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Liberty Bank Foundation Awards $10,000 Grant to Girls Inc. of the Valley

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — Girls Inc. of the Valley received a $10,000 grant from the Liberty Bank Foundation Inc. to support the organization’s Eureka! program, which promotes STEM and college access for girls.

Eureka! is a five-year program that immerses middle- and high-school girls in hands-on STEM learning while also fostering personal development, career exploration, and college readiness opportunities. Participants attend workshops, take part in summer STEM intensives on college campuses, and gain real-world experience through externships and mentorships. With support from the Liberty Bank Foundation, Girls Inc. of the Valley will continue expanding access to this transformative program for girls throughout Hampden County and beyond.

“This generous grant from the Liberty Bank Foundation helps us provide young people with the tools and confidence they need to see themselves as future scientists, engineers, and leaders,” said Suzanne Parker, executive director of Girls Inc. of the Valley. “Through Eureka!, we open doors to new opportunities — college visits, STEM workshops, internships, and mentorship — that help youth discover their full potential.”

Since its founding in 1997, the Liberty Bank Foundation has supported nonprofit organizations that empower individuals and strengthen communities across Connecticut and Western Mass. The foundation’s commitment to education, affordable housing, and basic human needs aligns closely with Girls Inc. of the Valley’s mission to inspire all youth to be strong, smart, and bold.

“We are happy to support Girls Inc. of the Valley,” Liberty Bank President and CEO David Glidden said. “This organization helps so many middle- and high-school girls learn, grow, and prepare for college and employment. This work is important to our community, and Liberty Bank is glad to be a part of it. These teens are our future.”

Liberty Bank Foundation, Square One Team Up to Support Workforce Development

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — In keeping with its longstanding commitment to supporting the cities and towns it serves, the Liberty Bank Foundation recently donated $10,000 to Square One in support of its Learn & Earn Workforce Development initiative.

“Building a foundation for children to be successful starts with a stable family,” said Kristine Allard, vice president of Development & Communication for Square One. “Our Learn & Earn program provides our young families with the education and training they need to build their careers and establish a successful foundation for their families. We are so grateful to Liberty Bank for recognizing this and supporting our work so generously.”

Through partnerships with Holyoke Community College and area employers, Learn & Earn participants receive HiSET education support and paid workforce training. Participants who need care for their children also receive access to Square One’s nationally accredited early education and care programs.

“Programs like Square One’s Learn & Earn help individuals through education and workforce readiness, both essential for stability and for building thriving communities,” said Tony Liberopoulos, Liberty’s Massachusetts market president, Commercial Banking. “This initiative is a powerful example of how education, job training, and childcare support can work together to create lasting opportunities. Liberty Bank is proud to invest in programs that help parents build brighter futures for themselves and their children.”

In addition to receiving support from the Liberty Bank Foundation and others, the program is largely funded through a grant from MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board. Together, these funds cover the salaries and expenses of the program participants, creating a risk-free experience for area employers and a rich learning opportunity the region’s youth.

Liberty Bank Foundation Donates $10,000 to Revitalize CDC

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Revitalize Community Development Corp. (CDC) announced a $10,000 grant from the Liberty Bank Foundation to support its annual #GreenNFit Neighborhood Rebuild program. This investment underscores Liberty Bank’s ongoing commitment to building stronger, healthier communities throughout Western Mass. and Connecticut.

The #GreenNFit program brings together volunteers, corporate partners, and community organizations to repair and rehabilitate homes for low-income families, veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities, all in a single neighborhood over the course of one day. In addition to this financial contribution, Liberty Bank employees also roll up their sleeves and volunteer at #GreenNFit events, making a direct and lasting impact on the lives of local residents.

“We are incredibly grateful to Liberty Bank and the Liberty Bank Foundation for their continued support of our mission,” said Colleen Shanley-Loveless, president and CEO of Revitalize CDC. “Their generous donation, combined with their dedicated volunteer efforts, helps us create safe, healthy, and sustainable homes for families in need. This is community partnership at its very best.”

In addition to Liberty’s support of Revitalize CDC, Dawn Creighton, Community Outreach officer at the bank, serves on Revitalize CDC’s board of directors.

“At Liberty Bank, we invest in community partners across our footprint that are aligned with our mission to improve the lives of customers, teammates, and communities for generations to come. But it’s not just an investment of dollars, it’s also an investment of time through Team Liberty’s selfless volunteerism,” said Tony Liberopoulos, Liberty Bank’s Commercial Banking market president in Massachusetts. “When you think of Western Mass. and the nonprofits serving this community, Revitalize CDC and their #GreenFit have rightfully earned the reputation by making our communities an even better place to live. Team Liberty is proud to be their partner in doing that.”

Liberty Bank Foundation Donates $25,000 to Mercy’s Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Mercy Medical Center announced that Liberty Bank Foundation has pledged a gift of $25,000 to the fundraising effort to create the Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit.

Following his cancer diagnosis, well-known restaurateur Andy Yee sought treatment at the Sister Caritas Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center, where Yee and his family developed a strong relationship with his care team. Grateful for the high-quality, compassionate care Yee received until his passing in 2021, his wife, Sarah, approached hospital leaders about creating a space dedicated to palliative care for patients.

“At Liberty Bank, our mission is to improve the lives of our customers, teammates, and communities, not only by helping our customers reach their financial goals, but through other important ways we invest in our communities,” said David Glidden, president and CEO of Liberty Bank and president of the Liberty Bank Foundation. “The Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit underscores the need for this type of care in our communities and reinforces Mercy’s focus on helping patients living with a serious illness benefit from an improved quality of life for themselves and their family. Andy Yee was known for his generous and deep commitment to the community, and that unparalleled legacy will live on through this palliative-care unit serving the Greater Springfield region.”

Once complete, the Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit will include design elements to provide an inviting, soothing space for end-of-life care for patients and families, as well as patients with chronic illnesses requiring pain and symptom management. All clinical staff involved in caring for patients and family members on the new unit will receive specialized training that focuses on palliative care.

“We are grateful to the Liberty Bank Foundation for its commitment to this important project,” said Deborah Bitsoli, president of Mercy Medical Center and Trinity Health Of New England Medical Group. “Andy Yee was a longtime supporter and friend to Mercy Medical Center, and the palliative care unit named in his memory will honor his human spirit and commitment to the local community for years to come.”

Donations are being accepted to help defray the cost of the project. To make a gift in support of this initiative, visit give.mercycares.com/andy-yee-palliative-care-unit; email Geoffrey Hoyt, chief Development officer at Mercy Medical Center, at [email protected]; or call (860) 331-1102.