Banks join as Northwest Community Bank

WINSTED — Three affiliated banks that have operated under the common ownership of Connecticut Mutual Holding Company became one bank Jan. 4. The resulting bank, Northwest Community Bank, continues to be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Connecticut Mutual Holding Company, and now operates all offices of Collinsville Bank, a Division of Northwest Community Bank; and all offices of Litchfield Bancorp, a Division of Northwest Community Bank. Branch staff will remain with each bank Division, and customer service will not be interrupted, according to a statement,

President and CEO of Connecticut Mutual Holding Company and Northwest Community Bank Stephen Reilly said, “This restructuring strengthens our ability to continue as a well-capitalized, locallyowned, mutual bank. As it has been with our individual banks, relationship banking will remain central to our mission, and community involvement is a core value of our bank.”

A charitable foundation will be founded to expand community support thoroughout the region, Reilly said.

Northwest Community Bank, has been headquartered in Winsted since 1860. The bank has branches in Avon, Granby, New Hartford, Simsbury and Torrington, and an academic branch at Northwestern Regional High School in Winsted.

Litchfield Bancorp was founded in 1850. Litchfield Bancorp, a Division of Northwest Community Bank, operates in Litchfield, Lakeville, Torrington, Washington Depot and Watertown, Connecticut.

Collinsville Bank was established in 1853. Collinsville Bank, a Division of Northwest Community Bank, has branches in Canton, Collinsville and Farmington, Connecticut.

Nonprofits receive $207,000 in late fall grants

TORRINGTON — The Northwest CT Community Foundation recently awarded grants to 36 area nonprofit organizations, totaling $207,000 during its third grant cycle of 2020.

The Community Foundation awards discretionary grants to Northwest Connecticut charities three times a year: early spring, late June and late fall.

The following is a comprehensive list of 2020 third cycle grants:

AHA — AfterSchool Program, $5,000 to support staff costs, snacks and supplies for students (from the Marion Wm. and Alice Edwards Fund and Betsy

Krebs through the Northwest Connecticut Philanthropy Fund for COVID-19 relief)

American Red Cross Connecticut Chapter, $1,500 to support the increased cost of disaster services and direct financial assistance due to COVID-19 (from the Pierpont Chapter #49 Order of Eastern Star Fund, the John Brooks Fund, and the Bank of Boston Fund)

Bethlehem Ambulance Association Inc., $1,650 to support the purchase of an automated blood pressure machine with oxygen/ pulse device and forehead scan temperature monitor (from the Marion Wm. and Alice Edwards Fund and the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)

Canaan Child Care Center, Inc., $5,000 for unrestricted operating support (from the Marion Wm. and Alice Edwards Fund)

Canaan Fire Company, $2,500 to support the purchase of replacement hose equipment (from the Edwin M. Stone and Edith H. Stone Fund, the Northwest Connecticut Philanthropy Fund, and The Echo Valley Foundation Fund)

Chore Service, Inc., $2,400 to support the cost of pre-service health screenings for Chore Workers and clients at the time of service delivery (from the Marion Isabell Coe Fund, Lucia Tuttle Fritz Fund, Torrington Club Fund, and The Echo Valley Foundation Fund)

Civic Life Project, $7,500 to support a digital storytelling program for middle school students centered on the effects of COVID-19 in local communities (from the Marion Wm. and Alice Edwards Fund)

Community Kitchen of Torrington, $4,250 for unrestricted operating support (from the Robert R. Rosenheim Foundation through the Northwest Connecticut Philanthropy Fund for COVID-19 relief, and the Milewski and Masisak Families Fund)

Connecticut Association for Human Services, $2,000 to support and expand the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (from the Feliciano and Lydia Turri Zaccheo Fund and the Northwest Connecticut Philanthropy Fund)

Connecticut Democracy Center, $3,000 to support the Torrington Region Connecticut History Day Contest (from the Marion Wm. and Alice Edwards Fund)

Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities, $2,000 for unrestricted operating support (from the Robert V. Carr Fund and the Northwest Connecticut Philanthropy Fund)

Falls Village Day Care Center, $6,500 to support the purchase of additional equipment to license an additional under-3 classroom to meet current demand, from the Marion Wm. and Alice Edward Fund and The Echo Valley Foundation Fund.

Family & Children's Aid, Inc., $3,000 to support the Torrington In-Home Intensive Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Services program for clients with severe behavioral health issues (from the Borghesi Family Fund, the Fred and Josephine Bruni Fund, and the Roberta Lee August Fund)

FISH of Northwestern Connecticut, $1,250 to support the cost of a mandated sprinkler pressure test (from the Fleet General Fund, the Torrington Savings Bank Fund, and the Torrington Savings Fund)

Five Points Gallery, $4,000 for unrestricted operating support (from the Edwin M. Stone and Edith H. Stone Fund)

Food Rescue US, $2,500 for unrestricted operating support (from the Robert R. Rosenheim Foundation through the Northwest Connecticut Philanthropy Fund for COVID-19 relief)

Friendly Hands Food Bank, Inc., $1,700 to support the purchase of a van (from Betsy Krebs through Northwest Connecticut Philanthropy Fund for COVID-19 relief )

Helping Hands Chore Service, $2,000 to support medical transportation for seniors and to replenish PPE (from the Feliciano and Lydia Turri Zaccheo Fund and the Robert R. Rosenheim Foundation through the Northwest Connecticut Philanthropy Fund for COVID-19 relief)

