AUGUSTA – In honor of the Maine Community Foundation’s 25th anniversary, the Androscoggin County Committee is making a special $2,500 grant to St. Mary’s Health System in recognition of its work to strengthen community.

Members of the Androscoggin County Committee recommended the grant based on the organization’s exemplary work across the county.

“St. Mary’s has played a major role in developing community-based programming,” said William Hiss, Androscoggin County Committee chairman. “We have been particularly impressed with its Lots to Gardens Program,” Hiss said.

The Androscoggin County Committee also recognized five other nonprofits in the county: Franco-American Heritage Center; Greater Androscoggin Humane Society; Center for Prevention of Hate Violence; Washburn-Norlands Living History Center; and Pottle Hill Inc. A nonprofit in each of Maine’s 16 counties has received a 25th Anniversary Community Building Award, due to a grant from the Sandy River Charitable Foundation, which has supported MaineCF’s County and Regional Program for the past 10 years.

All 16 nonprofits will be considered for this year’s Noyce Award for Nonprofit Excellence, which will be presented at MaineCF’s “Inspiring Philanthropy” evening in Portland on Monday, Nov. 10.

A statewide organization with offices in Augusta, Ellsworth and Portland, the Maine Community Foundation has been partnering with donors and nonprofits to strengthen Maine communities for 25 years. For more information, visit www.mainecf.org or call 1-877-700-6800.