New Haven — The nonprofit group Discovering Amistad has announced that it has been awarded a $225,000 sustainability grant from Newman’s Own Foundation.

The late actor Paul Newman launched the Newman's Own brand of foods and beverages, such as its popular salad dressings, salsa, coffee and popcorn, in 1982 and started donating the proceeds to charity. In 2005, he created the Newman's Own Foundation to continue the charitable initiatives. Since 1982, the endeavors have donated more than $560 million to charities around the world.

In announcing the grant, the foundation said it’s committed to funding "innovative programs focused on equity, civic engagement and social justice.”

“We are pleased to support Discovering Amistad’s initiatives,” said Kelly Giordano, managing director at Newman’s Own Foundation. “The organization’s programs dovetail with our mission to advance conversation and action around equity and to empower students in the communities we serve.”

Len Miller, the chairman of Discovering Amistad’s board of directors, said Wednesday that the grant, which will be payable over three years, will allow the organization to add full-time staff, educators and hire a full- or part-time executive director in addition to supporting its programs.

“This makes a big difference for our organization,” he said.

Discovering Amistad took ownership of the schooner, which was built at Mystic Seaport Museum, in 2014 after Amistad America, the ship’s original owner, shut down with more than $2 million in debt.

Since acquiring the schooner, Discovering Amistad has revamped its educational curriculum for students across the state and New York, telling the Amistad story and its importance. It also has developed a new social justice curriculum. The organization is based in New Haven but the schooner winters at Mystic Seaport.

Discovering Amistad also has worked toward obtaining private funding for its operations and to fund school districts' ability to access its educational programs. The organization's ultimate goal is to wean itself off state funding.

“What we’ve found is a lot of school districts, particularly the ones we want to be involved with, are really hurting for money,” Miller said.

The organization’s original plan was to help fund itself with revenue from school districts who bring the ship and its programs to their community. Now, Miller said Discovering Amistad is seeking private funding to help schools afford the programs.

Discovering Amistad currently receives $265,000 in funding in both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 state budgets.

The remainder of its $600,000 annual budget comes from private sources. Miller said the organization continues to seek private funding and grants from organizations with a goal of building an annual budget of $1 million. That amount, he said, is needed for a properly staffed organization.

Miller said Discovering Amistad will continue to seek state bonding money to help fund repairs and maintenance of the ship.

j.wojtas@theday.com