The West Springfield-based United Bank Foundation is donating $38,500 to support community initiatives in the bank’s Springfield and Worcester regions.

Springfield region awards include:

• The Community Foundation of Western Mass. ($5,000) to support its Reading Success by Fourth Grade funding collaborative
• HAP Inc. ($3,000) to help fund the First Home Program for homebuyer education
• Longmeadow Education Excellence Foundation Inc. ($2,000) to purchase books for the literacy closets in three elementary schools
• Restoration of the Victory Theatre ($5,000)
• Pioneer Valley Regional Ventures Center Inc. ($5,000) for its training and development initiative
• Gray House Inc. ($3,500) to support the Kids’ Club after-school and summer programs for children living in Springfield’s North End neighborhood.
• The Spirit of Springfield ($2,500) to support Santa’s Cottage at Bright Nights
• Westfield’s White Oak School ($500) for its technology upgrade project
• Holyoke Chicopee Head Start ($1,000) for program support
• Homework House in Holyoke ($1,000) to support a summer literacy program for inner-city youth
• American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter ($1,000) to provide emergency funds following a West Springfield fire
• Safe Passage ($1,000) to support its battered women’s shelter

Worcester region awards include:

• Family Health ($2,500) toward the purchase of two interpretive electrocardiogram machines
• Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester ($2,500) to support construction costs of a duplex home currently being built in Boylston
• Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Mass. ($3,000) to support the financial literacy component of the "English for Speakers of Other Languages" (ESOL) program for adult members of the Asian community of Greater Worcester

The United Bank Foundation will also devote up to $75,000 in its August funding cycle to support nonprofit organizations that were impacted by the tornadoes that hit the area on June 1, according to a statement. The designated funds will be awarded to help counter losses suffered by organizations that were affected, either directly or indirectly.

"An August response will give these organizations time to assess actual damages and determine insurance shortfalls," said Dena M. Hall, president, United Bank Foundation. "We realize, too, that there will also be several agencies now involved in relief efforts that will need support to re-build their emergency response reserves."