Florence Bank to Host a Zoominar Event for Nonprofits in Hampden County
FLORENCE—Florence Bank will host a Zoominar on Monday, Oct. 18 from 3-4 p.m. for nonprofits in Hampden County to introduce them to the bank’s Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program in hopes of helping them gain votes—and funds.
With branches located in West Springfield, Springfield and Chicopee, bank leaders want organizations in Hampden County to be better acquainted with the innovative grant program so the bank can collaborate more fully in all the communities it serves.
“We want to help organizations get the most out of our program,” said Bank President and CEO Kevin Day. “We are excited, too, about celebrating our 20th anniversary in 2022 and want to spread the word about how to help people in our midst.”
Leaders of nonprofits are invited to register for the event by Oct. 12 by emailing Erin Defoyd, marketing communications manager / officer, at Erin.Defoyd@Florencebank.com. Only those who have registered will receive the Zoom link to attend the webinar.
In 2020, almost 7,000 votes were cast through Customers’ Choice, and 32 nonprofits accepted a grant award in May; a total of $100,500 was handed out.
In 20 years, the bank has awarded $1.3 million to area nonprofits.
To qualify for a community grant, organizations must receive at least 50 votes—from Florence Bank customers. The bank has a kit at www.florencebank.com/customer-choice-kit that nonprofits can use to strategize how to gain votes. The kit contains an information sheet on Customers’ Choice, a sample flyer to display and a press release leaders can adapt and send to the media.
“We want to offer another layer of support to our neighbors in Hampden County, who may be unaware of the program, hence the idea to host the Zoominar,” said Monica Curhan, senior vice president / marketing director at the bank. “We have some great tips for getting enough votes to qualify for a share of the $100,000 grant money, and we want to share them with organization leaders.”
After an introduction by Curhan, Zoominar attendees will hear Day describe the Customers’ Choice program and its history, and Defoyd will give an overview of the materials in the bank’s Customers’ Choice PR kit and talk specifically about using social media to promote the program. Janice Beetle of Beetle Press, who partners with the bank’s marketing team, will talk about how to customize the press release template.
The branch managers of the three Hampden County branches will also be on the call to introduce themselves. They are Emily Tower, West Springfield branch; Nikki Gleason, Allen Street branch; and Kimberly Downing, Chicopee.
Hampden County nonprofits who attend the Zoominar will be listed in a promotional piece to be handed to customers in the Hampden County branches from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, thereby increasing awareness of their organization and earning them more potential votes from Florence Bank customers.
For more information, contact Defoyd at Erin.Defoyd@Florencebank.com.
About Florence Bank
Florence Bank is a mutually-owned savings bank chartered in 1873. Currently, the Bank serves the Pioneer Valley through 12 full-service branch locations in Florence, Northampton, Easthampton, Williamsburg, Amherst, Hadley, Belchertown, Granby, Chicopee, West Springfield, and Springfield. Additionally, it offers 25 ATMs and a wide range of financial services, including investment management through FSB Financial Group (FSBFG) to consumers and businesses. Florence Bank is consistently voted best local bank by the readers of the Valley Advocate and the Daily Hampshire Gazette.