Lee Bank Establishes Foundation to Build on Community Reinvestment

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Chuck Leach, president of Lee Bank and and Foundation Board Member Alison Brigham.
LEE, Mass. — Lee Bank has created the Lee Bank Foundation and project distributing $250,000 through the Foundation, a more formal entity for community donations. 
 
"Lee Bank's community contributions stretch back to its origins in 1852, but establishing Lee Bank Foundation sharpens our focus even further," said Chuck Leach, president of Lee Bank. "The Foundation also simplifies the application process for organizations doing meaningful work to support our Berkshire community."
 
The recently renovated Marble House will house the foundation along with the new financial wellness service, for which hiring is under way.
 
In recent years, Lee Bank has typically set aside at least 5 percent of its annual net income for the support of area nonprofits. This giving has been on the rise: in 2020, Lee Bank contributed nearly $179,000 to community nonprofits; in 2019, $145,000 and in 2018, $120,000. Last year, Lee Bank's distributions included $50,000 to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund for Berkshire County.
 
The Bank has supported more than 200 programs and organizations in recent years, including Greenagers, Community Access to the Arts (CATA), Berkshire Humane Society, Berkshire Immigrant Center and others.
 
The Foundation will be funded at $5 million by Berkshire Financial Services (Lee Bank's parent company), with the goal of providing $250,000 in grants annually to nonprofits.
 
"The timing for creation of the Lee Bank Foundation could not be better," said Jake McCandless of Lee, a Foundation board member. "After a year of turmoil and uncertainty with Covid-19, nonprofits supporting our community and our neighbors will benefit from a streamlined process that supports their vital missions now and into the future."
 
In addition to a 2021 grant goal of $250,000, Lee Bank's employee-driven, branch-based sponsorships will continue as in the past, with a $70,000 projection this year. 
 
"In addition to Foundation funding, our branch-based sponsorship awards are recommended by employees, based on their awareness of local needs and activities in their branch communities," said Leach.
 
The Foundation's board of directors includes Chuck Leach (president), Alison Brigham (treasurer) Nina Garlington (secretary) and Jake McCandless (director). Additional directors will be named in coming months, including at least one additional Lee Bank employee.
 
"Our goal is to empower our employees, customers and community, with excellent service, with simplicity and sincerity," said Leach. "Lee Bank Foundation is another means for us to meet this commitment."
 
For more information about the Lee Bank Foundation, visit the Community Impact page on the Lee Bank website.  
 
The Foundation's application for funding can be found here
 
Any questions can be submitted to our Marketing Manager and Lee Bank Foundation Treasurer Alison Brigham, at requests@leebank.com.

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Community Hero of the Month: Officer Joshua Tracy

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
LEE, Mass.—Lee Police Department patrolman Joshua Tracy has been selected for the February Community Hero of the Month. 
 
The Community Hero of the Month series runs for the next 9 months in partnership with Haddad Auto. Nominated community members and organizations have gone above and beyond to make a positive impact on their community. 
 
Tracy has been an officer in the Berkshires for seven years, working for multiple departments including North Adams, Pittsfield, and as of approximately 5 months ago, Lee. 
 
Prior to being an officer, Tracy served 12 years in the Army National Guard. He became an officer when he left the service because it not only allowed him to help others, which he knew he enjoyed, but allowed him to utilize his military training. 
 
When on a call, Tracy knows he is likely walking into someone's worst day, which is why he strives to be a dependable person for the people out in the community, he said. 
 
"I think the thing that I think about the most of making an impact is showing up on these calls that we go on and de-escalating and calming the situation down," Tracy said. 
 
"You know, most of the time when we show up, it's because someone's having one of their worst days or just a really bad day."
 
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