United Bank Foundation awards $62K in grants throughout Western Mass.
Date: 1/11/2012
Janauary 11, 2012WEST SPRINGFIELD — Dena M. Hall, president of the United Bank Foundation, recently announced grants totaling $62,400 awarded to 10 not-for-profit organizations serving individuals and families in and around Springfield and Worcester.
The recent grants included $34,000 to United Way of Pioneer Valley, $2,000 to the Hampshire Community United Way, and $2,500 to United Way of Central Massachusetts. In addition, $6,900 was awarded to the Boys & Girls Club of West Springfield, to replace Games Room equipment destroyed by water damage as a result of the June 1, 2011 tornado.
Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts received $5,000 from the foundation to support financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurial programs for youth in grades kindergarten through 12, while Western New England University was granted $4,000 to purchase equipment for the School of Pharmacy.
A $1,000 grant to ServiceNet in Northampton will provide program support for the Fit Together wellness center meeting the needs of individuals with developmental and emotional challenges.
The Worcester Education Collaborative received a $3,000 grant from the United Bank Foundation to help ensure that all Worcester public school students have equitable access to excellence in education, and the $3,000 award to Worcester Youth Center will support the Leap to College program for urban youth.
Dress for Success Worcester, which provides business attire for disadvantaged women seeking employment, was awarded $1,000 for operating funds.
The United Bank Foundation has awarded more than $1.4 million in grants since it was established in 2005 as a permanent source of funding to benefit communities in United Bank’s market area. The Foundation Board of Directors meets quarterly to review requests submitted by 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organizations in cities and towns served by United Bank branches in the greater Springfield and Worcester regions.
The foundation’s four primary funding areas of interest are education, health and human services, youth development and cultural programs. Foundation guidelines can be found online at www.bankatunited.com.
