WESTFIELD – Two local bank charitable foundations recently announced contributions to organizations in the greater Westfield community.
The United Bank Foundation awarded $43,000 to 11 area non-profits in the most recent round of grants.
Foundation President Dena Hall said the foundation award grants several times each year.
“The Foundation awards grants on a quarterly basis to nonprofit organizations located in and/or serving the communities served by United Bank,” said Hall. “We fund $350,000 annually. Our budget supports the three specific regions where United Bank has branches.”
Among the 11 recipients was the Westfield Public Schools. The School Department received $1,000 to fund the purchase of high school science fair materials. The foundation also awarded $2,500 to World Is Our Classroom to fund the Westfield Manufacturing Education initiative at Mestek.
To apply for a grant, Hall said an organization should submit a letter of intent to the foundation outlining the project in need of funding and some background on the organization.
“We established the Foundation in 2005 as a means of providing a source of permanent and consistent finical support to the communities serving by United Bank,” said Hall. “Since that time we have granted more than $1.8 million to organizations and causes.”
In the past, recipients of the United Bank Foundation grants included the Amelia Park Children’s Museum, the Greater Westfield Boys and Girls Club, the Barnes Air Support/Wright Flight Program, Cancer House of Hope, the Center for Human Development, Domus, the Huntington Food Pantry, Human Resources Unlimited, the Hilltown Community Health Center, Hilltown CDC, the Gateway Education Foundation, Noble Hospital, Southampton Road School, the Southwick-Tolland Regional School District, St. Mary’s High School, The Carson Center, Stanley Park, VIPS of Westfield, Westfield Arts on the Green, the Westfield Athenaeum, Westfield High School, Westfield On Weekends, Westfield Public Schools and the Westfield State Foundation.
Berkshire Bank Foundation and Berkshire Bank Foundation Legacy Region awarded over $1.3 million to nonprofit organizations in 2012.
“Berkshire Bank is excited to give back to the community in a significant way this year through our charitable grants and volunteer efforts,” said Pater J. Lafayette, executive director of the foundations. “The growth of the bank has allowed us to provide an increase in critical financial assistance to hundreds of nonprofit organizations meeting important needs in our communities.”
Local recipients include the Amelia Park Children’s Museum, the Greater Westfield Boys and Girls Club, the Center for Human Development, the Greater Westfield Food Pantry, the Southwick Historical Society, and Westfield State University.
