Massachusetts Bankers Association

Cooley Dickinson Hospital announced today that it has received a $100,000 gift from Greenfield Cooperative Bank. The funding will support the expansion and renovation of Cooley Dickinson’s Emergency Department and is the kickoff gift for a $1,000,000 challenge opportunity.

“This incredibly generous gift in support of the Emergency Department is an investment in our shared commitment to a healthy Pioneer Valley,“ Lynnette Watkins, MD, MBA, President and COO of Cooley Dickinson, said. “We are honored and grateful to Greenfield Cooperative Bank for this gift of support, which will benefit their customers, our patients, and our collective communities by providing access to the region’s top providers and leading health care services in a newly renovated and expanded Emergency Department.”

The gift from Greenfield Cooperative Bank will support the $26 million expansion, reconfiguration, and renovation effort to allow Cooley Dickinson to meet the ever-evolving emergency medicine needs of the community it serves. To accomplish this goal, the hospital has embarked on an ambitious and comprehensive fundraising campaign; nearly $7.2 million has been raised to date. The project is expected to break ground in the spring of 2023.

“Cooley Dickinson Hospital is a vital part of the health of our neighbors in The Valley,” stated Tony Worden, President and CEO, Greenfield Cooperative Bank. “This donation is a way for us to show our support for the hospital and the people it serves. Many of our staff, family, and friends, have needed to receive care at the Emergency Department. We are grateful for the work that the hospital does, and we are thrilled to help them continue their mission.”

Continued Worden, “Greenfield Cooperative Bank is committed to giving back to the community, and we believe that supporting our local hospital is one of the best ways to do that. We are proud to be a part of this community, and we want to do our part to make it a healthier place.”

Cooley Dickinson’s Chief Development Officer, Diane Dukette, noted that the generosity of Greenfield Cooperative Bank has an equally transformational impact as it is the kickoff gift for the $1M Harold Grinspoon Foundation Challenge.

“Beginning September 1st, 2023 until August 31st, 2024, every new cash donation to Transforming Emergency Care: The Campaign for the Cooley Dickinson Emergency Department is matched 50%, up to $1M through the generous commitment of the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation. When successful, that means that we will raise up to an additional $2M for this campaign.”

Added Dukette, “this campaign is critical to the health of our community. In the newly renovated Emergency Department, patients will see a nurse when they arrive; they will be treated in single patient rooms that allow for privacy; and a central nurses’ station means our clinicians can respond better to patient needs. Overall, this is about making the Emergency Department as efficient and up-to-date as possible to enable our talented providers to take the best possible care of their patients. We are so truly grateful for Greenfield Cooperative Bank for stepping forward and supporting Cooley Dickinson Hospital so generously.”

Why a New Emergency Department is Needed

Cooley Dickinson is expected to serve 40,000 emergency department patients this year. That care will be provided in a 1970s-era building that was designed for 17,000 patients annually and is currently 40% undersized. A shortage of space means that some patients are treated in hallways. The Emergency Department also needs to expand its services to care for an aging population (triple what it was just 10 years ago). In addition, the expansion will provide additional beds for people experiencing mental health emergencies.

The two-year project calls for adding 6,600 square feet of space, including nine new patient rooms; eight behavioral health beds, which can ‘flex’ as patient needs arise; and a family waiting area. In addition, a computerized tomography or CT scanning machine, which provides timely access to diagnostic imaging, will be added to the Emergency Department.

Pictured, left to right: Lisa Kmetz, Executive VP of Retail & Security, Greenfield Cooperative Bank, Tony Worden, President and CEO, Greenfield Cooperative Bank, Lynnette Watkins, MD, President and COO, Cooley Dickinson Hospital

As a part of its mission to support the local communities, Monson Savings Bank recently made a $10,000 donation to Revitalize Community Development Corporation (CDC) in support of their 2023 Capital Campaign.

Revitalize CDC is a Springfield based organization that was founded in 1992. The Springfield organization works to improve the wellbeing of our community members by addressing poor housing conditions. For more than 30 years, Revitalize CDC has been committed to performing critical home repairs for local low-income families with children, the elderly, military veterans, and people with special needs, at no cost.

In addition to improving the living conditions of our neighbors, Revitalize CDC also strives to help improve their physical health. The organization performs free assessments and interventions for adults and children with asthma. They also offer a Nutrition Rx program in conjunction with local health care partners to address food insecurity and chronic health conditions.

