News

BRIDGEPORT, CT– The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, announced that it awarded $102,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the communities it serves in Bridgeport.

Eleven organizations received funding in support of activities that ranged from education programs and basic needs services to life-skills training and workforce development programs. Recipients included Barnum Museum Foundation, Bridgeport Rescue Mission, Burroughs Community Center, Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises, International Institute of Connecticut, Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut, Mercy Learning Center of Bridgeport, Shepherds, St. Vincent’s Foundation, and The Workplace.

An $8,000 grant to Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises will support the Green Business Hub, a program that provides green industry job training, management mentoring, operations management, market studies and marketing, as well other services. The People’s United Community Foundation grant will also assist GBCE in growing its current green enterprises and developing new green businesses, with the goal of creating 100 new jobs over five years for low-income, hard-to-employ local residents.

A $5,000 grant from People’s United Community Foundation to Mercy Learning Center will provide basic education literacy training, life skills workshops, and computer classes. The International Institute of Connecticut also received a $5,000 grant from People’s United Community Foundation in support of its Refugee Mentoring Program. 

“We are proud to call Bridgeport our home, especially with so many outstanding nonprofit organizations here doing exceptional work to meet the needs of residents,” said Vincent Santilli, Executive Director of the foundation. “Our Bridgeport grantees are consistently demonstrating the positive impact they are having on individuals, families and our entire community.”

For a detailed list of organizations that People’s United Community Foundation supported during the second grant cycle of 2014, please visit www.pucf.org.

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. People’s United Bank, founded in 1842 and serving customers from New York to Maine through a network of more than 400 branches, is the largest independent bank headquartered in New England. The Foundation places 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.

###

Mercy Learning Center: [In photo (left to right): Vincent Santilli, Executive Director of People’s United Community Foundation; Maria Gutierrez, Mari Martinez, and Marley Gonzalez Herrera,  Mercy Learning Center program participants; Jane Ferreira, President and CEO; and Armando Goncalves, Officer of People’s United Community Foundation, and Southern Connecticut President for People’s United Bank.]

Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises: (left to right): Armando Goncalves, Officer for People’s United Community Foundation and Southern CT President of People’s United Bank; GBCE staff members, Jalaam Robinson, Manuel Estrada, Larry Plude, Samurie March-Robinson, and Rocshay Thomas; Adrienne Houël, President and CEO of GBCE; additional GBCE staff members, Terence Brown, Mike Yurish, Jamal Thompson, Mario Jiminez, Nosa Osemobor, and Shannon Dihmes; and Vincent Santilli, Executive Director of People’s United Community Foundation.

International Institute of CT: Armando F. Goncalves, Officer of People's United Community Foundation and Southern Connecticut President at People’s United Bank, presents a check to Angela R. Andersen, IICONN Executive Director, while mentors and mentees look on.