People's United Bank Community Foundation donates total of $38,500 to four organizations

The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, announced today that it has awarded $38,500 to several community organizations.
Vermont Foodbank
The People’s United Community Foundation has awarded $20,000 to the Vermont Foodbank.
Founded in 1986, the Vermont Foodbank works to gather and share quality food and nurture partnerships so that no one in Vermont will go hungry. The Vermont Foodbank was started in response to an increased need for emergency food assistance among low-income households in central Vermont. At that time, the Vermont Foodbank distributed food to eight food shelves in the central Vermont area. Today, there are 280 network partners statewide that receive food from the Vermont Foodbank for local distribution.
During the last year, demand for charitable food has increased substantially. In 2011, the Vermont Foodbank distributed more than 8 million pounds of food to as many as 86,000 people in need of food assistance. With a still slow economy and the devastating effects of Tropical Storm Irene, more Vermonters than ever are accessing food shelves and meal sites around the state.
‘The donation from People’s United Community Foundation will help the Foodbank continue to provide food to thousands of our Vermont neighbors in need,’ said John Sayles, CEO of the Vermont Foodbank. ‘We are so grateful for the support and partnership of People’s United Community Foundation in the fight against hunger.’
‘The Vermont Foodbank is an asset to our community. Year after year, the staff at the Foodbank and the community work tirelessly to reduce hunger in Vermont,’ said Michael Seaver, Officer, People’s United Community Foundation and President, of People’s United Bank in Vermont. ‘We are pleased to be able to provide $20,000 to the Vermont Foodbank to aid in securing and distributing healthy food for Vermonters in need.’
Spectrum
The People’s United Community Foundation has awarded $10,000 to Spectrum Youth and Family Services.
Since 1970, Spectrum has been offering shelter and support services to at-risk and homeless youth. Forty years ago, a group of community members wanted to create a shelter that would house the growing number of at-risk youth who were running away from their foster homes. The Burlington Ecumenical Action Ministry teamed up with this group of concerned citizens to found SHAC, which stood for Shelter Action and later became known as Spectrum Youth and Family Services. Today Spectrum is a nationally recognized leader in homeless youth programs, being named Agency of the Year by the National Network for Youth, in 2009.
Spectrum works with more than 2,300 homeless, at-risk and foster youth around the state, providing basic needs, counseling, and helping youth get back into school or to find a job. Their message to young people is not ‘how do we help you get off the street tonight?’ It is, ‘how do we help you create a life plan focused on education, job training, physical health and mental health so that you can make your way off the street permanently?’
‘We are extremely grateful to the People’s United Community Foundation for their support,’ said Mark Redmond, executive director Spectrum Youth and Family Services. ‘We have seen a significant increase in the number of youth coming to us for shelter and other assistance since the start of the recession. In order to meet this demand, we depend on organizations like People’s United to come through for us, and in this case they most certainly have.’
‘Spectrum provides an invaluable service and we are pleased to be a part of their efforts to provide futures for the many homeless youth in Burlington,’ said Michael Seaver, Officer, People’s United Community Foundation and President, People's United Bank Vermont
Samaritan House
The People’s United Community Foundation has awarded $5,000 to Samaritan House, Inc.
Samaritan House, Inc. operates a homeless shelter for families and individuals, as well as a transitional housing program for people without other options or resources within the Vermont counties of Franklin and Grand Isle. Located at 20 Kingman Street in the historic downtown of St. Albans, Vermont, the shelter began providing services in 1993 with help from local churches, businesses, schools, community organizations and other community members that recognized the need for the programs offered at Samaritan House.
Since 1993 the shelter has seen a tremendous increase in the number of individuals seeking their services. From their humble beginnings of offering overnight shelter to those in need, they have since expanded their services to include nearly round the clock shelter and transitional housing for families and individuals. While they are happy to have expanded their services and provide for those who need their assistance, it saddens the staff at Samaritan House that there is such a growing need.
‘We are proud to provide funding to Samaritan House to sustain the much needed Transitional and Supportive Housing Program,’ said Michael Seaver, Officer, People’s United Community Foundation and President of People’s United Bank in Vermont. ‘With the growing need for food, fuel and shelter throughout our state, we are proud to support Samaritan House as they provide affordable housing, and work with these individuals to keep it.’
‘This much needed donation from People’s United Community Foundation will assist Samaritan House with helping folks transition out of homelessness into permanent housing and self sufficiency’ said Linda Ryan, Executive Director Samaritan House, Inc.
DREAM Program
The People’s United Community Foundation has awarded $3,500 to The DREAM Program, Inc.
The DREAM Program matches college student mentors with children from affordable housing communities, using an innovative model for mentoring aptly titled ‘Village Mentoring’. Their approach is revolutionary in its specific concentration, toolkit of complimentary programming, and outcomes for children. Village Mentoring represents a shift from traditional one-on-one mentoring to a more community oriented approach that empowers the group of college student mentors to engage both the individual child and the entire community of children and families.
DREAM was started in 1999, by college students at Dartmouth College. In just over a decade DREAM has proven itself to be a life changing experience for both mentors and mentees throughout Vermont. Their mission is to build communities of families and college students who empower children from affordable housing neighborhoods to recognize their options, make informed decisions, and achieve their dreams, with Village Mentoring as their mission in action.
‘The donation from People’s United Community Foundation will assist us in strengthening this successful program throughout Vermont, including Rutland and White River Junction,’ said Michael Loner, Executive Director at The DREAM Program, Inc. ‘Due to recent funding cuts, the funding we receive from People’s United Community Foundation will allow us to sustain the youth mentoring program in these areas. People’s United has been a long time supporter of ours and we are pleased to partner with them once again.’
‘Strong role models in our kids’ lives are important to their success and the long-term success of our communities,’ said Michael Seaver, Officer, People’s United Community Foundation and President, People’s United Bank Vermont. ‘The DREAM Program not only provides a mentor for a young child, it also promotes positive youth behaviors and helps children and young adults make a successful transition into adulthood.’
Established in 2007, People’s United Community Foundation was formed to help support programs and activities that enhance the quality of life for citizens in the communities that People’s United Bank serves. With special emphasis on programs designed to promote economic self-sufficiency, education and improved conditions for low-income families and neighborhoods, the funding priorities of the Foundation include: community development, youth development, and affordable housing.