[caption id="attachment_6982" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Pictured here, L to R: Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center Director Emily Linhares and Cornerstone Bank Chairman & CEO K. Michael Robbins.[/caption] Cornerstone Bank recently donated $1,000 to the Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center, an organization whose mission is to create a safe, attractive, and livable community of people with varied means and backgrounds. They aim to create partnerships between residents, neighborhood organizations, businesses, churches, schools, colleges, financial institutions, human service organizations, and the government to achieve their vision and address issues of common concern throughout the community. This donation will go directly toward a series of five workforce development and education workshops put together in partnership with Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester Community Action Council, and Workforce Central. Throughout these workshops, unemployed and underemployed residents will learn how to write a resume, how to conduct a job search, and how to ace an interview. Participants will also learn about other training programs that can prepare them for a career that will pay a living wage and offer benefits. During the workshop food, child supervision, and translation services will be provided. “Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center is a driving force in connecting people throughout the community,” stated Cornerstone Bank Chairman & CEO K. Michael Robbins. “We are honored to be able to support the workforce development and education workshops for the unemployed and underemployed residents of Worcester.” For more information about Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center, please visit http://www.psnnc.org/ or call 774-823-3311.

Summer is winding down, and students are beginning to prepare for the school year ahead. This can be a financially difficult time for parents having to provide not only new school clothes, but also school supplies. Cornerstone Bank helps students in need by holding its annual “Stuff the Bus” drive to gather backpacks and school supplies for students in the surrounding communities. From July 31^st through August 9^th, Cornerstone Bank customers and employees generously donated many back to school items to Planting the Seed Foundation of Worcester and the YMCA of Southbridge. The Planting the Seed Foundation will distribute the donated supplies to needy children in Worcester while the YMCA of Southbridge will donate items to children that they service throughout the Southbridge Public School system. These items will help students succeed during the school year—both academically and socially. “We are happy to be able to support students throughout our community,” stated Cornerstone Bank Chairman and CEO K. Michael Robbins. “Thank you to all of our customers and employees for making this year’s Stuff the Bus drive a success.” To learn more about Planting the Seed Foundation, visit plantingtheseed.org. To learn more about the YMCA of Southbridge, please visit ymcaofcm.org.

[caption id="attachment_6816" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Pictured here, L to R: Cornerstone Bank Business Development Sales Manager and Tri-Valley, Inc. Money Management Program volunteer Colleen K. Lord; Cornerstone Bank Chairman & CEO K. Michael Robbins; Tri-Valley, Inc. Protective Services Program Director Patricia Berthiaume; and Cornerstone Bank VP/Compliance, BSA and Security and Tri-Valley, Inc. Money Management Program volunteer Pamela L. LeBlanc.[/caption] Cornerstone Bank recently donated $2,000 to Tri-Valley, Inc., an organization whose mission is to help seniors and people with disabilities live independently in their own homes. This donation will go toward the organization’s Money Management Program. This program is a free service that assists low-income elders who are at risk of losing their independence due to an inability to manage their own finances. Volunteers are matched with elders who need help paying bills and other routine financial tasks. “Tri-Valley, Inc. provides exceptional quality care management for our elders and those who are disabled,” stated Cornerstone Bank Chairman & CEO K. Michael Robbins. “We are pleased to assist the Money Management Program and help seniors manage their finances and keep their independence.” For more information about the Money Management Program or if you would like to become a volunteer, please visit www.trivalleyinc.org, or call 1-800-286-6640.

[caption id="attachment_6680" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Pictured here are the Cornerstone Bank volunteers and employees who participated in Operation Playhouse on June 28, 2019. Team Mickey and Minnie Mouse for the DeSouza family (L to R): Commercial Banking Administrator Alison Nugent; Senior Marketing Associate Alexandria Dickson; VP/Collection Manager Albert Cacciagrani; SVP/HR Director Maria Salvatore; SVP/Retail Lending and Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/ Greater Worcester Board Member Scott Auen; and Emma Auen. Team Cozy Cottage for the Sarenpa Family (L to R): VP/Compliance, BSA & Security Pamela LeBlanc; Commercial Banking Officer Daniel D’Amico; VP/Controller Scott Dungey; VP/Commercial Loan Operations Rachel Briggs; and AVP/Senior Business Development Sales Manager Nada Kanaan.[/caption] On Friday, June 28^th, Cornerstone Bank employees were hard at work at the Habitat for Humanity Operation Playhouse Build-A-Thon. This event brought businesses from the MetroWest and Greater Worcester area together to build, paint, and decorate themed playhouses for Veteran and military families. Fifteen Cornerstone Bank employees spent the day building two playhouses; one a Mickey and Minnie Mouse theme and the other a Cozy Cottage theme. At the end of the Build-A-Thon, the Mickey and Minnie Mouse themed playhouse was presented to the daughter of current US Army Master Sergeant, Luiz DeSouza and his wife, Krystal DeSouza, of Milford, MA.  The cozy cottage themed playhouse went to the children of current Massachusetts Army National Guard Chaplain (Lieutenant Colonel), Ryan Sarenpa and his wife, Clarissa Sarenpa, of Lunenburg, MA. “Our military members make many sacrifices to protect the life that we enjoy here today in the United States. It’s always a privilege to be able to attend the Playhouse Build-A-Thon and give back to the military families in our community,” stated Scott L. Auen, Cornerstone Bank’s SVP/Retail Lender and MetroWest/ Greater Worcester Habitat for Humanity Board Member. Cornerstone Bank would like to thank Mr. DeSouza and Mr. Sarenpa for their service and the service of all of our military men and woman. We would also like to thank Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/ Greater Worcester for organizing this wonderful event and Mercantile Center in Worcester for hosting the event.

