Investing in Our Communities

foundation-focus Since the Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation began, over $24 million in grants have been committed to 501(c)(3) organizations in our local communities. Last year the Foundation awarded in excess of $2.2 million in support of organizations that are dealing with some of our area’s most critical issues. To focus our efforts on these issues, we’ve identified three areas of focus that may receive special consideration for funding:

Pictured L-R: Teri Bernert, Executive Director, WHALE; Amanda Desrosiers, Owner, People's Pressed; Michele Roberts, EVP/Community Relations Officer, BCSB and Clerk, BCSCF; Hollie Lussier, EVP/Chief Risk Officer & General Counsel, BCSB; and Nancy Cabral, Brancj Manager, Candleworks Office, BCSB.,

Co-Creative Center - New Bedford

People’s Pressed is Southcoast massachusetts’ first cold-pressed juice company which is located in the new Co-Creative Center in New Bedford. The Bank’s $250,000 equity investment was targeted to the buildout of this start-up company which has been very successful in its first year at the location. EVP & Community Relations Officer Michele Roberts, and EVP, Chief Risk Officer Hollie Lussier coordinated the innovative investment that assisted in the redevelopment of the once vacant property.

Blackstone Valley Community Health - Rhode Island

Blackstone Valley Community Health received a $25,000 grant from BCSCF to assist in completing the third-floor construction of its new Central Falls Neighborhood Health Station. This state-of- the art facility is the first of its kind in the United States, offering comprehensive, high quality, low cost health care services. The completion of this project expanded the existing Central Falls clinical space, allowing the Central Falls residents the convenience receiving all their health care needs in one location.

Attleboro School Department

Attleboro Public Schools received a $20,000 grant to support the development of their Social Emotional Learning (SEL) action plan. Success in school and life goes far beyond academic ability, with social-emotional skills having a significant impact on students’ performance and persistence in school, as well as their lifelong health and well-being. The SEL action plan provides professional development for administration and teachers to support student learning and provide them with coping strategies for behavioral and emotional health.

Triumph - Taunton

The mission of Triumph is to support the education, well-being and self-sufficiency of young children and their families through high quality and early education programs and community engagement. Triumph received a $15,000 grant from the Foundation to support over 320 children and families receiving comprehensive childcare which encompasses all aspects of a child’s life, including health, transportation, social services and early-education.

Fall River School Department

The Fall River School Department used a $20,000 grant to enhance the impact of its Attendance Task Force. The Attendance Task Force works to reduce chronic absenteeism in Fall River schools through media campaigns that educate the community on the importance of good attendance. In addition, the Committee is using this grant to support schools’ research of new absence prevention strategies.