Ion Bank Foundation sets personal giving record

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NAUGATUCK — The Ion Bank Foundation awarded grants totaling a record $498,860 in 2013.

The 2013 total represents a 19 percent increase from the $419,098 in grants the foundation awarded in 2012, and a 7 percent increase from its highest previous annual total of $468,345 in 2008, according to a press release.

“Everybody associated with Ion Bank is very proud of the new record our foundation established last year and of all the good work that is being accomplished in our local communities with those funds,” said Chuck Boulier, the bank’s president and chief executive officer, in the release.

The 2013 grant total brings the foundation’s all-time total of grants awarded to $4.83 million since its creation in 1998.

Ion Bank Foundation grants are being used to help fund and support more than 100 charitable and community programs and organizations located within the bank’s retail footprint. Some non-profits to receive grants in 2013 included the American Cancer Society, Connecticut Food Bank, Saint Vincent DePaul Mission, Salvation Army and five United Way agencies throughout central and southwestern Connecticut.

The foundation also supported close to 40 additional non-profit agencies, including Jane Doe No More and Hidden Acres Therapeutic Riding Center, through its fourth annual Community Awards Program, which distributed $53,000 to local non-profit organizations in accordance to voting conducted among bank customers.

The foundation is currently running its 5th Annual Community Awards Program.

The foundation is asking Ion Bank customers to vote for their local charity or non-profit organization of choice to receive up to $5,000. The foundation will donate a proportional share of $50,000 to each local non-profit that receives at least 1 percent of the total votes. There will also be a special award of $500 to 20 randomly selected organizations that receive less than 1 percent of the votes.

Voting will take place through March 31. Customers are allowed to vote once. However, for accounts with multiple owners, each owner may vote. Customers with multiple accounts may only vote once. Each customer can vote for only one organization. 

Voting can be done online at ionbank.com or at a bank branch.