3 Norwalk Human Services Organizations Receive Grants

The following release is from the Union Savings Bank Foundation:

NORWALK, CT — The Union Savings Bank (USB) Foundation recently awarded $275,000 in funding to 25 local organizations in Connecticut as part of the 157-year-old community bank’s ongoing effort to give back to those it serves.

Of the total amount, $252,500 was awarded to 21 non-profit educational programs and $22,500 was donated to four food pantries throughout the state.

The 2023 grant recipients provide wide-ranging services to the community, including: educational and literacy programs; youth enrichment and developmental activities; cultivating the arts; health and wellness services; affordable housing; and assisting those in abuse situations.

“We are pleased to once again provide support to these community partners who are making such a positive impact in the communities we serve,” said USB CEO Cynthia C. Merkle, who also serves as President of the Union Savings Bank Foundation. “These partners are providing essential services and enriching lives. They work tirelessly to provide vital programs focused on education and addressing housing insecurity, food insecurity, and overall health and wellness. There would be a huge void in our community without the assistance of our 2023 recipients and we are fortunate the Foundation continues to be able to support them.”

Organizations receiving 2023 grants are:

• Advancing Connecticut Together – (Hartford) The $5,000 grant will support the Connecticut Money School and the Youth Money School, which provide financial capability workshops for adults, seniors and youth, ages 16-24.
• After School Arts Program – (Washington Depot) The $12,000 in funding will go towards the arts infused educational summer camps for at-risk youth.
• Ann’s Place – (Danbury) The $25,000 grant will support the cancer wellness speaker and workshop series.
• Building Neighborhoods Together – (Bridgeport) The $6,000 grant will be used to purchase technology equipment including a BenQ educational touchscreen display monitor.

• Connecticut Junior Republic (CJR) – (Litchfield) The $10,000 grant will fund the driver education program for at-risk students.

• Danbury Grassroots Academy – (Danbury) The $10,000 in funding will be used towards the organization’s academic enrichment programs for at-risk youth ages 8-18.
• Danbury Police Activities League (PAL) – (Danbury) The $15,000 grant will help fund the Summer Fun & Experience programs.
• Danbury Youth Services – (Danbury) – The $15,000 in funding will go toward the Teaching and Reaching Gaining Excellence Together (TARGET) after-school and summer educational program.
• Families Network of Western CT – (Danbury) The $15,000 grant will support the home visiting programs.
• Housatonic Habitat for Humanity – (Danbury) The $10,000 in funding will support the affordable housing and financial literacy programs.
• Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County – (Bridgeport) The $25,000 in funding will be used for the financial literacy programs for at-risk youth in Fairfield County.

• Literacy Volunteers on the Green- (New Milford) The $12,000 grant will support the literacy volunteers on the green programs, which provides free English language literacy services to adults in northern Fairfield and Litchfield counties.

• New Milford Affordable Housing – (New Milford) The $10,000 grant will help fund the organization’s initiative for the life skills education programs for homeless individuals.
• Northwestern Connecticut YMCA – (Torrington) The $10,000 grant will go toward the early learning program.
• Norwalk Housing Foundation- (Norwalk) The $10,000 in funding will support the college scholarship program.
• Pratt Nature Center – (New Milford) The $10,000 grant will support the educational outreach program.
• Stepping Stones Museum for Children- (Norwalk) The $10,000 grant will support the Early Language and Literacy Initiative (ELLI) and camp.
• The Arc of the Farmington Valley – (Canton) The $5,000 grant will go toward various education and training programs.
• The Center for Empowerment and Education- (Danbury) $12,500 in funding will go toward community education programs, training, and outreach.
• The Center for Family Justice – (Bridgeport) The $10,000 grant will support domestic abuse and sexual violence prevention education.
• Village Center for the Arts – (New Milford) The $15,000 in funding will be used for the “Unexpected Artist Program.”

The following food pantries each received $5,625 in grants:

• Daily Bread Food Pantry (Danbury)
• Open Doors (Norwalk)
• Torrington Soup Kitchen (Torrington)
• Southbury Food Bank (Southbury)

About Union Savings Bank Foundation

The USB Foundation was established in 1998 to provide the bank with an additional way to give back to the community. The Foundation focuses on helping programs that educate and enrich the communities that the bank serves. Since its inception, the USB Foundation has donated over $5 million in grants to hundreds of organizations.

About Union Savings Bank

Established in 1866 and headquartered in Danbury, CT, Union Savings Bank is a $3 billion mutual bank dedicated to being the bank of choice. As a full-service financial institution, Union Savings Bank provides banking, mortgage, investment, trust and insurance products throughout western Connecticut with 25 offices in Bethel, Brookfield, Canton, Danbury, Goshen, Kent, Litchfield, Marble Dale, Monroe, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Southbury, Torrington and Washington Depot. The bank provides financial services to individuals, businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and government entities through its commercial, residential and consumer lending, corporate services, retail banking and wealth management divisions. Please visit www.unionsavings.com for more information and connect with the bank on LinkedIn. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.