Daily News

Florence Savings Bank Receives Cutchins Good Neighbor Award

FLORENCE — Florence Savings Bank, a mutually owned savings bank serving the Pioneer Valley through nine branch locations, was one of three recipients of the Cutchins Good Neighbor Awards, presented to area organizations that have made a difference in the lives of the people served by the Cutchins Programs for Children & Families.

Florence Savings Bank was recognized for its long-time support of the organization’s programs, in particular the bank’s employee-driven program to supply holiday gifts to Cutchins children; FSB is now in its 14th year of supporting Cutchins programs. The award was presented at the Cutchins Hand in Hand Neighborhood Barbeque staged last month.

For 35 years, families have come to Cutchins for hope and healing to help them deal with issues of trauma, severe emotional and behavioral challenges, and mental illness. In 1977, Cutchins Programs for Children & Families was formed as Northampton Center for Children and Families, serving as an alternative to Northampton State Hospital. Concurrently, New Directions School, a Department of Education-approved special-education day school, was established to serve NCCF children.

In 2001, the agency was renamed for its founding director, Carl Cutchins. Cutchins Programs for Children & Families is recognized at the state and national level for creative and powerful work in the field of children’s mental health. It provides treatment for children experiencing behavioral challenges brought on by abuse, neglect, and trauma.

“The importance of the good work that the Cutchins Programs for Children & Families provides for the people of Western Mass. cannot be overstated,” said John Heaps Jr., president and CEO of Florence Savings Bank. “They provide a much-needed service, and we always consider it a privilege to assist them in whatever ways we can.”