Though it might seem antithetical to the media refrain, over the course of a year, the staff – and readers – of Banker & Tradesman see a lot of good news. Our weekly online feature, Community Good Works, never lacks for material. A roundup of all the good things our readers have accomplished, it highlights the many, many contributions the financial and real estate industries make to the communities in which we all live and work.
This holiday season, Banker & Tradesman is highlighting some of the wonderful donations, projects and support we have seen this year. As one year passes into another, we look back at the good things that happened, and hope for many more next year.
From the staff of The Warren Group, we wish all our readers a very happy and healthy holiday and new year.
Bay State Savings Bank
Throughout the year, Bay State Savings Bank employees spend a significant amount of their time supporting a variety of nonprofit organizations through fundraising events, volunteer projects and board leadership. An estimated 2,500 volunteer hours are donated annually, and an average of $250,000 annually is returned to the local community through grants, contributions, sponsorships and scholarships.
There are organizations that the bank supports each year, and one of them is the T&G Santa Fund, established in 1938 by the Worcester Telegram & Gazette to provide holiday gifts for needy children in the area.
“Until 2012, the Telegram & Gazette was in the building right next door to us,” said Diane Giampa, senior vice president of human resources and marketing for Bay State Savings Bank. “It has always been important to us to be a good neighbor and support their efforts to make Christmas a little brighter for children in our local community.”
This year the bank hosted a “Shop for a Cause” event in at its 28 Franklin St. location to benefit the T&G Santa Fund. Employees had the opportunity to do some holiday shopping without having to leave the comfort of their building, and 20 percent of every purchase was donated to the charity. The public was also invited.
In addition to “Shopping for a Cause,” Bay State Savings Bank will be conducting a “Slippers for Santa” day, during which employees can wear jeans and slippers to work for a $5 donation to the T&G Santa Fund. “We are also throwing in an Ugly Sweater Contest that day to really make it fun,” added Giampa. The ugliest sweater (as determined by Facebook votes) will win a restaurant gift card. “And for every ‘vote’ we get on our Facebook page during the contest, the bank will contribute another dollar to the T&G Santa Fund.”
“Giving back is part of the bank’s culture,” said Giampa. “We feel it is our responsibility to take care of the community where we live and work.”
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Earlier this year, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage made a $110,000 donation to Homes for Our Troops through the company’s charitable foundation, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Cares.
The funds were raised during the Spirit of Home Awards Celebration held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston in March. Homes for Our Troops is a nonprofit organization based in Taunton, Mass., that builds specially adapted homes for veterans who have suffered life-altering injuries during their service in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Starting in late October and ending just before Thanksgiving, the employees and affiliated sales associates of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in New England sell pies as part of the “Pie in the Sky” fundraising campaign to benefit Community Servings.
Community Servings is a nonprofit organization that provides free, home-delivered meals to acutely ill individuals, their families, and their caregivers in 18 cities and towns throughout Massachusetts. For every pie sold, Community Servings will be able to feed one client for five days. With the help of Coldwell Banker and other pie sellers, Community Servings was able to raise $725,000 through this year’s Pie in the Sky.
Starting in December, approximately 40 Coldwell Banker offices throughout Massachusetts collect toys and other gift donations for The Home for Little Wanderers Big Wishes Gift Drive. In addition, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Cares organized the 6 for 60 campaign through the fall to benefit the home’s gift drive. As part of 6 for 60, for every touchdown scored by the Boston College Eagles football team during the season, a gift card donation was made by CBRB Cares. 6 for 60 raised $3,500 for gift cards to benefit Big Wishes.
Conquest Capital Partners
Since its inception in 2010, Conquest Capital Partners has been deeply involved in community work and giving back, and has worked closely with St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Conquest’s founder, Ryan Gadles, sat on the committee for a St. Jude initiative for two years, and during that time grew increasingly more committed to making an impact for the cause.
“Being able to witness lives literally being saved and a hospital that charges zero dollars to the families who are able to use it is incredible,” Gadles said. “So many charities and foundations have these massive amounts of overhead, and a majority of the funds raised do not make their way to the folks who are really in need. When I learned that St. Jude donors have an average donation size of just $35, and that most of the money actually went to R&D, the hospital and campus made so much sense.”
During the summer Gadles and his wife, Tracey, were able to visit the hospital and meet some of the St. Jude workers who are so deeply committed to saving lives. The hospital is not your typical hospital; there are no wheelchairs. All the children get around in little red wagons. They do not feel – and are not treated – as if they are sick.
In 2013, Conquest and Gadles decided to venture out from the umbrella of the initiative and sponsor something separately. The event became The St. Jude Give Thanks walk. The first year, Conquest raised nearly $20,000 for the walk and were the lead fundraiser.
In July of this year, Conquest hosted a corporate sponsorship event in Marina Bay with all of its business associates. The employees set a goal of raising $50,000 for the walk. The walk took place on Nov. 22, and Conquest was able to bring in $49,710. The employees were ecstatic, but not finished – by the end of the year, they expect to have another $500 in commitments that will push them over their goal.
“We are having an amazing time with amazing people, making an amazing impact for the children of St. Jude,” said Gadles.
Jack Conway Realtors
“Going, going, gone!”
In April, a team of Jack Conway-Marshfield Realtors hosted the sold-out silent auction and wine wall at the 10th Anniversary Gala of the Marshfield Boys and Girls Club.
The event, held at the Quincy Marriott Hotel, included dinner, dancing and a live auction led by Kiss 108 D.J. Billy Costa. More than 430 guests helped raise $120,000 to help run the club and provide scholarships for its summer camp for youths.
“It was a wonderful night for a wonderful cause,” said Conway-Marshfield agent Grace Alvey, who has been an active volunteer and benefactor for the Boys and Girls Club for many years. “The gala is the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and the 10th anniversary celebration was a huge success.”
Massachusetts Credit Unions
Since 2001, Massachusetts credit unions have collected and donated more than 267,000 books to a variety of family service agencies throughout the state, including the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, to benefit thousands of underprivileged children. Each year during the month of April, the Massachusetts Credit Union League promotes the collection of children’s books. In May, more than 16,000 books were distributed by 40 credit unions, including the league, for the Children’s Book Drive.
Many credit unions work with local sponsor companies, schools, community groups, members, etc. City of Boston Credit Union received 1,200 books from a local West Roxbury children’s bookstore. The store was in the process of closing, and the owner was thrilled to find a use for all the children’s books. He had received a flier about the book drive at a community business meeting. Grafton Suburban Credit Union received a little help from Cub Scout Pack 150 of Northbridge, which donated more than 400 books.
Hanscom Federal Credit Union collected 3,607 books, more than any other participating credit union. Each year the staff at Hanscom embraces this project as a full team effort by collecting books throughout the year.
The Children’s Book Drive celebrates the value of reading by providing children with thousands of books to open their imaginations and inspire them. Reading helps young children expand their vocabulary and writing skills, promotes healthy social and emotional development, and fosters longer attention spans, which translates to better retention in school.
