The Bank of the Sierra has awarded a total of $44,500 to 21 different non-profit organizations through its Sierra Grant program for its second quarter.

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Grants between $1,000 and $5,000 were given to each organization and are intended for various community projects. The grants are awarded to 10 to 20 organizations each quarter and amounts are based on a nonprofit’s specific needs.

Nonprofits awarded this quarter include Ventura-based program One Step A La Vez, which works to provide a safe environment for teens through multifaceted afterschool mentorship and education efforts; the Kings Art Center Foundation, which bolsters art education program in Kings County K-12 schools; and the Fresno-based Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Center’s Reaching Out and Communicating with Kids program, which aims to help families throughout the Central Valley build communication skills through sign language.

“Bank of the Sierra values the opportunity to partner with groups that support local people,” Bank President and CEO Kevin McPhaill said in the statement. “The organizations chosen here showcase the great community building efforts in our area and we want to encourage them to keep making a difference.”

Since 2004, the Sierra Grant program has donated more than $1 million to organizations that improve local communities.