Vermont Business Magazine The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, has announced that it has once again awarded $7,500 to the Boys and Girls Club of Rutland; as well as $3,000 to Everybody Wins! Vermont; $3,000 to Mercy Connections; $5,000 to Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA); $4,000 to Groundworks Collaborative; $5,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Addison County; and $2,500 to Central Vermont Adult Basic Education (CVABE).
The funding from People’s United Community Foundation will enable the Boys and Girls Club of Rutland to continue its summer feeding program, providing over 11,000 meals per year to youth in the Rutland area.
“The summer months can be a very challenging time for parents as they struggle to replace meals offered through school meal programs,” said Michael Seaver, Officer, People’s United Community Foundation and President of People's United Bank in Vermont. “By supporting the Boys and Girls Club of Rutland, we are able to reach these families and ensure children are receiving the nutritious meals they need.”
“We are very pleased to have the support of the People’s United Community Foundation,” said Larry Bayle, Executive Director, Boys and Girls Club of Rutland. “The foundation’s assistance not only addresses a youth hunger issue, but also provides relief to family budgets that are already stretched thin and peace of mind to parents whose children will have access to a reliable, stable food source.”
The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, has awarded $3,000 to Everybody Wins! Vermont.
Everybody Wins! Vermont is the state's largest mentoring organization, with sites in 24 schools and over 650 mentors reading with children once a week during the school year’s "Power Lunch" program. The mentoring partnership is a powerful tool that encourages children to love reading and to improve their academic performance.
"It's like me and her, we're the only people in the world,” said a student in 2015. “The only time I like to read is with my mentor."
“People’s United Bank and People’s United Community Foundation have been supporters of Everybody Wins! Vermont for many years,” Seaver said. “Through our donations and employees who volunteer during their lunch hour, we can assist in expanding the reach of the program.”
The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, has awarded $3,000 to Mercy Connections for their Mercy Marketplace program.
Mercy Connections has offered education, mentoring, entrepreneurship and community engagement programs since its founding in 2001. Through organizational partnerships, volunteerism and strategies, Mercy Connections contributes to improved literacy and education among adults; the acquisition of business skills and the development of small businesses; reduced recidivism for women, enabling them to return to community and lead healthy, meaningful lives; and increased self-sufficiency for individuals who gain the confidence, skills and tools to move forward.
Mercy Marketplace is a project of Mercy Connections’ Education & Transition and Women’s Small Business Programs. Through a series of workshops led by a Women’s Small Business Program director, participants are able to gain new skills in marketing and business basics.
“Mercy Connections empowers women to make significant life changes,” Seaver said. “The service they provide through Mercy Marketplace assists women in building entrepreneurial and basic business skills.”
The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, has awarded $5,000 to Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA).
SEVCA was created in 1965 as part of the nationwide “War on Poverty” and chartered as a Community Action Agency (CAA) – a private non-profit corporation designated as the “anti-poverty agency” to serve Windham and Windsor Counties. Financial education is a cornerstone of SEVCA’s strategy to help Vermonters overcome short-term crises as well as to stabilize their lives and move out of poverty.
The grant will fund SEVCA’s “Financial Fitness” Program in Windham and Windsor Counties, which equips lower-income participants with the tools and knowledge they need to gain control of their finances. The program uses an interactive, experiential approach to helping people move from their current challenges toward their financial goals.
“SEVCA’s Financial Fitness program provides much-needed resources for lower-income individuals and families to improve their financial security,” Seaver said. “It helps participants gain control of their spending and credit, begin a savings plan, set achievable financial goals, and transition from hardship to independence. We are pleased to once again be a partner in this initiative.”
The grant brings the total funding awarded by the People’s United Community Foundation to the organization to $15,000.
“We’ve been providing financial fitness training in conjunction with our Individual Development Account (IDA) matched savings program for the past 15 years,” said Steve Geller, SEVCA’s Executive Director, “and the need for it has only increased over the years. Since the recession, we’ve found that people need the extra support and guidance it provides to help them manage their limited resources, pay off crippling debt, and begin to build assets.”
The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, has awarded $4,000 to Groundworks Collaborative.
Formed last year from the merger of Morningside Shelter and the Brattleboro Area Drop In Center, Groundworks Collaborative provides food, shelter, and supportive services to families and individuals in need in the greater Brattleboro area.
“We’re so appreciative to have the People’s United Community Foundation’s support for our Food Shelf again this year,” said Josh Davis, Groundworks’ Executive Director. “Our Food Shelf is the area’s largest – serving an average of 1,000 individuals per month – and due to a recent re-organization of the space, we’re serving more households per day than we were previously able. As such, we’re spending more on food to meet the community’s need.”
“Many of us take for granted that we can walk into a grocery store and purchase what we need for the week or even just the day,” Seaver said. “We are pleased to support Groundworks Collaborative in their efforts to provide expanded food service to communities around Brattleboro.”
As part of its commitment to support affordable housing and the well-being of neighborhoods in the communities where People’s United Bank operates, the People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, has awarded $5,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Addison County in Middlebury.
Habitat for Humanity of Addison County was formed in 1999 to construct and provide decent, affordable housing in partnership with families in Addison County. The funding from People’s United Community Foundation will be used to purchase materials to build and repair homes.
“The donation from People’s United Community Foundation will help families break the cycle of poverty and build long-term financial security,” noted Joe Smith, President of the Addison County Habitat affiliate. “Habitat's affordable, no-profit house payments help to free up money for food, child care, medicine and other necessities. Research shows that decent housing improves health, increases children's educational achievement and strengthens community ties.”
“We are pleased to once again support Habitat for Humanity,” Seaver said. “Safe and secure housing is something all Vermont residents need in order to raise their families.”
The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, has awarded $2,500 to Central Vermont Adult Basic Education (CVABE).
Celebrating 50 years of service this year, CVABE serves over 500 adults and teens annually in Washington, Orange and Lamoille Counties. Services are free and include reading, writing, math, and computer literacy instruction; high school diploma and GED credential programs; college and career readiness instruction; and English language learning for immigrants and refugees.
CVABE has six learning centers, located in Barre, Bradford, Montpelier, Morrisville, Randolph and Waterbury, and teaches at libraries and other locations in its tri-county service area.
Carol Shults-Perkins, CVABE’s Executive Director noted, “We are grateful for People’s United Community Foundation’s commitment to helping neighbors achieve literacy. This grant will empower area residents to gain academic skills and reach their work and life goals.”
“Central Vermont Adult Basic Education provides a critical service in Vermont,” Seaver said. “We are pleased to offer financial support and employee volunteers to help with literacy skills.”
People’s United Community Foundation Overall Recent Support:
Boys and Girls Club of Rutland $7,500
Central Vermont Adult Basic Education $2,500
COTS $10,000
Everybody Wins! Vermont $3,000
Groundworks Collaborative $4,000
Habitat for Humanity of Addison County $5,000
Intervale $5,000
John W Graham Emergency Shelter Services $5,000
Mercy Connections $3,000
Milton Community Youth Coalition $3,000
Moius $2,500
Samaritan House $10,000
Southeastern Vermont Community Action $5,000
Special Olympics Vermont $2,500
Spectrum $10,000
The Mentor Connector $3,500
Upper Valley Haven $3,000
Vermont Foodbank $20,000
Vermont Works for Women $7,500
Zack’s Place Enrichment Center $3,000