Bangor Savings gives to school program

    HODGDON — The Mill Pond School After School Program in Hodgdon was among 39 organizations that received grants as part of Community Matters More, a unique charitable giving initiative that allowed the public to vote for the organizations they care most about. Area residents cast more than 37,000 votes for more than 360 different nonprofit organizations. The Foundation announced it is giving a total of $75,000 to local non-profits that were chosen by the community-wide vote, with nine top vote-getters receiving $5,000 grants and 30 additional organizations receiving $1,000 grants. The Mill Pond After School Program was one of five write-in organizations awarded $1,000 grants.
GIVING — Bangor Savings Bank representative Chris Richardson presented a $1,000 check to the Mill Pond School After-School Program, one of 39 organizations that received grants from the bank’s Community Matters More charitable giving initiative.  From left, are: Hannah May, Daniel Janus, Kendrick Wilson and Joe Putnam; standing: Hannah Elland, After-School Program Director Karen Sattler and Richardson.     In addition to financial support, 34 organizations initially listed on the Community Matters More ballot received substantial exposure for their critical community missions from Kiss 94.5 and the seven stations of Clear Channel Radio in Eastern Maine as part of the partnership.
    Bangor Savings Bank Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Yellow Light Breen said that bank employees were inundated with ballots. “The level of public participation in Community Matters More has been phenomenal,” Breen said. “This was an astounding outpouring of public support. We know that folks in Eastern Maine are heavily committed to their communities, and that many small non-profits are critical to the fabric and quality of life of our communities. The public involvement in Community Matters More demonstrates that one more time. We are proud to have our company join in their commitment by supporting causes that matter most to Eastern Maine people.”
    Community Matters More is part of Bangor Savings Bank and the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation’s total commitment of more than a million dollars per year to the community in the form of nonprofit sponsorships, grants and partnership initiatives.