Revitalize CDC has grown and expanded over the years to better serve the community’s needs. They outgrew their current workspace and launched a capital campaign to help raise funds to move into a larger facility to help more people in need.

“The new office space is perfect; the size of the building is exactly what we needed to house our growing administrative and program staff,” said Revitalize CDC President and CEO Colleen Loveless. “We will work with Eversource to add solar and other equipment to maximize energy efficiency. We will also construct a 2-bay distribution center to house critical healthy home and nutrition supplies, volunteer equipment, and a fleet of vehicles. None of this would be possible without the generous support of our Capital Campaign donors, like Monson Savings Bank.”

Monson Savings Bank President and CEO Dan Moriarty praised the local organization for the work that they do.

“Monson Savings Bank is honored to support Revitalize CDC and the important work that they are doing for our communities,” said Moriarty. “It is organizations like this that help make the world a better place. We applaud them for all their efforts and look forward to seeing them blossom in their new space.”

To learn more about Revitalize CDC, please visit https://www.revitalizecdc.com/

To learn more about how Monson Savings Bank supports our communities, please visit https://www.monsonsavings.bank/connect/our-community/our-community-commitment.html

Monson Savings Bank President and CEO Dan Moriarty, recently met with Hope Bodwell, Monson Free Library Director, to present her with a $2,000 donation of behalf of the Bank. The donation was a part of the 2023 Monson Savings Bank Community Giving Initiative, where the public was given the opportunity to vote on which non-profits would receive a donation from the community bank.

“I am very pleased to present this donation on behalf of the Bank. The library makes a positive impact on the Monson community by providing our residents with free access to reading materials, programs, and other important resources.” said Dan Moriarty, President and CEO of Monson Savings Bank. “As a lifelong resident of Monson, several generations of my family, including myself and my own children, have benefitted from the library’s offerings.”

The Monson Free Library is passionate about working with the Monson community. It is a valuable resource center for people of all ages. The library is concentrated on community priorities, culture, and education. It offers educational tools through diverse collections, services, technology, and programming.

“This gift from Monson Savings is special to us because the community voted for the Monson Free Library to receive it, which shows us how important the library is to the members of our community,” said Hope Bodwell, Library Director of the Monson Free Library. “We appreciate Monson Savings’ continued partnership and the votes submitted through the Bank’s annual Community Giving Initiative.”

The donation will be of benefit to the Monson Free Library, a place where the public has access to valuable library programs.

Bodwell continued, “The community voted for us, and the donation will directly benefit them. When we receive donations, the money is used to cultivate programs for all ages. Programming is not in our budget, it’s funded through the generosity of our Friends of the Library, partner organizations, and grants. Monson Savings Bank’s Community Giving Initiative donation will help fund these programs. For example, Monson Savings’ generous donation will be funding our Music Tuesdays on the Patio this year.”

To learn more about Monson Free Library’s Music Tuesdays on the Patio, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/monsonfreelibrary

North Brookfield Savings Bank is proud to be a strong supporter of local school systems and the talented and ambitious students who attend them. They believe that every child, regardless of their financial circumstances, should have the opportunity to start the school year feeling confident, excited and ready to learn. That is why North Brookfield Savings Bank is kicking off the sixth year of their overwhelmingly popular Back-to-School Supply Drive.

Throughout the entire month of August, North Brookfield Savings Bank will be collecting school supplies and monetary donations at all branch locations in North Brookfield, East Brookfield, West Brookfield, Ware, Belchertown and Three Rivers. All donations collected will be delivered to local public schools to be distributed to school children who may not have the needed supplies to start their year. To get things underway, the Bank kicked off the fundraiser by purchasing over $500 in supplies. The branch employees, equipped with brightly patterned backpacks, lunchboxes, pencil cases, notebooks and various other fun supplies, are getting creative with their “Back-to-School” themed tables, in hopes it will encourage those visiting the branch to donate as well.

Some suggested school supply donation items that can be dropped at any North Brookfield Savings Bank branch location are:


• New Backpacks (unisex)
• Lunchboxes
• Spiral Notebooks
• Pocket Folders
• 12” Standard Rulers
• #2 Pencils
• Pencil Sharpeners
• Pencil Case
• Colored Pencils
• Washable Markers
• Erasers
• Glue Sticks
• Scissors
• Tissues


“North Brookfield Savings Bank is incredibly proud to once again host the Back-to-School Supply Drive. We want all children to begin the school year with the essential supplies they need, in turn giving them the confidence and enthusiasm that allows them to continue to learn successfully,” said Nicole Syriac, Digital Marketing Strategist. “It was so amazing to witness the generosity displayed during our annual Back to School Supply Drive. Customers, community members and our employees were so giving and really showed how much they care for the children of our schools. We look forward to seeing that same generosity this year!”

