Florence Bank Supports MHA’s Wellness Classic Golf Tournament

FLORENCE — Florence Bank supported the Mental Health Association’s 26th annual Wellness Classic Golf Tournament with a $5,000 sponsorship, helping the organization live its mission to better the lives of people challenged by intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Founded in the 1960s, formerly based in Springfield, and now located in Chicopee, MHA is a pioneer in community-based support for those living with mental illness, homelessness, intellectual disabilities, brain injuries, and substance use.

The organization offers more than 60 residential programs in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties and operates these four divisions, each serving a different segment of need: Recovery and Housing, supporting people with substance-use disorders or a mental-health diagnosis, as well as people experiencing chronic homelessness; New Way Services, for those who have experienced a brain injury; Integration and Community Living, serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and BestLife Emotional Health and Wellness, an outpatient behavioral-health clinic based in Springfield.

“We help people live their best lives, and we provide access to therapies that provide emotional health and wellness,” said Jen Ducharme, vice president of Development and Community Relations at MHA. “Our mission is to serve as many people as possible, as quickly as possible in ways that are person-centered. Everything is catered to the person receiving care because everybody’s needs are different.”

The Mental Health Assoc. serves 3,500 to 3,800 people each year, and its annual golf classic was held this year on Sept. 27 at Crestview Country Club in Agawam; it typically raises roughly $100,000.

“The funds raised for the Wellness Classic enable the Mental Health Organization to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those we serve,” Florence Bank President and CEO Matt Garrity said. “We were honored to help by sponsoring so that individuals get the treatment they need to rebuild relationships with family, revive self-worth and independence, and live a life of health and wellness.”

Florence Bank is a long-term supporter of MHA and has been the organization’s banking partner for about 10 years.

“Florence Bank has been a wonderful partner to us with all of our banking needs and providing support in many ways for the work that we do,” Ducharme said. “They have a presence — unique and sincere. We know that, no matter what, we can count on them to discuss finances or for help with an initiative.”