United Bank Foundation gives $92,000 to local charities
Date: 8/28/2014
WEST SPRINGFIELD – The United Bank Foundation recently announced that they approved $92,000 in charitable contributions to 18 nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts and Connecticut, dedicating $61,000 of that total amount to 10 well-deserving nonprofits that serve the Springfield region.
“United Bank is known for providing first-class products and services and delivering an exceptional banking experience for our customers. But our work in Springfield and the other regions we serve extends far beyond just banking. We complement it with the United Bank Foundation’s strong commitment to making our area an even better place to live, work and raise our families,” Dena Hall, United Bank’s Western Massachusetts regional president, chief marketing officer and president of the United Bank Foundation, said.
The thousands of dollars we contribute annually to so many wonderful organizations in Massachusetts and Connecticut is also supported by the thousands of hours our employees selflessly dedicate to local nonprofits in the communities we serve, like we do Springfield,” she continued.
The following charitable contributions were made to seven nonprofits by the United Bank Foundation:
• The Community Adolescent Resource and Education Center received $4,000 to support efforts to provide comprehensive education, social and other support services for pregnant, parenting or at-risk teenagers.
• The Springfield Public Schools/Freedom Writers Foundation received $5,000 to assist in their campaign to raise money for 25 Springfield educators so they could attend the Freedom Writer Summer Symposium, which is a five-day follow up to last year’s immersion program.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services will receive a total of $25,000 over the next three years to support their capital campaign for MLK’s merger with the Gandara Center. Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services has served more than 300 families annually for the past 30 years through educational, cultural, and basic needs support services.
• Springfield School Volunteers received $7,500 in support of their Early Literacy Volunteers Program. This organization has been helping the Springfield Public Schools since 1969 with programs designed to encourage academic excellence, enhance the school climate, provide positive role models, bring in the resources of the local community and support the strategic priorities of the school district.
• The Enchanted Circle Theatre, primarily serving Holyoke, Northampton and Springfield, received $2,500 to support the Sparks Event, which raises operating funds for the theatre and its educational programs.
• The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts received $1,000 from the Foundation in support of the “Springfield Souper Bowl” program.
• Girls Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts were awarded $2,000 to support their summer campership programs.
• The Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts received $3,000 for event sponsorship of the State of the Region Conference.
• The Spirit of Springfield received $6,000 from the Foundation for sponsorship of Bright Nights at Forest Park and the Bright Nights 5K Road Race.
• The Drama Studio in Springfield received $5,000 to help underwrite its “Alice in Wonderland” performance scheduled to take place in December 2014 at CityStage.
The United Bank Foundation was established in 2005 by United Bank as a permanent source of funding for the communities in the Bank’s market area. The Foundation has identified four primary areas that it will emphasize in supporting through its quarterly funding cycles, including education; health and human services; youth programs; and cultural programs. Since its inception, the foundation has granted more than $2.3 million to nonprofits in the communities served by United Bank.