To learn more about North Brookfield Savings Bank’s community giving efforts and all the convenient banking products and services offered, visit www.NorthBrookfieldSavingsBank.com.

Monson Savings Bank is continually seeking out ways to support the local communities that they serve. Back in April at the Classic Hits 97.7 Food Drive, Monson Savings Bank presented a $1,000 donation to the Palmer Food Share.

“Monson Savings Bank is excited to present this donation to the Palmer Food Share,” said Dan Moriarty, Monson Savings Bank President and CEO. “We are so thankful to have them as a resource in our community for our neighbors in need. Likewise, we are thankful to Classic Hits 97.7 for organizing this food drive to help support our local food pantry.”

The Palmer Food Share works to address food insecurity in the Palmer community through their food pantry. The non-profit’s mission is to provide food to any individual or family that is in need. The Palmer Food Share is located at 39 Walnut Street in Palmer. They are open every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM.

Continuing a tradition of supporting small local businesses and job creation, Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GCB) announced a $25,000 donation to the Franklin County Community Development Corporation (FCCDC).

"We are proud to support the Franklin County CDC and their mission to foster economic and community development in our region,” said Tony Worden, Greenfield Cooperative Bank President & CEO. “They have been instrumental in providing assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Our donation is a way of expressing our gratitude and appreciation for their work, and our commitment to the local economy and community."

FCCDC Executive Director John Waite thanked GCB for their sustained support, which will be directed to giving businesses of all types, and at all stages assistance and resources to start or grow their ventures.

“We appreciate Greenfield Cooperative Bank’s investment in our local economy,” Waite said. “When small businesses have the resources they need to thrive, the whole community benefits.”
In the past year, the FCCDC has worked with more than 400 businesses, helping them navigate challenging economic times. As an incentive for others to give, donors who give more than $1,000 to the FCCDC will receive a Massachusetts state income tax credit in the amount of 50% of the donation. For example, a donation of $1,000 will end up costing the donor just $500 after the tax credit. Donate at fccdc.org/support. The FCCDC offers free weekly information sessions for businesses and those wishing to start a business on Zoom; go to fccdc.org/get-started to register.

Lee Bank Foundation has awarded $50,000 to twelve Berkshire area organizations for their second-round of 2023 community funding. Recipients were awarded grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to support their local programming.

The following organizations received funding from Lee Bank Foundation:

• Becket Athenaeum
• Berkshire Bounty
• Berkshire Center for Justice
• Berkshire Children’s Chorus
• Berkshire Community Diaper Project
• Berkshire County Arc
• Berkshire South Regional Community Center
• Community Access to the Arts
• Elizabeth Freeman Center
• Greenagers
• Mass Audubon- Pleasant Valley
• Roots Rising

The deadline to apply for the next round of 2023 Foundation funding is September 1st. The application and more information can be found on the Community Impact section of Lee Bank's website (https://www.leebank.com/community-impact/donations-sponsorships.html)

To be considered for grant awards, applicants must be a (501)(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Foundation is focused on funding programs that work to bridge income and opportunity gaps in our region. Funding requests should reflect one or more of Lee Bank Foundation’s primary focus areas:

• Education and literacy
• Food security and nutrition
• Economic growth and development
• Health and human services
• Mentorship, internship and “school to work” initiatives

Applicants are only eligible to receive funding once in a 12-month period.

Monson Savings Bank regularly displays their dedication to supporting local community members. This includes supporting the up-and-coming generations of local high school students who will make a difference in surrounding communities for years to come. Monson Savings recently announced they have awarded $28,000 in scholarships to 14 graduating seniors of local high schools.

On June 14th, the Bank held their annual Monson Savings Bank Scholarship Ceremony at their Corporate Office located in Monson. At the ceremony students and their loved ones enjoyed refreshments while mingling with Monson Saving Bank’s team members before receiving their scholarship checks and a gift to take with them on their journey into higher education.

