KeyBank receives naming rights with donation to arts center

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — A $5,000 check completed KeyBank’s $15,000 pledge over three years to the Houlton Community Arts Center when David McGillicuddy accepted it last Friday from representatives of the bank at the Market Square branch.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
FINAL INSTALLMENT — KeyBank representatives presented a check for $5,000 Friday to David McGillicuddy, co-chair of the Houlton Community Arts Center. The presentation was the third and final installment of a $15,000, three-year pledge in support of the renovation and expansion at Houlton High School. Taking part from left are Cheri Doak, KeyBank senior vice president and district retail leader, Robert Faulkner, KeyBank vice president and Houlton branch manager, McGillicuddy, and Jamie St. Clair, KeyBank vice president and area retail leader.
    McGillicuddy, co-chair of the volunteer group raising money to build onto Houlton High School, said “we partnered with SAD 29 to finish up what they started in the auditorium.”
    As a result of the donation, Robert Faulkner, Houlton branch manager and KeyBank vice president, said the bank will have naming rights for two rooms. “We are the oldest bank in Houlton and one of the oldest in the county. We are deeply involved in the betterment of the community and the school is a vital part of that.”
     Faulkner, also said the high school hadn’t changed since he graduated in 1974. “It’s been well documented that a new performing arts center would have a tremendous  impact on the programs that could be offered which would, in turn, affect the whole community.”
    And, he wasn’t the only bank representative who expressed enthusiasm about plans for the new performing arts center. Jamie St. Clair, KeyBank vice president and area retail leader, said, “it’s great that we are able to do things like this. It gets us in the market that we serve.”
    Cheri Doak, senior vice president and KeyBank district retail leader, has been to the high school because  her children compete in sporting events there. “The bank has been involved for several years in coming through with this pledge. We are very excited to give back to the community. We like to do something that gives back to the entire community. This was a pledge that enabled us to give back not just to one or a small group of people, but to the entire community here in Houlton.”
    Doak commended Faulkner for his efforts. “Rob was completely supportive of it, very strongly involved in the community and felt this was a good way for Key to give back to Houlton.”  
    The fund-raising doesn’t end with KeyBank’s donation toward paying off construction costs. “We are still accepting and looking for donations,” said Joe Fagnant, president of the Community Arts Center. “We are very appreciative of KeyBank’s donation and we are looking for more people to do naming rights because we are still raising money for the Community Arts Center which is already a state of the art performance venue.”