Hampden County Nonprofit Leaders Attend Customers’ Choice "Zoominar"

Twenty-six Hampden County nonprofit leaders attended Florence Bank’s first Zoominar event in mid-October to learn about participation in the bank’s Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program. 

Florence Bank held the informational event as it now has three branches in Hampden County—in West Springfield, Springfield, and Chicopee—and bank leaders want all nonprofits to be aware of the grant program so they can take advantage of the opportunity. 

“Part of our mission is philanthropic in nature,” President and CEO Kevin Day told attendees on the Zoominar. “We provide support to the communities we serve in many different ways. Twenty years ago, the bank began asking our customers where some of the bank’s donations dollars should be spent, and our Customers’ Choice program was launched. Listening to customers was a natural extension of how we run our bank.”

In the past 20 years, Florence Bank has donated $1.3 million to 158 nonprofit organizations. In 2020, almost 7,000 votes were cast, and 32 nonprofits accepted a grant award in May, with a total of $100,500 handed out. 

The following nonprofits attended the event: Homework House, Litwin School PTO, SquareOne, Link to Libraries, Inc., Shriners Hospitals for Children—Springfield, Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield, Chicopee Fire Department, Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, Greater Holyoke YMCA, Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts, Kiwanis Club of Springfield, Randall Boys & Girls Club, Revitalize CDC, Rick’s Place, Ronald McDonald House of Springfield, The Gray House Inc., The Parish Cupboard, Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Transitions Through Motion, Valley Opportunity Council, and YMCA of Greater Springfield.

To access the Community Grants Kit, visit www.florencebank.com/customer-choice-kit.