FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sheila B. Flanagan, Executive Director, SBM Charitable Foundation, Inc.
860.533.0355, sflanagan@sbmfoundation.org
SBM CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AWARDS 1st QUARTER GRANTS TOTALLING $365,500
Manchester, Conn. (April 22, 2009)…The SBM Charitable Foundation (SBMCF) recently awarded $255,500 in new grants and an additional $110,000 in previously pledged installments for committed grants, totaling $365,500 for the first quarter of 2009. Forty (40) organizations in Hartford, Windham, and Tolland counties were the recipients of SBMCF “We’re Pulling For You” grants. Highlights of the awards include:
Hartford County non-profits - Connecticut Landmarks received a grant for educational programming at the Coventry Nathan Hale Homestead historical site; East Hartford children will benefit from an award to East Hartford ChildPlan, Inc. for after school programs and services; Hartford’s Camp Courant will be able to fund its Guardstart swimming program and Swimming 101 classes; academic scholarships are being funded through an SBMCF grant to the Manchester Community College Foundation; and the Manchester Mayors’ Program has been awarded funding for a summer campership program for low/moderate income Manchester youth.
In the Windham County region, several organizations were supported by SBMCF “We’re Pulling for You” grants. Camp Horizons of South Windham received funding for a program to benefit campers with developmental disabilities and Windham Hospital was awarded a grant for their Prenatal Clinic.
The SBM Charitable Foundation also made second installments of previously committed grants to the Girl Scouts of Connecticut and two University of Connecticut Athletic Development Funds. The UCONN gifts will support the Football Department’s “Goal Line” outreach to East Hartford Middle School and the Athletic Department’s “Husky Reach” program at Verplanck Elementary School in Manchester. A matching grant for its Youth Services Programs was made to MARC, Inc. of Manchester.
“In these challenging times, non-profit organizations need support and we are pleased to help them to continue to bring important services to our communities,” noted SBM Charitable Foundation’s Executive Director Sheila Flanagan.
The SBM Charitable Foundation, Inc. was established in 2000 by Connecticut Bancshares, Inc., the parent company of the former Saving Bank of Manchester. The Foundation’s mission, perpetuating the vision of the former Bank, is committed to bettering the lives of those who live and work predominantly East of the River in Hartford, Tolland, and Windham Counties. Priority categories for funding include health, human services, education, housing and the arts. In 2008 the Foundation awarded a total of more than $2 million to area non-profits, while cumulatively since its founding the Foundation’s philanthropy has exceeded $12 million. The SBM Charitable Foundation is located at 935 Main Street in downtown Manchester. For more information visit the website at www.sbmfoundation.org.