HAMPDEN BANK FOUNDATION SUPPORTS FINANCIAL LITERACY

October 02, 2009

[Springfield, MA] Mr. Hector Toledo, Vice President of Hampden Bank presented a $4,000 grant to Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts on behalf of the Hampden Bank Charitable Foundation. The grant will be used to support JA’s Building a Successful Future program which is geared towards helping inner city, disadvantaged youth succeed academically, develop leadership skills, and explore career opportunities through interaction with business leaders, community leaders, and college leaders.

This project provides students with a variety of ways to become engaged in JA programs, to expand their business and financial literacy knowledge and gain a better understanding of "the link between learning and earning." The support from local businesses, both financially and by encouraging their employees to volunteer, provide students with opportunities to explore careers locally, to understand the skills they need to succeed in the future and to see first-hand they can build a career. Last year over 5,600 students in Springfield in grades K-12 participated in JA programs.

Jennifer Connolly, President of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts, said “The generosity and community support that JA has received from the Hampden Savings Foundation will allow more students like Marvin Perez, Jr. from Central High School to participate in programs like JA Economics for Success.” After his JA experience Marvin noted, “what I liked best about the JA program was the experience of jobs and life income and the teamwork.”

HAMPDEN BANK - Since1852 Hampden Bank has been “brightening the days’ of its customers. A local community bank serving the families and businesses throughout Hampden County, Hampden Bank has nine branch office locations -- Springfield, Agawam, Longmeadow, West Springfield, Wilbraham, at Tower Square in downtown Springfield, Indian Orchard, and its newest location, a second Longmeadow office, on Shaker Road. In addition to offering the most up-to-date banking services, Hampden Bank offers clients a full array of insurance and financial products through it’s subsidiary, Hampden Financial, a strategic alliance created with MassMutual and Charter Oak Insurance and Financial Services. “What can we do to brighten your day?”

About Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to educating young people about business, economics and free enterprise. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JA provides in-school and after-school programs for students in grades K-12. JA offers educational programs that focus on seven key content areas: business, citizenship, economics, entrepreneurship, ethics/character, financial literacy, and career development. Today more than Junior Achievement Worldwide reaches almost seven million students in 98 countries. For more information, visit www.jawm.org.