The Chelsea Groton Foundation recently distributed $60,775 among 21 local non-profit organizations serving southeastern Connecticut and the Westerly area.

Among the recipients, the Gemma E. Moran Labor Food Center received $5,000, as did Mitchell College and the Westerly Hospital. United Cerebral Palsy of Eastern CT received $4,000. Receiving $3,000 were the Norwich Safety Net Team and the Mystic Area Shelter & Hospitality Inc. A $2,500 grant was received by each of the following charities: Alliance for Living, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, H.O.P.E., Hospice of SE CT, Thames Area Citizen Advocacy Program, Westerly Chariho ARC and the Women’s Center of SE CT. Other grant recipients were Learn, Literacy Volunteers, Easter Seals, Salvation Army, Eastern CT Housing Opportunities, Fairview Odd Fellows Home, SE Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence and the Ocean Community YMCA.

The foundation is part of the Groton-based Chelsea Groton Bank, the region’s largest locally owned mutual savings bank. Chelsea Groton Bank established the regional philanthropic foundation in 1999 with a $2 million endowment.

The foundation’s mission is to improve life in southeastern Connecticut as well as the Westerly area through financial distributions to various charitable and social service agencies serving those regions.

The bank foundation receives grant requests throughout the year and then meets bi-annually to review and award grant recipients. Those who apply to the bank foundation must have tax-exempt status or must show proof that the organization is a governmental unit.

Groups interested in future disbursements from the Chelsea Groton Foundation should request an application from Julie Hickey, executive assistant at Chelsea Groton Bank. She can be reached at 860-448-4105. Requests can also be made in writing to the Chelsea Groton Foundation, 904 Poquonnock Road, Groton, CT 06340. Further information about the bank’s foundation is available on the bank’s website at www.chelseagroton.com.