Monson Savings Bank awarded $2,000 scholarships to the following local high school recipients:

Rachel Desjardins, Ware Junior/Senior High School
Tony He, Ware Junior/Senior High School
Ailis Kealy, Monson High School
Anya Khan, Minnechaug Regional High School
Mia Meccia, East Longmeadow High School
Callie Orszulak, Ware Junior/Senior High School
Molly Reilly, East Longmeadow High School
Domenick Romeo, Monson High School
Ava Ronaldson, Monson High School
Maggie Ronaldson, Monson High School
Juliana Swain, East Longmeadow High School
Lauren Tomala, Minnechaug Regional High School
Kaitlyn Vedovelli, Monson High School
Matthew Wurszt, Minnechaug Regional High School

Michael Rouette, EVP and COO of Monson Savings Bank gave a brief speech to the recipients at the ceremony. He expressed how proud he and the whole Bank were of the graduates for their resilience and commitment. He encouraged them to listen to their parents’ guidance and enjoy every single moment of life. He also shared that as their local community bank, Monson Savings will always be there to offer support and financial guidance.

“I speak for everyone at Monson Savings when I say that we are tremendously proud of these students for the perseverance they have displayed over these challenging past few years,” said Rouette. “We are excited to extend financial support to these students to help offset the costs of pursuing further education. This is just the beginning of a journey for these young people, and we certainly encourage them to stay in touch and share updates on their journey with us.”

North Brookfield Savings Bank is thrilled to announce that the Camp Putnam fundraiser will return once again during July 2023. The Bank is encouraging their communities to join forces with them to help support local campers this summer. Nestled in the fields and forests of New Braintree, Camp Putnam provides an authentic, nature-based camping experience for children and is made affordable for all families regardless of income.

“It is amazing to see some campers during their first few meals at camp as they realize that there is 'plenty' of food. Usually around the second or third day, the overall pace slows down and kids begin to realize that they don't need to rush, don't need to save food for later and that there will be plenty of food at this meal and every other.” said Todd Stewart, Executive Camp Director.

Camp Putnam, which spends nearly $40,000 on food per summer, proudly serves campers tasty yet healthy home-cooked and “kid-friendly” meals such as homemade mac and cheese, tacos, Shepherd’s pie, fresh fruits and veggies, pancakes, French toast and more, in a family-style atmosphere.

Stewart continued, “Although it is heartbreaking to realize just how many children come from situations where securing their next meal is a concern, it is a wonderful experience to see over 100 kids, from a wide-range of backgrounds, happily enjoying a delicious meal as one large family before, during, or after a great day experiencing nature in the carefree way all children should be afforded. This is why donations from organizations like North Brookfield Savings Bank and our generous communities are vital and so appreciated.”

Want to know how you can donate?
Anyone can make their donation into the designated collection jars displayed along the teller line at any North Brookfield Savings Bank branch location, with branches located in North Brookfield, East Brookfield, West Brookfield, Ware, Belchertown, and Three Rivers.

“North Brookfield Savings Bank is proud to partner with and support organizations like Camp Putnam, whose efforts help aid in the health and happiness of our young, local community members.” said Nicole Syriac, North Brookfield Savings Bank Marketing Manager. “Camp Putnam provides a safe, nurturing, healthy and fun environment for campers to make friends and experience personal growth. We are hopeful that with our support and the benevolent generosity of our community members we will once again reach and exceed our goal to help feed campers well-rounded, nutritious meals.”

Monson Savings Bank recently provided a $1,000 donation to The Women’s Empowerment Scholarship. Dan Moriarty, President and CEO of Monson Savings Bank met with Cori Medeiros, Vice President of The Women’s Empowerment Scholarship, to present the donation on behalf of Monson Savings Bank.

“Our community members chose The Women’s Empowerment Scholarship as a donation recipient through our Community Giving Initiative voting,” said Dan Moriarty, President and CEO of Monson Savings Bank. “Monson Savings is honored to support this organization. We know that this donation will help support local women reach their education goals.”

As a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, The Women's Empowerment Scholarship works to empower females by encouraging and empowering them to pursue higher education. The foundation provides educational grants to women while paying special attention to women entering one of many male-dominated career paths, including, but not limited to, science, technology, engineering, finance, and law. In aiding women financially, the Women's Empowerment Scholarship team aims to propel their careers and allow them to shatter all glass ceilings and stereotypes. Learn more at womensempowermentscholarship.org.

“The repeated support we have received from my hometown bank is so meaningful to me,” said Bailey Medeiros, President and Founder of The Women’s Empowerment Scholarship. “Our organization awards females educational grants so that they can further their education. This would not be possible without our supporters. I can’t thank Monson Savings Bank enough for once again holding the Community Giving Initiative.”

