Westbrook Foundation Awarded $109K+ During Fall 2024 Grants Cycle
Press release from the Westbrook Foundation
Twice a year, in the spring and the fall, the Westbrook Foundation provides financial support in the form of grants to nonprofit, non-political organizations whose work promotes and enhances the well-being and safety of the residents of Westbrook.
During the fall 2024 grants cycle, the Foundation awarded $109,656 to twelve projects serving a range of stakeholders.
“With every grant cycle, we are privileged and proud to carry out founder Barbara Spencer’s vision of supporting community organizations whose programs and projects impact the lives of Westbrook residents in a meaningful way,” said Grants Committee Chair An-Ming Truxes.
Fall 2024 grant recipients and their projects include:
- The Estuary: $10,000 to help fund the replacement of a new gas combination oven for the Estuary’s Nutrition Program which serves over 700 individuals throughout the nine-town region.
- Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, Inc.: $4,000 to support Junior Achievement providing a variety of experiential career readiness and exploration, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship programs to about 100 Westbrook High Schools students in 2024-25.
- Lumibility Inc.: $3,000 to support the hiring of professionals in the wellness, arts, and therapy fields to provide engaging sessions for Westbrook Day Program participants.
- Middlesex Health: $4,570 to support the installation of a large-format Communication Board at the Ted Lane Field playground in partnership with the Westbrook Parks and Recreation Department.
- Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries: $25,000 to support the purchase of food for distribution at SSKP which operates five pantries, including Westbrook, serving low- and limited-income families and individuals in an 11-town service area.
- Town of Westbrook: Department of Public Works: $7,000 to support the installation of a 6″ liner for a cooking oven and the installation of two 12×12 liners to the main fireplace of the Bushnell House.
- Town of Westbrook: Social Services: $4,518 to support 50% of the cost of furnace/boiler tune-up for eligible Westbrook residents (those who are approved for CRT energy assistance).
- Town of Westbrook: Youth & Family Services: $13,000 to support WYFS’s Harm Reduction project that will address the impact substance use has on families and communities.
- Westbrook Congregational Church: $18,000 to support the (1) replacement of the existing double doors which open out to the Westbrook town green, and (2) cleaning and painting of all the walls in the lower level of the church.
- Westbrook Drum Corps: $6,298 to purchase 8 complete regimental uniforms, 8 tricorn hats, and 1 rope tension snare drum for the 9 individuals of the Westbrook Drum Corps.
- Westbrook Little League: $2,270 to support a free pitching clinic organized by the Westbrook Little League for any child grades 1 through 6, regardless of skill or socioeconomic status.
- Westbrook Music Boosters: $12,000 to support a 3-day trip to New York City for 60 WHS band and chorus students in grades 9-12.
The next grant application deadline is April 1, 2025. Eligible organizations are invited to apply via the Foundation’s online Grant Portal. For more information, visit www.westbrookfoundation.org/grants.