HCN News & Notes

bankESB Commits $100,000 to Sister Mary Caritas Endowed Nurses’ Education Fund

EASTHAMPTON — bankESB announced a $100,000, multi-year commitment to Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, in support of the Sister Mary Caritas Endowed Nurses’ Education Fund. This investment will help provide critical resources for the ongoing education, training, and professional development of nurses, ensuring patients in Western Mass. continue to receive the highest quality of compassionate care.

Established to honor the legacy of Sister Mary Caritas, former president of Mercy Medical Center and a lifelong advocate for accessible, high-quality healthcare, the endowed fund strengthens the hospital’s ability to recruit, retain, and advance skilled nursing professionals. Nurses supported by the fund will benefit from advanced training opportunities, certification programs, and educational scholarships that directly enhance patient care across the community.

“bankESB is proud to stand alongside Mercy Medical Center in its mission to provide exceptional healthcare close to home,” said Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of bankESB. “Nurses are at the heart of every patient experience, and by supporting their continued education, we are investing not only in the future of healthcare, but also in the well-being of families across our region.”

The $100,000 pledge underscores bankESB’s long-standing dedication to strengthening local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism, and support of organizations that make a difference in people’s lives.

“We are grateful to bankESB for this generous donation to the Sister Mary Caritas Endowed Nurses’ Education Fund,” said Susan Pettorini-D’Amico, chief Nursing officer at Mercy Medical Center. “This important fund not only allows us to recruit at local colleges and universities with paid internships, but it also supports current Mercy nurses interested in pursuing elevated certifications and licenses, as well as colleagues who want to pursue a new career in nursing.”