Pageau Trust awards more than $130K in grants

Jan. 25—WILLIMANTIC — The Leo J and Rose Pageau Trust recently awarded more than $ 130,000 in grants to 23 organizations in the area.

The trust was established and funded by Leo and Rose Pageau, who were long-time residents of Windham.

The trust is designed to benefit charitable, religious, science, literary and educational groups or projects in the Windham area.

Grants have been awarded through the trust for the past nine years.

" During these past years, the trust has, in one form or another, helped more than 110 local groups who provide a service or benefit to the local community and has issued grants that exceed $ 700,000," a press release released by the trust stated.

The following groups received grants during this round: Guilford Smith Memorial Library, C. A. T. S. Northeast, Inc., Windham Regional Arts Council, Windham Invitational Special Olympics Swim Meet, Eastern Connecticut State University Rugby, Special Olympics Willimantic, Horizons, Inc., Windham Early Childhood Center autism class, Knights of Columbus, Willimantic Public Library, Windham Historical Society — Jillson House Museum, Windham High School Booster Club, Scotland Public Library, Windham Arts, Access Community Action Agency, Willimantic Renaissance, Willimantic Fire Department, Catholic Charities, America Museum, Windham Textile & History Museum, Covenant Soup Kitchen, Windham Senior Center and the Windham Area Interfaith Ministry.

The grant recipients represent a wide variety of interests, including a senior center, soup kitchen, multiple museums, two libraries and others.

According to the release, the Pageaus directed the trustees to use the trust to benefit community groups in the Windham area over an extended period of time.

Follow Michelle Warren on Twitter — @mwarrentc.