The Greater Norwich Foundation provided scholarships to 15 students this year. Abigail Hansen, Tyler Jones, Trustee Frederic Miers, Sophia Root, Angela Carlson, Kaitlyn Blaisure, Trustee Timothy Handy, Sydney Coggins, Nicholas Deady, Madison Stafford, Trustee Patrick Flanagan, Natalie Benenati, Chairman and Trustee James Dunne, Trustee Linda Palmatier, and Margie Winter. Scholarship recipients not pictured: Andrew Meccariello, Alyssa Misilewich, Jonathan Ryan, Griffin Mills and Andrew Mullin. (Photo by Sarah Giglio)

NORWICH — Greater Norwich Foundation trustees gathered with scholarship recipients Monday to award the 2021 scholarship funds.

In the 2021 fiscal year, the foundation awarded scholarships to 15 students, totaling over $100,000. The Greater Norwich Foundation also provided $383,000 to various non-profit organizations within the community.

The Greater Norwich Foundation was founded in 1965, with the intention of giving back to the community, according to Greater Norwich Foundation Chairman James Dunne.

"The idea was that there were probably people in Norwich who would like to leave money to the community, but they felt like they didn't have enough. So it was set up so people could leave money to it, and it didn't have to be a whole lot, but it built up from there," he said.

Dunne said anyone can donate to the foundation, and it will be re-dispersed as scholarships. He added that some of the donations are in memory of students who have passed.

"There are a couple who are in memory of former students who were killed, and so we try to actually provide more money for scholarships than people left with that intention," said Dunne. "The foundation is now at a level of maybe 9 million dollars."

Officials said the foundation currently offers seven different scholarships as well as unspecified grant money.