United Bank donates $43,000 to local charitable groups

Date: 4/17/2013

WEST SPRINGFIELD – Dena M. Hall, president of the United Bank Foundation, announced on April 8 that the sum of $43,000 was awarded to 11 nonprofit organizations in the Springfield region in the Foundation's most recent round of funding.

The grants covered a variety of programs and initiatives throughout the Springfield area.

The Foundation awarded $10,000, to be paid over two years, to Elms College in Chicopee toward the construction of a Center for Natural and Health Sciences.

The Gateway Education Foundation Inc., based in Huntington, received a grant of $5,000 for its "Funds for Learning Program." The program supports school projects that fall outside of the budgets of the seven schools in the Gateway school district.

Human Resources Unlimited Inc. in Springfield received $5,000 for its Changing Habits Transforming Lives job readiness and placement program. WestMass Eldercare was awarded $5,000 to fund services for low income elders in Holyoke, South Hadley, Chicopee, and surrounding areas.

Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts was awarded $4,000 to expand programs in Holyoke, Northampton, and East Longmeadow, and the Western Massachusetts Council, Boy Scouts of America received $3,500 for the continuation, enhancement, and expansion of the "Scoutreach" programs in Springfield.

In Holyoke, the Public Library received $2,500 from the Foundation to support the month-long series "Holyoke Points of View" in April. Springfield Partners for Community Action was awarded $2,000 for its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Earned Income Tax Credit Program for low income individuals.

The Westfield Public Schools received $1,000 to fund the purchase of materials needed for the high school science fair and advancement to the regional and state finals. The Foundation also awarded $2,500 to World Is Our Classroom to fund the Westfield Manufacturing Education initiative at Mestek Inc., a collaboration with the Westfield Public Schools to offer fifth grade students a hands-on application of science and technology in a real life manufacturing plant setting.

In West Springfield, the Foundation awarded $2,500 to the High School to find the purchase of the National Archery in Schools curriculum.