Florence Bank Awards $150,000 to 40 Area Nonprofits
FLORENCE — More than 100 nonprofit leaders representing 40 organizations across the Pioneer Valley came together on May 13 at Florence Bank’s annual Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program reception to network and accept a total of $150,000 in awards. The annual event took place at the Garden House in Look Park in Florence.
“Being part of the Customers’ Choice awards reminds us that we’re important and relevant,” said Chelsea Kline, executive director of the Cancer Connection in Northampton, which received a $5,000 award, the highest possible. “It’s heartwarming and reassuring to know that the Cancer Connection is needed and the community recognizes that, and having a bank that creates this beautiful event is really heartwarming to me. It speaks volumes about the values of Florence Bank.”
The grant program was founded in 2002, and, through it, Florence Bank customers are invited to vote for their favorite local nonprofit in hopes it will receive a share of grant funding. Voting takes place all year long, online at florencebank.com/vote and in bank branches, and each customer has only one vote. To qualify for a community grant, organizations must receive at least 50 votes. In 2024, more than 7,500 votes were cast, making 40 nonprofits eligible for a grant.
“Our Customers’ Choice Community Grants program is very unique, and we are proud to give voice to our customers and their preferences on where we allocate our funds,” President and CEO Matt Garrity said. “We also enjoy having the chance to connect with each of them and to hear about the important work they are doing in our midst. We know it is good work because our customers voted for them.”
One of the newest recipients was Stone Soup Café in Greenfield, which received $2,334. The nonprofit provides a pay-what-you-can, gluten-free, from-scratch meal and entertainment on Hope Street every Saturday between noon and 1:30 p.m. to roughly 200 people from all walks of life. The nonprofit also delivers meals to an additional 120 families.
“The opportunity Florence Bank offers for customers to vote on nonprofits that are important to them is awesome,” said Jansyn Thaw, director of Fundraising and Marketing at Stone Soup. “We were able to invite our community to show their support for us, and the bank was willing to listen to that input. They’re receptive, which I really appreciate.”
Once again, Dakin Humane Society of Springfield received a $5,000 grant, as it has for the past 13 years. The nonprofit has received a Customers’ Choice grant each of the 23 years the program has been offered.
“When we go to the ceremonies and customers have selected Dakin, we see this as ‘we’ve done all this together,’” said Stacey Price, director of Development and Marketing. “It’s remarkable to see the longevity of the relationship. Dakin is about people and pets, not just pets. Florence Bank’s customers chose us because they believe the same thing.”
In addition to Dakin and Cancer Connection, these organizations received a $5,000 grant: Amherst Survival Center, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts in Chicopee, Friends of Forbes Library in Northampton, Friends of Northampton Legion Baseball, Friends of the Williamsburg Library, Goshen Firefighters Assoc., Historic Northampton, It Takes a Village in Huntington, Northampton Survival Center, Our Lady of the Hills Parish in Haydenville, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Florence.
Along with Stone Soup, the following organizations also received an award: Bright Spot Therapy Dogs in West Brookfield, $4,784; Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, $4,707; Williamsburg Firefighters Assoc., $4,631; Manna Soup Kitchen in Northampton, $4,516; Friends of M.N. Spear Memorial Library in Shutesbury, $4,325; Friends of Lilly Library in Florence, $4,172; Amherst Neighbors, $3,865; BARC Inc. in Belchertown, $3,674; Ludlow Boys & Girls Club, $3,636; Kestrel Land Trust in Amherst, $3,406; Smith Vocational High School PTO in Northampton, $3,406; Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School in Hadley, $3,177; Easthampton Community Center, $3,138; Northampton Neighbors, $3,100; Thomas J. O’Connor Adoption Center in Springfield, $2,947; Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst, $2,909; Northampton Community Music Center, $2,909; Edward Hopkins Educational Foundation in Hatfield, $2,794; New Hingham Regional Elementary School PTO in Chesterfield, $2,794; Grow Food Northampton Inc. in Florence, $2,602; Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Holyoke, $2,449; Shriners Children’s New England in Springfield, $2,412; Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School in South Hadley, $2,335; Safe Passage in Northampton, $2,067; and Northampton High School PTO, $1,914.