BRUNSWICK – The Alfred M. Senter Fund is a private charitable trust authorized to make grants to any public charity that provides a service in the state and that meets the requirements of the trust documents.

The fund was established by Alfred Senter and it was his wish that public charities benefiting be involved in promoting the cultural, educational, environmental and general health and welfare of the inhabitants of the towns of Brunswick, Durham, Lisbon, Harpswell, Topsham, West Bath and the city of Bath.

The fund especially seeks to support charities for which small grants will make a significant difference. The fund does not normally award grants supporting annual operating budgets or to add to the endowment of other nonprofit organizations. In 2005, grants were made to 21 charitable organizations selected from 53 applications. The total amount of the grants was $139,415.

The Fund Committee is soliciting requests for grants now, with a requirement that applications be submitted by mail with an original and six copies, and that they be received by Oct. 31 for the current calendar year.

Application forms may be obtained by contacting the Senter Place Management Office by telephone at 725-6610, by fax at 725-6612 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Alfred Senter was the owner of the former Senter’s Department Store on Maine Street and of the Greenery Restaurant at that location. The property is now Senter Place, occupied by a variety of businesses offering services to the public. The net income from Senter Place contributes to the funds in the Alfred M. Senter Fund from which the annual grants are made.