Kennebec Savings Bank awards $30,000 Catalyst Grants to local nonprofits

Kennebec Savings Bank awards $30,000 Catalyst Grants to Waterville Area Soup Kitchen, Mitchell Institute, and Augusta Teen Center for innovative projects.

Kennebec Savings Bank has recently announced the recipients of its Catalyst Grants, with the Waterville Area Soup Kitchen, Mitchell Institute, and Augusta Teen Center each receiving $30,000 to support their innovative projects. These grants aim to help these nonprofit organizations bring to life creative ideas that may not have been possible otherwise.

The Waterville Area Soup Kitchen (WASK) provides nutritious meals, clothing, and support to low-income individuals in a welcoming environment. With a significant increase in meal preparations since its opening in 2022, WASK plans to use the Catalyst Grant funds to expand its kitchen facilities to meet the growing demand.

The Mitchell Institute is dedicated to helping young people in Maine aspire to and achieve a college education. Recognizing a rise in mental health issues among its scholars, the Institute will use the grant to establish a program that connects students with timely mental health counseling services.

The Augusta Teen Center caters to at-risk teenagers in the Augusta area, offering mentorship and job training opportunities. With the Catalyst Grant, the center will create a community maker's space to provide teens with the tools and resources needed for carpentry projects, benefiting both the center and the wider community.

The Catalyst Grant program aims to enhance the capacity and creativity of local nonprofit organizations, ultimately improving the programs and services available in Kennebec Savings Bank's service area. Recipients are selected through a competitive process by a committee of bank employees. Since its launch in 2016, the program has awarded over $400,000 to various projects.

For more information about the Catalyst Grant program, contact Amanda Cooley, Vice President & Marketing Communications Officer, at [email protected].