To learn more about Monson Savings Bank’s commitment to the local communities, please visit: https://www.monsonsavings.bank/connect/our-community/our-community-commitment.html

To learn more about The Women’s Empowerment Scholarship, please visit: https://womensempowermentscholarship.org/

Country Bank, a full-service financial institution serving Central and Western Massachusetts, proudly supports Junior Achievement (JA) of Western Massachusetts. For more than 100 years, Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts has provided economic education and financial literacy programs to the youth of Western Massachusetts and Vermont. JA of Western Massachusetts impacts thousands of young people each year, opening their minds to their potential and preparing them for life after graduation.

“Junior Achievement of Western MA is deeply grateful for Country Bank’s support of the JA Career, Leadership, & Innovation Center (CLIC). As a CLIC founding sponsor, this generosity has propelled JA into the construction phase of this campaign, with renovations now underway in our current office space in Tower Square, Springfield,” stated William Dziura, Development Director of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts

Beginning in fall 2021, JA will offer a 21st century environment for young people to engage with JA programs, including:

• Career Exploration: Helping students identify fulfilling career options and make wise decisions pertaining to post- secondary education.
• Innovation & Leadership: Helping students expand their thinking and skill development, preparing future leaders, entrepreneurial thinkers, and innovators.
• Financial Education: Providing students with the skills and knowledge that will allow them to make informed and effective decisions with all their financial resources.

"It has been my honor to be affiliated with Junior Achievement of Western Mass since the mid 90’s as both a classroom volunteer and former board member. I have seen the positive and lasting impact these programs have on the students. This center is just one more example of Jennifer Connolly’s tireless commitment to the students and her Team’s creative approach, leveraging technology to expand the program’s reach,” stated Tom Wolcott, FSVP, Commercial Loan Officer at Country Bank.

From left to right: William Dziura, Development Director of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts, Tom Wolcott, First Senior Vice President Commercial Banking of Country Bank and Jodie Gerulaitis, Vice President Community Relations of Country Bank and Junior Achievement Board Member.

Bristol County Savings Bank (BCSB), through its Foundation, recently awarded a grant totaling $2,500 to the Hockomock Area YMCA in North Attleboro, Massachusetts in the name of North Attleboro resident, Ed Pariseau, for his dedication to the Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation as a recently retired Board Member and to the North Attleboro community as President of Century 21 North East. The funds are going directly to support the YMCA’s Fuel for the Weekend program which helps fill the gap of food insecurity by providing children in low-income households with meal and snack options for the weekends when food assistance isn’t available from the schools. Every week, YMCA volunteers pack and deliver bags, a total of more than 8,000 annually, to ensure the food reaches the hands of approximately 160 North Attleboro children in the program.

Since the Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation was formed in 1996, more than $28 million has been committed to hundreds of different non-profits. In 2022, the Foundation awarded $2.3 million to various 501(c)(3) organizations. Pariseau is a former Corporator of the Bank and a founding member of the Foundation, serving on its Board of Directors since its inception in 1996.

“We are so proud to award the grant in honor of our good friend Ed Pariseau who has done so much for the Bank and his local community over the years,” said Patrick Murray, President & CEO of Bristol County Savings Bank and President of the Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation. “One of our Foundation’s areas of focus is education so we were immediately drawn to the YMCA’s ‘Fuel for the Weekend’ initiative because, in order to maximize learning, our kids need to have the energy that a consistent food source provides.”

Bristol County Savings Bank is an active supporter in the communities in which it serves. The Foundation was established in 1996 as part of the Bank’s 150th Anniversary celebration. Its purpose is to fund needs that contribute to the economic and the social well-being of the people and institutions located in the greater Taunton/Attleboro region, the greater New Bedford/Dartmouth region, the greater Fall River region and the northern Rhode Island region, with particular emphasis in the areas of education and literacy, economic development and housing for the low- to moderate-income population. In 2020, the Foundation added an additional area of focus supporting organizations that are on the frontlines of the pandemic or experiencing hardship as a result.

MountainOne Bank and the South Shore Young Professionals (SSYP), are excited to announce a new 2023 ‘Power Partnership.’

MountainOne Bank is proud to support the South Shore Young Professionals (SSYP)—a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide information, resources and opportunities to young professionals and businesses on the South Shore.

MountainOne’s sponsorship will help enable the SSYP’s professional development and networking event programming, keep membership costs low, and invest in the next generation of leaders within the South Shore business network community.

We are both excited for the partnership and look forward to connecting with others at the events!

