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Community

Making a difference. Most of us feel the need to make our community the best place it can be. We give back to the people and organizations that make Vermont and New Hampshire great states to live in. With the challenges of small-town life and difficult economic times, our communities depend on our involvement. Union Bank and its employees are not new to the notion of giving. The Bank as a business donates tens of thousands of dollars to community organizations annually, and employees give countless hours of expertise and time. From fundraising for cancer patients to celebrating the hometown, community is simply who Union Bank is.

Below are just some of the many ways that Union Bank and its employees step up to make a difference. We all benefit from their exemplary dedication to our community and our collective quality of life. Whether the need is dire or if it is to celebrate our good fortune of living in this beautiful area, Union Bank and its employees understand and demonstrate the importance of being a contributing member of the community. As Union Bank Chief Executive Officer, Ken Gibbons succinctly stated: “You never know when you might be the one who needs that special helping hand.”

Copley Health Systems Copley Health Systems
Union Bank has maintained a strong track record of supporting Copley Health Systems with both time and funding. “Union Bank is in tune with and aware of the needs of the community,” stated Melvyn Patashnick, President and CEO of Copley Health Systems. “They are firmly rooted within the community and sincerely committed.”

Cancer Patient Support - LACiNg Up for Cancer Cancer Patient Support - LACiNg Up for Cancer
A diagnosis of cancer brings financial burdens well beyond the limits of healthcare insurance. LACiNg Up for Cancer assists Lamoille area residents facing these financial challenges. Deb Partlow, Senior Trust Officer, is the Event Champion within the Bank. Many other employees participate by walking on the Union Bank Team to raise funds and giving personally as well. The Bank itself serves as a Corporate Sponsor.

March of Dimes March of Dimes
Since 1975, Union Bank has supported the March of Dimes’ many faceted efforts to help moms have full-term pregnancies and research the problems that threaten the health of babies. The annual March for Babies is one of several fundraisers that the Bank participates in to help with March of Dimes’ mission. Barbara Olden, Vice President, St. Johnsbury Branch Manager and Champion for the March of Dimes, has been involved for 21 years. She often serves as Team Captain for the Bank’s Walking Team. Melissa Greene helps coordinate the sale of March of Dimes Bean Bags for babies in various branches throughout the year as a fundraising tool. Union Bank employees are very creative in raising money for the March of Dimes—like paying for the privilege of wearing blue jeans on a designated day, creative bake sales and even more creative “bakeless” sales. Entire families participate in the March itself and show their support for the cause, many because the issues have touched them personally.

United Way of Lamoille County United Way of Lamoille County
Lorraine Willet, Assistant Vice President and Training Manager, champions the United Way efforts within Union Bank. She is the current President of the local United Way Board and has been involved for over eight years, also serving as Treasurer in the past. Passionate about the difference the United Way makes, Lorraine sees even greater importance in its work with today’s economy. A favorite of Lorraine’s is the United Way Firewood Project where volunteers cut, split and stack donated wood, which is then distributed to households in need throughout our community.

Save for Success Save for Success
Working to help the community takes a variety of shapes. Save for Success was started by Union Bank in 1995 with the goal of starting the savings habit in the elementary school years and learning personal financial skills. Jeff Coslett, Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Branch Administration, has been involved for several years and Karen Machia is the Bank Coordinator for this program. Twenty-six schools currently participate, and the program continues to grow. A student can open a Save for Success savings account, and Union Bank contributes the first $1 to each account. During the school year, the students are able to make deposits to their savings account at their school. Quarterly statements demonstrate how the savings grow over time. Union Bank is now seeing some of its earliest participants in the program use their savings as down payments on cars, homes and to help fund college educations.

Oktoberfest Oktoberfest
Community is also about moments of celebration and Stowe’s Oktoberfest is all about community. For the past fourteen years, the Stowe Rotary has sponsored this three-day celebration of harvest and foliage. Union Bank was the first sponsor, and has maintained their commitment every year since. Proceeds are contributed to college and vocational scholarships, local and county charities and for aid to disaster-stricken areas nationally and internationally. Involved with Oktoberfest for the past six years, Robyn Masi, Vice President and Stowe Branch Manager, has a sincere enthusiasm for this community celebration. Robyn helps orchestrate Union Bank’s sponsorship of a band on the opening Friday night, as well as coordinating an employee-built float and accompanying employees in the Saturday parade. Union Bank employees also volunteer to work a Bank booth at the festival on Saturday and Sunday.

WREN—Women’s Rural Entrepreneurial Network WREN
Union Bank has long been a sponsor of WREN, a membership-driven organization with over 1100 members, men and women living in New England and beyond, who benefit from and support WREN's many initiatives and resources, including a retail store featuring the products of nearly 200 vendors, the Gallery at WREN, the Local Works Farmers Market and Outdoor Marketplace, WINGS program for girls 8-14, incubator office program and public access technology center. WREN inspires possibilities, creates opportunities and builds connections through community. Their work connects people with one another, provides access to resources many couldn't afford on their own, offers learning opportunities including entrepreneurial business training and technical assistance, creates and supports markets for entrepreneurs, actively engages in Bethlehem's revitalization, and serves a national model for rural economic and community development.

AHEAD (Affordable Housing Education and Development) AHEAD
A community-based housing development organization dedicated to strengthening families by helping them build and preserve assets for the future by providing safe, affordable rental housing, family support and financial education to thousands of rural northern New Hampshire families residing in Coös and northern Grafton Counties.

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Other community organizations/events supported via donation or participation (partial list)—