BAR HARBOR, MAINE – Bar Harbor Bank & Trust is pleased to present donations from its employee-driven charitable giving program, Casual for a Cause. After pooling all contributions from employees and directors, collected during third quarter 2018, and tallying employee votes for non-profit beneficiaries, the following organizations each received a generous gift:
Next Step Domestic Violence Project in Maine
Second Growth in New Hampshire
BROC Community Action in Vermont.
“Gifts through our Casual for a Cause program truly make a difference in our communities. Our collective support enhances nonprofit community programs, leading to greater economic prosperity for local individuals and families,” said Jack Frost, VP, Director of Community Giving at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. “By simply wearing jeans or less formal business attire on Friday and contributing to Casual for a Cause, our employees are making a big difference in the communities they serve.”
“We were thrilled to receive a gift from the employees of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. It means so much to have so many individuals come together to demonstrate they care about the well-being of community members, who have been victimized by abusive partners,” said Dorathy Martel, Executive Director at Next Step Domestic Violence Project. “This gift will be used to help survivors of domestic abuse overcome barriers to access and maintaining education and employment.”
For 25 years, Next Step Domestic Violence Project has been working to end domestic violence in the community by supporting individuals affected by violence and abuse and by increasing offender accountability. From offices in Maine (Ellsworth and Machias), they offer a 24-hour crisis hotline, legal assistance, shelter, support groups and transitional housing. Next Step supports and empowers people affected by domestic violence, while striving to prevent and end the cycle of domestic violence through education and social change.
“This generous donation from Bar Harbor Bank & Trust employees will enable Second Growth to provide powerful and compelling prevention curriculum to young people throughout the Upper Valley,” said Heidi Postupack, Executive Director at Second Growth. “Our youth programs employee experiential learning to build the skills children need to navigate their teenage years and beyond.”
Second Growth’s mission is to reduce substance abuse and violence for adolescents. Based in Hanover, New Hampshire, they work in schools and the community to provide training, individual counseling, group support, and prevention education for young people. Second Growth strives to build strength and resiliency skills of youth in order to improve their outcomes and help them safely navigate adolescence. Through their programming, local youth learn important principles that will ensure their best chance for a bright future and a lifetime of wellness.
“We are incredibly grateful to Bar Harbor Bank & Trust for this generous donation from employees who participated in the Bank’s recent ‘Casual for a Cause’ initiative,” said Tom Donahue, CEO at BROC Community Action in Southwestern Vermont. “The funds will be used to further the goals of our Transitional Training Program, which provides job skills training to individuals of low income who desire to enter or return to the workforce.”
For over 50 years BROC Community Action gives people a chance, by allowing the disadvantaged members of our communities to develop and use their capacities and abilities, so they can share in the promise of our country. It was formed through the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. From offices in Vermont (Rutland and Bennington), BROC’s programs include economic development, food and nutrition, housing, utility assistance, weatherization, and a community justice center. BROC provides people with hope, opportunity and a path forward (out of crisis or poverty), so our neighbors and communities thrive.
Bar Harbor Bankshares (NYSE American: BHB) is the parent company of its wholly owned subsidiary, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. Operating over 50 locations across Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust is headquartered in Bar Harbor, Maine and has more than $3.5 billion in assets. As a leading Northern New England community bank, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust offers a full range of personal and business banking services, as well as wealth management services through its subsidiaries Bar Harbor Trust Services and Charter Trust Company. For more information about Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, visit www.BarHarbor.bank or call 1-888-853-7100. Member FDIC.