Country Bank, a full-service financial institution serving Central and Western Massachusetts, proudly supports Main South CDC in Worcester. The Mission of the Main South CDC is to improve the quality of life for the community by working together on projects and issues that will maintain and create safe, affordable housing for low-to-moderate income individuals, support economic opportunities for businesses and residents of Main South, enhance the physical image of the area, and instill a sense of neighborhood pride and commitment.

“The Main South CDC is extremely grateful to Country Bank for its ongoing financial support of our neighborhood revitalization efforts. Such funding allows us to continue to address the equity and social justice needs within our community that were all too painfully demonstrated during the pandemic. Specifically, Country Bank’s funding is supporting affordable housing and commercial development projects that address those needs and is making a real difference in the Main South community,” stated Stephen Teasdale, Executive Director of Main South Community Development Corporation.

From left to right: Angela Barahona, VP Cash Management and Business Development Officer from Country Bank, Main South Community Development Corporation Director of Property Management Yary Jaen and Executive Director J. Stephen Teasdale, Jodie Gerulaitis, VP Community Relations and Patrick O’Hara, VP Commercial Lender from Country Bank.

Recently, the East Cambridge Savings Bank Charitable Foundation, the charitable arm of East Cambridge Savings Bank, presented grants to several local nonprofit organizations that focus their work on serving children and families, affordable housing, senior citizens, and education. The Bank’s Charitable Foundation was founded in 1997 and typically awards grants twice per year. In 2022, the Bank was awarded with the Boston Business Journal Corporate Citizenship Award, a recognition of the region's top corporate charitable contributors based on charitable giving and volunteering. It was the seventh year in a row that the Bank received this recognition. The Bank’s Foundation also awards college scholarships to graduating public high school seniors who live in the Bank’s branch communities as part of its educational focus.

Organizations that received a grant in the second half of 2022 include:

• Bridges Homeward (The Art Spears Permanency Fund), Cambridge
• The Cambridge Community Center
• Cambridge YMCA
• Cambridge Public Library Foundation
• Chelsea Restoration Corporation
• GreenRoots, Chelsea
• Jordan Boys and Girls Club, Chelsea
• Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, Lynn
• Mystic Valley YMCA
• Somerville YMCA
Each organization that received a grant is based in the Bank’s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) assessment area and aim to improve the quality of life in their communities by meeting basic human needs such as housing, access to healthy food, education and literacy, and programs for the elderly.
“As a mutual bank with deep ties to the communities we serve, it is part of our mission to support those organizations that work tirelessly each day to serve those in our community who are most in need,” said Gilda M. Nogueira, the Bank’s president and chief executive officer and president of the Bank’s Charitable Foundation. “These grants support organizations that are providing childcare, increasing access to nutritious food, improving environmental and open space conditions, and in one case, even providing beds for children moving from homelessness to stable housing. These are all worthy and admirable projects, and it is an honor for the East Cambridge Savings Charitable Foundation to support these causes. Additionally, we are fortunate to support many of these organizations beyond a monetary donation. We do this by serving on Boards, organization collection drives, or working with them to meet their banking needs.”
One of the grants awarded by the Bank’s Charitable Foundation was to GreenRoots, a Chelsea-based environmental justice organization that works to improve public health through access to better and cleaner open space, improved public transportation, and youth leadership programs – among many other initiatives. “The ongoing and longstanding support of East Cambridge Savings Bank directly supports our extensive programing with the goal of improving quality of life in the Chelsea community,” said Roseann Bongiovanni, GreenRoots executive director. “As Chelsea grows and evolves, it is important to make sure that long time and
working-class residents have a safe and livable place to call home. East Cambridge Savings Bank has stood by GreenRoots as we work towards that goal.”
Serving the communities of Malden, Medford, and Everett, the Mystic Valley YMCA also received a grant from the Bank’s Charitable Foundation. Founded in 1881, the organization facilitates many programs “to enrich the lives of all people in spirit, mind, and body”. The Bank’s 2022 grant specifically supported the Y’s Community Food Programs, which supports 28,000 individuals in need of fresh, nutritious food. “Our Community Food Programs still remain at three times their service levels when compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic,” noted Mystic Valley YMCA’s President and Chief Executive Officer Debbie Amaral. “The grant from East Cambridge Savings Bank will be used to support operating costs of our Medford, Malden, and Everett markets including food distribution supplies, supplemental food items, and transportation costs. Our Community Food Markets are a crucial way to provide high-quality, nutritious foods to those most in need, and the Bank’s grant helps us to continue to operate this important community service.”