LEWISTON — Androscoggin Bank recently announced the recipients of its bi-annual grant awards by Greater Giving, a community impact program launched last year. The bank created Greater Giving to provide support to nonprofits and organizations that benefit the community in three specific areas: economic development, education and the arts.

The awards committee approved grants to the following organizations:

• Androscoggin River Watershed Council — $1,000 was awarded to this Bethel-based nonprofit to support a project involving the Androscoggin Valley Education Collaborative, which will allow students from five high schools to study stormwater runoff and prepare interpretive panels for use on the Androscoggin River Trail kiosks. The project will culminate in the students paddling during the Source to Sea event on Cherry Pond in Greene.

• EqualityMaine Foundation — $2,500 was awarded to this statewide organization that secures full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Maine. The grant funds will support a youth initiative, the New Leaders Project, in Brunswick this summer. It will include 12-20 LGBT and allied young people with a focus on self empowerment, communications, community organizing and leadership.

• Midcoast Symphony Orchestra — $1,500 was awarded to this Brunswick-based organization that provides an opportunity for talented volunteer musicians to perform classical music within the community. The funds will support the production of the Verdi Requiem, to be performed in May 2016 at the Franco Center in Lewiston and the Orion Performing Arts Center in Topsham.

• YMCA of Auburn/Lewiston — $2,500 was awarded to this organization to fund a Power Scholars Academy summer camp, a six-week academic enrichment program aimed at reducing summer learning loss in children grades K-8 from low-income households. The program will be available to 24 elementary students in Lewiston during the summer of 2016.

The Greater Giving program’s philosophy is that “community impact through partnership” is not only an exercise in volunteer hours and money donated, but is an emphasis on community partnerships and choosing to focus giving efforts in strategic areas where the bank can make the biggest difference. In addition to the bank’s continual commitment to expanding its relationships in ways that benefit the community, it accepts grant applications twice each year as part of the program, due June 30 and Dec. 31 each year.