PeoplesBank second in state for hours donated

Date: 11/16/2009

PeoplesBank has moved up the list as a top corporate contributor and is second in Massachusetts for the number of volunteer hours donated to the community, according to the Boston Business Journal.

"When the economy plummets into recession, one learns the true meaning of corporate civic engagement," Michael G. Olivieri, publisher of the Boston Business Journal, said. "Many companies have stayed the course despite economic pressures. This is largely for one reason: their giving has become ingrained in their company's operations. The giving is part of who they are. We want to recognize leaders in corporate giving, not just in pure dollars, but also in terms of vision, effectiveness and passion."

At the 2009 Corporate Citizenship Summit, PeoplesBank was named number 38 in the state and number two in Western Massachusetts for contributions of approximately $700,000. The other Western Massachusetts companies recognized were MassMutual Financial Group (11) and Friendly Ice Cream Corporation (52). The bank was also named number two in the category of "Companies with the Highest Volunteer Hours" and number eight in the category of "Most Generous Employees."

"These accomplishments demonstrate, on a profound level, our shared values and the impact we have within our communities," Douglas A. Bowen, President and CEO of PeoplesBank, said. "Being recognized for our community involvement feels good. Giving back to our communities feels even better."