Ulster Savings Charitable Foundation Awards Two Grants

The Ulster Savings Charitable Foundation recently had the pleasure of awarding two (2) grants to remarkable local non-profit organizations.  The following are summaries of each:
Nonprofit (recipient) Name:

Bard College – Clemente Course in the Humanities (BCCCH)
Grant amount:
$3,000
Purpose of grant:
The Charitable Foundation’s grant will help offset the cost of books and childcare for BCCCH students in Kingston.  The Kingston BCCCH, established in 2010, offers a year-long intensive humanities course, which introduces the great works of literature, philosophy and history to area residents who may have missed the chance of completing high school or attending college.  Upon successful completion of the course, these students can receive six (6) free Bard College credits, which can then be transferred to another institution should they choose to continue their studies.
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John Finch (far right), Ulster Savings Charitable Foundation Executive Director, Bill Calderara (2nd from right), President and CEO of Ulster Savings Bank, and Robert Baker (far left), Charitable Foundation member, present the Foundation’s $10,000 grant to Chris Silva (2nd from left), Bardavon’s Executive Director, in front of The Ulster Performing Arts Center in Kingston.

Nonprofit (recipient) Name:

Bardavon 1869 Opera House, Inc.
Grant amount:
$10,000

Purpose of grant:
The Charitable Foundation’s grant will support Bardavon’s presentation of Rhapsody in Black (3 performances to 1,200 students during the 2017-2018 school year) that addresses serious, relevant personal/societal issues impacting young people every day.  These performances will be presented to Hudson Valley high school students including primarily inner-city youth from economically-disadvantaged households.  Partners include the Poughkeepsie, Kingston and Wappingers School Districts.