CONTACT:    Bruce E. Spitzer 617-523-7595



-- RECORD NUMBER OF AGENCIES TO RECEIVE GIFTS --

 

            BOSTON, Dec. 8, 2009 -- The Massachusetts Bankers Association (MBA) Charitable Foundation has announced the recipients of its community grants for 2009.  The grants total $112,500 and will be awarded to 25 non-profit agencies across the Bay State.  Celebrating its 13th anniversary, the MBA Charitable Foundation has contributed more than $1 million since it was created in 1996.

            The foundation, supported by the nearly 200 member banks of the MBA throughout Massachusetts and New England, is distributing the grants over eight geographic regions in Massachusetts, giving awards to deserving social service agencies.

            “There are many social service agencies in need across the region,” said Kenneth C. Brennan, chairman of the MBA Charitable Foundation and President of The Village Bank in Auburndale.  “We’re pleased to be able to support the hard work of the agencies and assist many individuals in their time of need.”

            The recipients, the grants, and the award schedules follow:

2009 AWARD WINNERS
Group I         

Hyde Park Food Pantry:  $10,000

1179 River Street

Hyde Park, MA 02136

Award Ceremony:  Thursday, Dec. 17, Boston, 8:30 a.m. at 73 Tremont Street, Boston

Council for Social Concern:  $5,000

2 Merrimac Street

Woburn, MA 01801

Award Ceremony:  Thursday, Dec. 17, Boston, 8:30 a.m. at 73 Tremont Street, Boston

RESPOND, Inc.:  $5,000

P.O. Box 555

Somerville, MA 02143

Award Ceremony: Thursday, Dec. 17, Boston, 8:30 a.m. at 73 Tremont Street, Boston

Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc..:  $5,000

110 Pleasant Street

Malden, MA 02148

Award Ceremony: Thursday, Dec. 17, Boston, 8:30 a.m. at 73 Tremont Street, Boston
Group III

Community Giving Tree:  $5,000

570 Main Street

West Boxford, MA 01921

Award Ceremony:  Tuesday, Dec. 22, on-site in West Boxford, 3:00 p.m.

Harborlight Community Partners:  $5,000

221 Cabot Street

Beverly, MA 01915

Award Ceremony:  Tuesday, Dec. 22, Beverly @ One Monument Square, 11:30 a.m.

Our Neighbors’ Table:  $5,000

143 Main Street

Amesbury, MA 01913

Award Ceremony:  Tuesday, Dec. 22, on site in Amesbury, 1:30 p.m.
Group IV

Scituate C.O.R.S.E. Foundation:  $5,000

P.O. Box 512

Scituate, MA 02060

Award Ceremony: Thursday, Dec. 10, Scituate @ 606 Chief Justice Cushing Highway, 9:30 a.m.

School on Wheels of Massachusetts, Inc.:  $5,000

831 Pleasant Street

Brockton, MA 02301

Award Ceremony: Thursday, Dec. 10, Westport, 1:45 p.m. at White’s of Westport

South Shore Habitat for Humanity:  $5,000

28 River Street

Braintree, MA 02184

Award Ceremony:  Friday, Dec. 11, on site in Braintree, 2:00 p.m.
Group V

HealthFirst Family Care Center:  $5,000

102 County Street

Fall River, MA 02723

Award Ceremony:  Thursday, Dec. 10, Westport, 1:45 p.m. at White’s of Westport

Island Food Pantry:  $5,000

P.O. Box 1874, William Street and Church Street

Vineyard Haven, MA 02568

Award Ceremony:  Monday, Dec. 21, on site in Vineyard Haven, 1:00 p.m.


Taunton Area School to Career:  $5,000

One Taunton Green

Taunton, MA 02780

Award Ceremony:  Thursday, Dec. 10, Westport, 1:45 p.m. at White’s of Westport
Group VI

Employment Options, Inc.:  $5,000

82 Brigham Street

Marlborough, MA 01752

Award Ceremony: Monday, Dec. 14, Worcester, 10:15 a.m. at Crowne Plaza Hotel


Forge Works Farm: $5,000

21 Campbell Court

Rutland, MA 01543

Award Ceremony: Monday, Dec. 14, Worcester, 10:15 a.m. at Crowne Plaza Hotel


Old Sturbridge Village:  $5,000

1 Old Sturbridge Village Road

Sturbridge, MA 01566

Award Ceremony: Monday, Dec. 14, Worcester, 10:15 a.m. at Crowne Plaza Hotel
Group VII

The Carson Center for Human Services, Inc.:  $5,000

20 Broad Street

Westfield, MA 01085

Award Ceremony: Wednesday, Dec. 16, on site in Westfield, 10:15 a.m.

 The Children’s Study Home, Inc.:  $5,000

44 Sherman Street

Springfield, MA 01109

Award Ceremony: Wednesday, Dec. 16, on site in Springfield, 9:00 a.m.
Group VIII

Northern Berkshire Youth Summer R.O.P.E.S. Program:  $5,000

c/o North Adams Police Department

11 Summer Street

North Adams, MA 01247

Award Ceremony: Wednesday, Dec. 16, North Adams, 4:00 p.m.

Pittsfield Family YMCA:  $5,000

292 North Street

Pittsfield, MA 01201

Award Ceremony: Wednesday, Dec. 16, Pittsfield, 1:45 p.m. at Pittsfield Country Club


In addition to these recipients, five non-profits are receiving “Honorable Mention” awards from the MBA Charitable Foundation totaling $1,500 each.  These recipients include:

Group I

Vocational Advancement Center, Inc.:  $1,500

221 North Beacon Street

Brighton, MA 02135

 

Group II

Riverside Community Care: $1,500

450 Washington Street

Dedham, MA 02026

 

Springwell: $1,500

125 Walnut Street

Watertown, MA 02472

 

Group III

Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, Inc.: $1,500

15 Bubier Street

Lynn, MA 01901

 

Trauma Intervention Program of Merrimack Valley, Inc.: $1,500

167 East Street

Methuen, MA 01844


            The Massachusetts Bankers Association Charitable Foundation awards are symbolic of the many individual donations banks make on a regular basis to organizations and causes in their local communities.  In addition to the more than $40 million a year given by Massachusetts banks to local charities, MBA member bank employees contribute thousands of volunteer hours across the Commonwealth.

            The Massachusetts Bankers Association represents approximately 200 commercial, savings and co-operative banks, and savings and loan institutions throughout Massachusetts and elsewhere in New England.

# # #

Media Note:     Reporters are invited to attend all of the scheduled award ceremonies.

 

Massachusetts Bankers Association, Inc.

73 Tremont Street, Suite 306

Boston, MA  02108-3906

Tel: 617-523-7595 / Fax: 617-523-6373

http://www.massbankers.org