Hampden Bank donation supports Destiny Library Program at two schools

Date: 2/23/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



LONGMEADOW -- Hampden Bank's Web site states that its roots in Western Massachusetts are strong and deep, and that most of its associates volunteer their time in the communities in which it does business. The Hampden Bank Charitable Foundation provides grants to non-profit, community based organizations, and on Feb. 17, LEEF was the recipient of one of those grants.

LEEF, the Longmeadow Education Excellence Foundation, was presented a check for $10,000 from Hampden Bank at the grand opening of the bank's newest branch at 916 Shaker Rd.

"Longmeadow is a big part of our franchise," Tom Burton, president and CEO of Hampden Bank, stated. "It's a place we want to enhance our profile and...be a strong community bank."

Burton presented the donation to Chris Halista, president of LEEF, who said the funds would be used to support the Follett Software Company's Destiny Library Program.

The Destiny program gives users the benefits of a browser-based system to manage library resources centrally. The donation from Hampden Bank will allow LEEF to implement the program in two of the district's elementary schools.

Maureen Wilson, assistant superintendent, said the system is already in place at the high school and at Center School.

Halista thanked Burton and Hampden Bank for their generous support of LEEF and told Reminder Publications that the donation LEEF received was "huge."

"They've demonstrated their support of LEEF and the schools and the community by funding the grant proposal to install the Destiny Library Program," Halista said. "We look forward to continuing a relationship with [Hampden Bank] for many, many years."

She added that $10,000 donation was the largest the foundation has received from a business in a very long time, and Joe Aberdale, a member of LEEF's executive board, said this is the highest individual grant that has been received so far.

"We are especially pleased [with this donation] because the grant never would've been funded in the mainstream budget," Aberdale said. "We're very pleased Hampden Bank recognized LEEF."

To learn more about LEEF, visit www.longmeadowleef.org. For more information on what Hampden Bank offers, visit www.hampdenbank.com.