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AUGUSTA – Kennebec Savings Bank recently awarded the Children’s Center and Viles Arboreum 2021 Catalyst Grants. The two $30,000 grants are designed to support creative concepts that might otherwise not be possible for the nonprofit organizations.
“We are pleased to provide this funding to two nonprofits that directly impact the lives of so many in our community,” said Kennebec Savings Bank President & CEO Andrew Silsby.
The Children’s Center, in Augusta, offers early intervention programs to up to age 5 who have special needs, including inclusive early education, pediatric therapies, and specialized programs for children with autism spectrum disorders, mental health diagnoses and global delays. The agency also provides family support programs, including targeted case management, community-based behavioral health professionals and parent and provider education programs in order to assist caregivers in meeting the needs of their children.
The Children’s Center will use the money to implement an electronic health record to improve the quality of services. The system will track data accurately and efficiently to drive treatment and alter interventions based on the individual needs of the child in real time.
Viles Arboretum is a free and easily accessible botanical garden in Augusta. The 224-acre space includes six miles of trails, dozens of plant collections and a sculpture exhibit. The Arboretum’s preserved land, interpretive materials, exhibits, programs and events, and trail system are designed for people of all ages for education, recreation, and inspiration.
The Arboretum will use the money to grow its Young Stewards Camp Program, a screen-free summer camp designed to leverage the Arboretum’s green space to offer high-quality, low-cost outdoor enrichment programming to local children. Specifically, the money will be used to create an adventure course, make kitchen renovations and develop an educational garden.
The Catalyst Grant program is aimed at sparking creativity and adding capacity within local nonprofit organizations, leading to the betterment of the programs and services offered in Kennebec Savings Bank’s service area. Grant recipients are chosen through a competitive application process by an internal selection committee comprised of employees representing different areas of the bank. Since its inception in 2016, the program has awarded more than $300,000 to more than a dozen projects.
PHOTOS: Above, from left, Jean Conway, KSB Catalyst Grant committee member; Ryan Martin, executive director, Viles Arboretum; Andrew Silsby, KSB president and CEO; Sammee Quong, president, Viles Arboretum Board of Directors; Gary LaPierre, KSB Catalyst Grant Committee member; Zachary Nichols, KSB Catalyst Grant Committee member. Below, from left, Crystal Oliver, Children’s Center; Jeff Johnson, executive director, Children’s Center; Jean Conway, KSB Catalyst Grant Committee member; Melissa Daigneault, Catalyst Grant Committee member; Andrew Silsby, president and CEO, Kennebec Savings Bank. (Submitted photos)
