Joe Zazzaro, left, first vice-president of PeoplesBank, and Sheila King-Goodwin, center, senior vice-president, present a $5,000 check and tree, right, to Westfield Mayor Daniel M. Knapik. The donation is part of an effort to replenish damaged vegetation at the Munger Hill Elementary School, after a June tornado strike. (File Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
HOLYOKE — PeoplesBank has announced a historic milestone for the 127-year-old institution. For the first time in its history, the bank contributed more than $1 million dollars to local charitable and civic causes.
“We are focused on the possible,” stated Douglas A. Bowen, President and CEO, in making the announcement. “We feel it is possible to create a better community through our charitable giving and volunteer efforts. It is something that we are very passionate about and it is this passion that makes us who we are.”
In a year marked by the widespread devastation caused by the June tornado, the bulk of the bank’s charitable giving went toward human services. PeoplesBank, called a “First Responder” by one local nonprofit executive, committed $200,000 for tornado relief efforts in the aftermath of the storm. Keeping to its track record of supporting environmentally friendly initiatives, $80,000 of that commitment was spent on re-greening five of the impacted communities, including $40,000 for Springfield alone to help them return to their former status of “Tree City USA.”
Other Westfield programs and organizations funded by the bank in 2011 were the Westfield Boys and Girls Club capital campaign last year, and PeoplesBank also helped fund the fireworks, donated to 104th Family Outreach Volunteer Group, Westfield Little League, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
The bank also made substantial contributions to education, including a greenhouse for students of the Leverett Elementary School. “We had been looking around for different ways to try and raise enough money to build a greenhouse, which is a fairly large expenditure,” explained Suzie Chang, a volunteer and parent at the school. “So we were especially excited and thrilled that PeoplesBank decided to make a leadership gift of this size, because it enabled us to just go ahead and do the entire project. For me as a mom, it’s wonderful to know that my kids have this incredible opportunity and this gorgeous, gorgeous space.”
According to Bowen, direct financial contributions are not the only way the bank is making a difference in western Massachusetts. “Writing a check is not the whole story. At PeoplesBank, we are actively encouraging and facilitating volunteerism. Our employees want to have a direct hand in helping the community. In fact, they were ranked third in the state for most generous employees and fourth for volunteer hours donated.” To view a video on the bank’s charitable giving, please visit: http://www.tinyurl.com/PBcommunity2011.