Housatonic Youth Service Bureau, $5,000 to support the purchase of online software/ technology for secure and confidential counseling and group sessions (from the Marion Wm. and Alice Edwards Fund and The Echo Valley Foundation Fund)

KidsPlay Children's Museum, $5,000 for unrestricted operating support (from the Edwin M. Stone and Edith H. Stone Fund)

LARC, Inc., $5,000 to support the purchase of an online group training system to remain compliant with Department of Social Services requirements (from the Robert Venn Carr, Jr. Fund and Betsy Krebs through the Northwest Connecticut Philanthropy Fund for COVID-19 relief)

Litchfield Community Center, Inc., $5,000 to support the purchase of a commercial grade dual refrigerator/freezer (from the Robert V. Carr Fund)

Little Guild of Saint Francis, $3,000 to support the cost of HEPA air purifiers for the enclosed cat adoption rooms and the lobby/office area (from the Marion Wm. and Alice Edwards Fund)

McCall Center for Behavioral Health, $2,500 for unrestricted operating support (from the Robert R. Rosenheim Foundation through the Northwest Connecticut Philanthropy Fund for COVID-19 relief)

New Opportunities Inc., $5,000 to support the cost of grocery cards to address increasing food insecurity (to be administered out of the Torrington office) (from the Robert R. Rosenheim Foundation through the Northwest Connecticut Philanthropy Fund for COVID-19 relief)

Northwest Connecticut YMCA, $10,000 for unrestricted operating support (from the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)

Partners for Sustainable Healthy Communities, $3,000 for unrestricted operating support (from the Eva M. Coty Fund and the Northwest Connecticut Philanthropy Fund)

Prime Time House, $5,000 for unrestricted operating support (from the Margaret C. Tupper Fund and the Northwest Connecticut Philanthropy Fund)

Project Playground New Hartford, $2,500 to support the replacement of two playgrounds (from the Marion Wm. and Alice Edwards Fund)

St. Paul's Hilltop Christian Early Learning Center, $5,250 for unrestricted operating support (from the Marion Wm. and Alice Edwards Fund and the Milewski and Masisak Families Fund)

Susan B. Anthony Project, $5,000 for unrestricted operating support (from the Robert R. Rosenheim Foundation through the Northwest Connecticut Philanthropy Fund for COVID-19 relief)

Torrington Area Youth Service Bureau, $4,000 to support the purchase and installation of three laptops and docking stations (from the Edwin M. Stone and Edith H. Stone Fund)

Warner Theatre, $75,000 over three years for unrestricted operating support (from the Marion Wm. and Alice Edwards Fund)

Winchester Youth Service Bureau, $5,000 for unrestricted operating support (from the Edwin M. Stone and Edith H. Stone Fund)

Winsted Senior Center and Senior Enrichment Program, $1,500 to support the cost of continuing free fitness classes via Zoom (from the Brooks Bank Fund, the Roberta Lee August Fund, and the First National Bank of Litchfield Fund)

Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center, $2,500 for unrestricted operating support (from the Torrington Club Fund, the Marion Wm. and Alice Edwards Fund, and the Brooks Bank Fund)

Established in 1969, the Northwest CT Community Foundation serves 20 towns in Northwest Connecticut. Its total endowment, comprised of more than 280 funds, has grown from initial assets of $15,000 to almost $102 million. Last year, combined grants and scholarships totaled $4 million.

Critical needs grants announced

TORRINGTON — The Northwest CT Community Foundation Draper Foundation Fund and Marion Wm. and Alice Edwards Fund have awarded 45 charitable organizations serving some of the area’s most economically distressed residents grants totaling $60,000. Grants will help provide the most basic of necessities – food, warm clothing and shelter.

“Thank you very much for presenting the Torrington Veterans Service Office with this grant...” said Michael C. Thomas of the Torrington Veteran Services Office. “The need is especially crucial during these hard times brought on by this Covid 19 pandemic.”

The following nonprofits received critical needs grants: AHA - AfterSchool Program, Bronc Callahan Community Fund, Canaan Child Care Center, Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist Church, The Cancer Care Fund of the Litchfield HillS, Caring For Bethlehem, Chore Service, Community Food Bank, Community Kitchen of Torrington, Connecticut Food Bank, EdAdvance, Falls Village Emergency Relief/Fuel Fund, Falls Village Senior Center, Family & Children's Aid, FISH of Northwestern Connecticut, Food Rescue US, Friendly Hands Food Bank, Goshen Good Neighbor Fund, Hands of Grace, Helping Hands Chore Service, Housatonic Child Care Center, Housatonic Youth Service Bureau, Litchfield Hills Chore Service, Litchfield Hills Elderly Nutrition Program, McCall Center for Behavioral Health, Mental Health Connecticut, North Canaan Social Services, Prime Time House, Salvation Army of Torrington, Salvation Army Winsted Regional Service Center, Sharon Day Care, Supportive Housing Works, Susan B. Anthony Project, Torrington Area Youth Service Bureau, Town of Colebrook, Town of Kent Social Services, Town of Litchfield Department of Social Services, United Church of Christ in Cornwall, Veterans Service Office & Museum, Warm the Children, Washington Community Fund, Winchester Youth Service Bureau, Winsted Area Child Care Center, Winsted United Methodist Church, Women's Support Services.