First Niagara Foundation commits $1 million to mentoring programs
The First Niagara Foundation, a not-for-profit charity run by First Niagara Bank, will provide grants totaling $1 million for mentoring programs, $200,000 of which will be used in Connecticut, the lower Hudson Valley and Massachusetts.
The grants will help fund the foundation’s regional Mentoring Matter program. The money will be split across 37 not-for-profit organizations in the four-state region the bank covers (First Niagara also has locations in Pennsylvania).
The $200,000 to Connecticut, Massachusetts and the Lower Hudson Valley will be split among 10 youth mentoring programs.
“First Niagara is proud to invest in our communities and the people that make them great places to live, work and do business,” said First Niagara’s New England President Jeff Hubbard. “Quality mentoring programs fill a critical gap for young people who might not otherwise have positive role models to help them make good choices in life.”
Recipients of grants in the Hudson Valley and Fairfield County, Conn., include:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County ”“ Vails Gate.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rockland County ”“ New City.
- Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester ”“ Mount Kisco.
- Family Services of Westchester/Big Brothers Big Sisters of Westchester ”“ White Plains.
- Norwalk Community College Foundation/Connecticut College Access and Success (CONNCAS) Program ”“ Norwalk.
- Bridgeport Public Education Fund/Mentoring for Academic Achievement and College/Career Success (MAACS) Program ”“ Bridgeport.