First County largesse boosts 88 nonprofits

First County Bank Foundation in Stamford recently hosted its seventh annual Celebration of Mutual Partnerships at The Landing in Stamford to highlight the foundation’s 2015 grant awards to 88 nonprofits.

The organizations received a total $544,000 in grants from the First County Bank Foundation to support their missions. Since its inception in 2001, the foundation has awarded individual grants totaling more than $7 million. Last year, it awarded more than 100 grants totaling almost $600,000.

“The Foundation is proud to support these worthy charitable organizations which provide essential services to improve the lives of people in the local communities they serve,” said Rey Giallongo, president of First County Bank Foundation. “Much can be accomplished to positively impact our local community when businesses and individuals work together to support programs that ensure basic needs such as education and housing are met.”

The money is supporting efforts that include services for the elderly and the young, the hungry, the disabled, first responders and those in need of transportation.

The featured speaker was Jon Simons, vice president, Donor by Design, whose topic was “Please Stop Asking for Money ”“ Unique Ways to Approach Fund Development.” Simons addressed the fear, discomfort and apprehension often associated with fund raising.