New London — The Day Publishing Co.’s philanthropic arm will distribute $100,000 to 59 nonprofits this year.

Established under the will of Theodore Bodenwein, publisher of The Day from 1891 to 1939, the Bodenwein Public Benevolent Foundation benefits organizations that help needy children, families and individuals and that support the arts.

“It is a source of pride for the people who work at The Day to continue this fine tradition,” Gary Farrugia, The Day’s publisher, said Monday in releasing the list of this year’s recipients. “Sustaining our annual contribution to these worthy nonprofit organizations makes our work at The Day all that much more rewarding.”

Three groups will receive grants of $5,000 each: the New London Homeless Hospitality Center, which operates a homeless shelter; the New London Rotary Foundation, which raised funds for a new pavilion at New London’s Ocean Beach Park; and the New London Community Meal Center.

Other recipients of large grants include the Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut, awarded $3,500 for nursery and Early Childhood Development Center programs; and Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, which will receive $3,000 for the New London Fund for Access.

The average grant is $1,695.

In the last six years, the Bodenwein foundation has awarded more than $621,000 in grants. Since its inception, the foundation has distributed more than $12 million.