Androscoggin Bank’s President and CEO and members of its Greater Giving Committee recently presented Community Concepts with a grant check in support of their Financial Capability project. Pictured here (l. to r.) are Kim Fogg of Comm. Concepts LSW Family Services; Sally Smith, Comm. Concepts Property Management Specialist; Tina Willard, Andro. Bank Commercial Loan Officer; Danielle Dill, Comm. Concepts LMSW-cc Clinical Manager Family Services; David Pease, Andro. Bank Chief Resource Officer; Paul Andersen, Andro. Bank President and CEO; Dennis Lajoie, VP of Economic Development & Housing, CEO of Comm. Concepts Finance Corporation; Sara Trafton, Comm. Concepts Grant Coordinator-Resource Development; Lacey Gammon, Andro. Bank Loan Operations Specialist; Nicole Gosse, Andro. Bank Customer Service Rep.; Melissa Runstrom, Andro. Bank Marketing Specialist; and Allicea Howard, Comm. Concepts Children’s Case Manager, Family Services.

Androscoggin Bank has announced the recipients of the first bi-annual grants awarded by Greater Giving, a new community impact program launched earlier this year to support nonprofits and other organizations that benefit the community in the areas of economic development, education or the arts. This first cycle of bi-annual grants totals over $7000. The Greater Giving awards committee approved grants to the following organizations.

Community Concepts Finance Corporation: $2,200 was awarded to this regional non-profit to support its Financial Capability Project, designed to increase financial capacity and housing stability through one-on-one money management educational support within Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties.

A Company of Girls: $2,200 was awarded to this Portland-based organization to fund an after-school arts program to bring together girls identified as low-income, high-risk or experiencing emotional/social issues.

Literacy Volunteers-Androscoggin: $443 was awarded to this Auburn-based non-profit to fund the purchase of a laptop to aid the group in providing free tutoring and educational services to adults and families in Androscoggin County.

Museum L-A: $2,200 was awarded to this Lewiston-based organization to fund a “Kids as Curators” program, affiliated with local schools in Lewiston and Auburn, to introduce children to the arts through exhibiting, curating, designing and marketing museum exhibits.

The philosophy of the Greater Giving program is that “community impact through partnership” is not only an exercise in volunteer hours and money donated, but an emphasis on community development and choosing to focus giving efforts in strategic areas where the bank can make the biggest difference.

“We are excited to share the strategy behind Greater Giving, because we believe that targeted and focused efforts offer the biggest return for our community partners,” said Melissa Rock, VP of Marketing and Client Relations at Androscoggin Bank. “An important part of our Androscoggin Bank culture is our passion for partnering with clients and helping them succeed, which is part of building relationships. We do this through our expert advice, our attention to detail, a willingness to help and take notice, and through in-kind donations. We want everything we do to create a ripple of impact across the community. Greater Giving is our formal process for making that impact.”

In addition to the bank’s continual commitment to expanding its relationships in ways that benefit the community, it accepts grant applications to the Greater Giving program twice each year, due June 30 and December 31. To learn more about Androscoggin Bank’s Greater Giving program, or to access grant criteria or an application, see www.androscogginbank.com.