GROTON — Charter Oak Federal Credit Union awarded more than $48,000 in its fourth quarter to local community organizations and non-profits.
The Credit Union received 20 qualified grant requests, which were reviewed in its fourth quarter in addition to numerous sponsorship and donation requests.
“Determining which grant requests are worthy of funding can be difficult” said Charter Oak’s Chief Executive Officer, Brian A. Orenstein. “And being able to fund all 20 requests brings us lots of joy this holiday season.”
Grant recipients include Norwich Human Services; New London Community Orchestra, Inc.; Eastern Connecticut Ballet, Inc.; Healing With Horses at Wild Rose Horse Farm, Inc.; Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center; The Connecticut Radio Information System, Inc.; Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center; Noank-Mystic Community Band; Catholic Charities, Diocese of Norwich; New England Science & Sailing; American Red Cross; Lighthouse Voc-Ed Center; New London Area Food Coalition, Inc.; New London County Fund to End Homelessness; Sacred Heart School in Taftville; S.T.E.P.S., Inc.; United Community & Family Services; Eugene O’Neill Memorial Theater Center, Inc.; and the Regional Community YMCA in Putnam.
These organizations will use the funds to further their mission and to enrich the local community. As a result of Charter Oak’s funding, many of these organizations will also be able to provide key services at a free or reduced rate. Services may include after-school children’s programming, therapy sessions for those affected from PTSD, or career placement services for unemployed adults.
More than $770,000 has been awarded since the inception of Charter Oak’s Community Giving Program in 2009. To learn more about Charter Oak’s Community Giving Program, visit CharterOak.org.
Then
This is 88 Main in downtown Putnam October 2011. PutnamTown Crier file photos.
& Now
This is 88 Main last week.
Season's Greetings
We're going with green and red, in honor of the season, with evergreens and red bows and berries on wrought iron in downtown Putnam. Linda Lemmon photo.
Pomfret
opera group
gets arts
grant
POMFRET — Opera New England of Northeastern Connecticut, Inc. in Pomfret was awarded an Arts Catalyze Placemaking Grant from the State of Connecticut.
The total grant award is $23,375.00.
The grant programs are funded by the state appropriation to The Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and the Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA), and funds received by DECD/COA from the National Endowment for the Arts.
“It is so important for the growth of our young people and for our residents to be able to enjoy the talent that surrounds them,” said State Senator Tony Guglielmo (R-Stafford). “In an economy where money is scarce for extras – this grant will allow our children to continue enjoying this wonderful enrichment program.”
The grant awarded to the Opera New England of NE CT, Inc. falls into the category of Arts Leadership. The leadership category award requires partnerships, develops community engagement and positions the arts in a leadership role.
The Opera New England of Northeastern Connecticut, Inc. has been entertaining and teaching the communities children for decades.
40 schools in 26 towns, in northeastern Connecticut and nearby Massachusetts benefit from the Opera program. It is offered free of charge to local schoolchildren and spans grade levels from third to seventh. More than 150,000 schoolchildren (including public, parochial, private and home-schooled students) have participated in these programs through the years.
Productions are at the Hyde Cultural Center in Woodstock, which seats up to 1000. Recent programs have included jazz, folk, opera, ballet and musical theater. Popular children’s artists have been featured in recent seasons. Children’s performers have included: Steve Songs, Dan Zanes & Friends, The Russian-American Kids Circus, and the St. Petersburg Ballet from Russia in The Nutcracker, which featured 67 local children in the cast.