[caption id="attachment_6547" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Pictured here, L to R: Cornerstone Bank President & Treasurer Todd M. Tallman; Rainbow Child Development Center Executive Director Joyce Rowell; and Bank EVP/Chief Administrative Officer and Chairman of the Charitable Donations Committee Susan Gunnell[/caption] Cornerstone Bank recently donated $2,500 to Rainbow Child Development Center, an organization that provides quality educational and therapeutic programs and services to more than 200 children and their families living in Worcester. This donation will be used to support the Center’s Speech and Language Program. This program addresses the critical need for speech and language services for at-risk, preschool aged children with language disorders and delays. Receiving on-site, customized speech and language therapy is a proactive means in reducing the number of children requiring special education when transitioning to kindergarten. “We are pleased to support this organization and their mission to transform the lives of children and their families,” stated Cornerstone Bank President & Treasurer Todd M. Tallman. “I am happy to see this donation help the Center in providing vital speech and language therapy to students in need of educational services.”

[caption id="attachment_6530" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Pictured here, L to R: American Legion Gaudette-Kirk Post 138 Member Grace Conner, American Legion Gaudette-Kirk Post 138 Member John Canty, American Legion Gaudette-Kirk Post 138 Member Scott Conner, American Legion Gaudette-Kirk Post 138 Member James Letendre, Cornerstone Bank’s Chairman and CEO K. Michael Robbins, American Legion Gaudette-Kirk Post 138 Member Gerald Perron, and American Legion Gaudette-Kirk Post 138 Member Carol Perron[/caption] Cornerstone Bank is pleased to announce its recent $10,000 donation in support of The American Legion’s Centennial Celebration. On Saturday, June 15, The American Legion Gaudette-Kirk Post 138 in Spencer, MA will host the 100th anniversary celebration of The American Legion. The celebration honors the organization’s first century of service and will feature a grand parade, live music and entertainment, military static displays, vendor booths, food, and games. Our community is strengthened by all that The American Legion does, including their youth mentoring programs, patriotism, and continued devotion to our service members and veterans,” said K. Michael Robbins, Cornerstone Bank Chairman and CEO. “We are honored to be able to support this monumental celebration.” For more information about The American Legion and the Centennial Celebration, visit centennial.legion.org/.

[caption id="attachment_6460" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Pictured L to R: Massachusetts CASA’s Director Joanne Levenson; Cornerstone Bank’s Chairman and CEO K. Michael Robbins; and Massachusetts CASA’s Executive Director Adina Giannelli[/caption] Cornerstone Bank is proud to announce its recent donation of $2,500 to the Massachusetts Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association. The Massachusetts CASA Association provides material and training to a statewide network of volunteer court appointed special advocates who support the best interests of abused or neglected children in the juvenile court system. The funds donated will be used to support their annual network conference where CASA volunteers throughout the Commonwealth are trained. “The Massachusetts CASA Association plays a crucial part in the lives of children who find themselves in a situation where they need a responsible advocate to ensure their safety,” stated Chairman and CEO K. Michael Robbins of Cornerstone Bank. “CASA’s mission to promote, assist, and support the development, growth, and continuation of CASA programs throughout the state is noble, and we are happy to be able to support them in this worthy endeavor.” For more information on the Massachusetts CASA Association, visit macasa.org.

[caption id="attachment_6222" align="aligncenter" width="1668"] Pictured L to R: Cornerstone Bank’s President and Treasurer Todd M. Tallman; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass/Metrowest, Inc’s CEO Jeffrey Chin; and Cornerstone Bank’s EVP, Chief Administrative Officer and Chairman of the Charitable Donations Committee Susan A. Gunnell[/caption] Worcester, MA—Cornerstone Bank proudly announces its recent donation of $1,500 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass/Metrowest, Inc. in support of the organization’s youth mentoring program. This program helps to make a difference in the lives of nearly 2,000 youth and volunteers they serve. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass/Metrowest is to provide underserved children with a positive one-to-one adult mentor relationship. These children often face adversity in the community, and the support each child receives from their adult mentor helps them grow into successful citizens. This donation will go toward the hiring and training needs of the program staff, including the recruitment and selection of youth mentors. The funds will also support the ongoing needs of the mentors and help maintain the programs offered. “Big Brothers Big Sisters provides crucial services to children and adolescents in our community,” stated President and Treasurer Todd M. Tallman of Cornerstone Bank. “We’re proud to support an organization that provides mentoring programs that change lives for the better.” For more information on Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass/Metrowest, Inc., visit bbbscm.org or call: 508-752-7868.