The Green Bay Packers Foundation announced this week it has awarded a total of $1.75 million in impact grants to ten nonprofit organizations serving Brown, Dane and Milwaukee counties.

A record total amount awarded at one time for the Impact Grant Program, which first began in 2013, the grants are aimed at directing significant funds toward organizations that serve their communities each day. The grants were celebrated at a luncheon Wednesday with representatives from each organization.

The grants of varying amounts were awarded to five organizations in Brown County, two in Dane County, two in Milwaukee County and one serving both Brown and Milwaukee counties. Some grants are matching grants, which require each recipient organization to raise the same amount to secure the donation.

"The Packers Foundation is pleased to award a record amount in impact grants to 10 organizations doing critically important work in their communities," said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. "From education, mentoring and community building programs to providing care and support for our most vulnerable neighbors, the grant recipients will create direct and lasting impacts throughout the state of Wisconsin."

In Brown County:

• Brown County United Way received a $125,000 matching grant to support the development, implementation and evaluation of programing offered to community members at the City East Center in Green Bay.

• Cornerstone Community Center Inc. received a $200,000 matching grant for updating and expanding their facility to enhance ice availability and youth development, increase seating to attract more events, and provide a state-of-the-art facility for St. Norbert College Men's Hockey.

• Encompass Early Education and Care, Inc., received a $250,000 matching grant to expand childcare opportunities in Northeastern Wisconsin.

• Friends of Pals Youth & Families Inc. received a $250,000 matching grant to help expand and enhance their Family Center facility to provide a safe, home-like environment for court ordered supervised visits.

• The National Railroad Museum received a $200,000 matching grant for their Fox River Expansion Project, which is working to nearly double the size of the Museum's Lenfestey Center.

In Dane County:

• Agrace Hospice Care Foundation received a $125,000 grant to expand Dementia and Alzheimer's services throughout Wisconsin through Agrace's Institute of Dementia Excellence.

• The Nature Conservancy's Wisconsin Chapter, headquartered in Madison, received a $150,000 matching grant to devote toward the East River Collaborative, which is building flood resilience within the East River Watershed in Brown County.

In Milwaukee County:

• College Possible received a $125,000 matching grant to grow their college-readiness strategy program to be more accessible statewide by helping implement new staffing strategies, providing career exploration and expanding support to students transitioning from a two-year to four-year degree-granting institution.

• MENTOR Greater Milwaukee received a $75,000 matching grant to enhance mentorship through community building and increased awareness to the surrounding areas.

In Brown and Milwaukee counties:

• Marian University, Inc., received a $250,000 matching grant to contribute to their Dr. George E. Koonce Scholars Program to provide support to first-generation, low-income students in Green Bay, Milwaukee, Kenosha and Racine.

Since the Impact Grant Program began in 2013, the Packers Foundation has disbursed $11.15 million through impact grants, awarding grants to organizations that focus on a wide variety of need areas, including education, homelessness, and the health and wellbeing of children, families and the elderly. The Foundation now has distributed more than $24 million for charitable purposes since it was established in 1986. The Green Bay Packers Foundation is part of Green Bay Packers Give Back, the Packers' all-encompassing community outreach initiative. Packers Give Back includes appearances by players, alumni, coaches and staff, monetary and in-kind donations, community events, Make-A-Wish visits, football outreach and much more. These efforts contribute to a comprehensive Packers charity impact that was in excess of $11 million last year.