BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (March 20, 2024) The Housatonic Community College (HCC) Foundation announced today that they have received a $50,000 grant award from the Amplify Fund Advancing Equity Collaboratives through the M&T Charitable Foundation.

Funding will be used to create the Greater Housatonic Food and Nutrition Collaborative which plans to bring together resources and community partners to strategically create a culture of food security for low-income, historically marginalized populations in the Greater Bridgeport area. Partners include the Green Village Initiative, HydroEcoAgra, Bridgeport Farmers Market and Ground Works Bridgeport.

A long-time partner of the HCC Foundation, the M&T Bank Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank, has long supported low-income underserved students with funding to programs such as the Equity Program, which addresses the challenges and needs of historically marginalized student populations. M&T has also invested in Housatonic’s recently launched Justice in Higher Education program which provides opportunities for formally incarcerated individuals to access and thrive in higher education.

Their most recent grant will help the Greater Housatonic community address the structural roots of food insecurity with plans to improve access to food and sustainable food supplies, empower individuals as growers and harvesters, and increase food and nutrition education.

The HCC Foundation Executive Director Kristy Jelenik shares that, “The data shows us food insecurity during college impedes student health and academic success in college. Food insecurity goes beyond the campus and impacts many of our greater Bridgeport communities. With the M&T Charitable Foundation’s help, and in partnership with GVI, BFMC, HydroEcoAgra, and Ground Works Bridgeport, more students and community members will receive not only food resources but also education about growing and harvesting their own nutritious food.”

“Through the Amplify Fund, we are committed to continuing our partnership with organizations like the HCC Foundation that work hand-in-hand with community members in the field to provide the critical resources and programming necessary to truly make a difference,” said Dominique Goss, Executive Director of the M&T Charitable Foundation. “At M&T, addressing the institutionalized and systemic issues preventing disadvantaged communities from accessing opportunities and achieving long-term success is key to our mission as a community bank. We are proud to provide the Amplify Fund as a difference-making resource in the communities we serve.”

For more information about the HCC Foundation, please visit www.housatonicfoundation.org. For more information on the Amplify Fund, including the full list of grant recipients in New England and Metro New York, please visit the Amplify Fund website. To learn more about Housatonic Community College, https://housatonic.edu/.

About the Housatonic Community College Foundation

The HCC Foundation expands access to quality, affordable higher education and works closely with the college to enhance the learning experience and workforce development education and training of students. As a 501 (c)3 tax exempt organization, its mission is to solicit, secure and manage contributions from the private sector through philanthropic individuals, corporations and foundations for the benefit of Housatonic Community College. Its work focuses on increasing access and retention, and providing supports needed to remove barriers and help students thrive.

About M&T Charitable Foundation

The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization founded in 1993 and funded by M&T Bank. The M&T Charitable Foundation awards nearly $40 million in grants per year to thousands of nonprofit organizations focused on improving the quality of life in the areas the bank serves. M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T's principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services in 12 states across the eastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T's Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. For more information on M&T Bank, visit www.mtb.com.

About the Amplify Fund

First announced in May 2022, the Amplify Fund is a $25 million philanthropic investment as part of the merger between People’s United Bank and M&T Bank. Powered by the M&T Charitable Foundation, the Amplify Fund is a one-time supplemental charitable program designed to drive sustainable impact that is equitable, accessible, and responsive to local needs.

Media Contacts: New England, Christopher Loh (617) 581-2676, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.