PORTLAND — The Maine Community Foundation’s Community Building Grant Program recently awarded $25,000 in grants to six Androscoggin County nonprofits, including Let’s Get Ready, for the Maine Let’s Get Ready Project to expand college access for low-income high school students by providing free SAT preparation and counseling.

Other grant awards went to:

Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, to enhance the State Parks Pass program at the Auburn/Lewiston clubhouse for members, particularly teens, during the summer of 2011.

John F. Murphy Homes, for staff training to help build social capital and increase community engagement for people with disabilities.

Lewiston-Auburn Area Housing Development Corporation, to expand the Aspirations Program and collaborate with St. Mary’s Nutrition Center to reach residents of Hillview.

President and trustees of Bates College, for the Bates College Museum of Art to partner with Lewiston-Auburn teachers for the Thousand Words Project to develop students visual literacy skills.

Washburn-Norlands Foundation, to support the Norlands Barn Raisers project to host an old-fashioned barn raising event.

A volunteer committee of Androscoggin County residents and business leaders reviews grants and makes recommendations for funding. The next deadline for applying is Feb. 15. Application and guidelines will be available this fall at www.mainecf.org.

The Androscoggin County Committee funds projects that seek to build community connections; broaden and diversify leadership and community involvement; help communities to encourage civic involvement; increase trust across lines of difference; and encourage people to do more with others rather than just for others.

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