NEWS RELEASE
Nov. 13, 2012
Contact:
Kathleen L. Schirling
802.660.1363 Fax: 802.660.1577
Kathleen.schirling@peoples.com
BURLINGTON, VT – People’s United Bank announced today that they have pledged $50,000 to Central Vermont Community Action Council’s Community Action Campus building project in Barre.
The new Community Action Campus will bring programs and staff into one centralized site so that people can access wrap-around services, resources and training to help build more self-sufficient lives. The facility will house the state’s second largest food shelf, job training kitchen as well as classrooms and a resource center for skill building, job hunting and financial and business planning. It will also provide a home to the agency’s weatherization program and administrative offices.
Founded in 1965, Community Action helps people achieve economic sufficiency with dignity through individual and family development. Community Action is a part of the nationwide network of community action agencies (CAA) established by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 in order to fight America’s War on Poverty. Today, there are nearly 1,000 CAAs across the United States located in 98% of our cities and counties. CAAs are a primary source of support for the more than 40 million Americans who are living in poverty in both rural and urban areas.
Community Actions’ mission focuses on three areas: 1) alleviating the suffering caused by poverty by ensuring that basic needs are met for food, heating fuel, and safe housing 2) moving people out of poverty by helping them build skills and access resources and opportunities to create self-sufficient lives with services such as weatherization, workforce development, Head Start, micro business development, credit and finance education, and transportation 3) advocating for economic opportunity for all Vermonters.
Over the years, Community Action has earned a reputation for leadership in education on poverty issues, advocacy on behalf of low-income families, and developing innovative strategies and programs to reduce poverty.
Michael Seaver, President of People’s United Bank in Vermont said, “We are pleased to be a part of this project that will bring more than 100 employees to downtown Barre and will provide new facilities for our most in need citizens of central Vermont.”
“This leadership gift from People’s United Bank is an incredible investment in Community Action and in the Barre community,” notes Executive Director Hal Cohen. “Their generosity will be instrumental in leveraging other donations as we continue to raise funds for this project.”
About People’s United Bank
People’s United Bank is a subsidiary of People’s United Financial, Inc., a diversified financial services company with $28 billion in assets. People’s United Bank, founded in 1842, is the largest independent bank headquartered in New England and provides commercial and retail banking, as well as wealth management services through a network of approximately 416 branches in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, New Hampshire and Maine. Through its subsidiaries, People’s United Financial provides equipment financing, brokerage and insurance services.
[Photo Cutline: Michael Seaver, President, People’s United Bank Vermont presents a $50,000 check to Hal Cohen, Executive Director Community Action]
