opportunities for students to pursue higher education and gain access to job training, in addition to increasing food security and supporting small business initiatives.

Through this grant cycle, PUCF recognized the value of supporting organizations whose programs serve the needs of youth during the summer months. 

“During the summer months especially, it can be a challenging time for low-income families to access affordable child care options and summer programs that provide structured learning and development opportunities,” said Karen Galbo, Executive Director of People’s United Community Foundation. “Another burden is filling the food gap for kids who participate in the free and reduced school lunch program. Through our community partners we are helping to fill these gaps, and contribute to a higher quality of life for those living in the communities we serve.”

Notable summer programs awarded funding this grant cycle by PUCF include:

• Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board, awarded $10,000 – Will provide youth from Southeast CT with a six-week summer program, learning employability skills and participating in a paid work experience.

• Justice Education Center, awarded $10,000 – The ECHO Perfect 10 Training and Internship Program is a seven month youth development initiative that provides pre-employment training and an internship opportunity consisting of 80-100 hours of training and hands-on experiences for students from Fairfield and New Haven Counties.

• Wholesome Wave, awarded $5,000 – the Wholesome Communities initiative will provide fresh produce vouchers to 350 preschoolers and their families in Fairfield County.

• Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens, awarded $3,500 – The Summer Environmental Immersion Program is provided to youth living in temporary housing with a hands-on academically enriching program.

• Horizons at New Canaan Country School, awarded $3,500 – An intensive 6-week program to prevent summer learning loss and gain academic skills. 

• Greenwich Land Trust, awarded $2,500 – The Youth Corps program provides teenagers with a paid summer job that builds understanding of environmental issues while developing job skills.

With the support of People’s United Community Foundation, Wholesome Wave is implementing Wholesome Communities Connecticut to empower underserved preschoolers and their families in Norwalk and Stamford to purchase more fruits and vegetables. Providing affordable access to fruits and vegetables is especially important during the summer months when families struggle to make up for lost school meals. “Children who can’t afford to eat nutritious foods are at an immediate disadvantage emotionally, physically, and academically, especially in the first five years of life. Wholesome Wave is honored to implement Wholesome Communities Connecticut and give families the opportunity to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford,’’ said Craig Lomma, CEO, Wholesome Wave. This program is a collaborative partnership with Stepping Stones Museum for Children’s Fueling Families initiative, a partnership with Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County, and Filling in the Blanks.  

In total, People’s United Community Foundation awarded $973,000 during its second grant cycle of 2019 to 179 organizations throughout the communities it serves in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The grants were disseminated in alignment with the foundations’ three areas of focus, including 45 percent to community and economic development, 42 percent to youth development, and 13 percent to affordable housing initiatives.

For a detailed list of organizations that People’s United Community Foundation supported during the second grant cycle of 2019, visit www.peoples.com/foundations. 

About People’s United Community Foundation

People's United Bank, N.A. is a subsidiary of People's United Financial, Inc., a diversified, community-focused financial services company headquartered in the Northeast with more than $48 billion in assets. Founded in 1842, People’s United Bank offers commercial and retail banking through a network of over 400 retail locations in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, as well as wealth management and insurance solutions. The company also provides specialized commercial services to customers nationwide.

People's United Community Foundation - Connecticut Grants Awarded - 2nd  Grant Cycle of 2019

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Contact:

Karen Galbo
Executive Director
People’s United Community Foundation
203-338-6113
karen.galbo@peoples.com

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