The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, announced today that it has awarded $5,000 to Life Bridge, Inc. Life Bridge, Inc, was started in 2004 as a teen mentoring organization. Together with full-time staff and numerous volunteers, their goal is to facilitate one-to-one mentoring relationships between students and healthy adults resulting in positive life changes.
Left to right: Michael Seaver, Officer, People’s United Community Foundation and Vermont Division President, People’s United Bank; David Kemper, Executive Director/President, Life Bridge, Jeff Fuller, Central Vermont Director, Life Bridge and Vince Santilli, Executive Director, People’s United Community Foundation.
Their vision is to give students hope, keep them off drugs/alcohol, help curb risky behaviors, and to encourage healthy choices. Trained adults invest 90 minutes each week for a year into students' lives through a one-to-one mentoring relationship. Mentoring enables a student to develop responsible decision making skills, deeper relationships within their family, improved grades/attendance in school, and potentially a rewarding journey into the future as a responsible young adult in their community.
“Everyone needs someone they can turn to and rely on,” stated Michael Seaver, Officer of People’s United Community Foundation, and President Vice – Vermont, People’s United Bank. “For children, this means a great deal and makes a big difference in their lives. We are pleased to be able to support Life Bridge as they offer mentoring services in the Barre Schools.”
“We are so thankful to People’s United Bank as they have partnered with us to mentor kids and their families in the greater Barre Region in central Vermont. “The Value of The One” is our motto. Thank you for investing in students and their families, making a difference for today and tomorrows. Building a future with one mentor and mentee at a time,” commented Life Bridge Executive Director and President Dr. David Kemper.
Established in 2007, People’s United Community Foundation was formed to help support programs and activities that enhance the quality of life for citizens in the communities that People’s United Bank serves. People’s United Bank, founded in 1842 and serving customers from New York to Maine through a network of more than 400 branches, is the largest independent bank headquartered in New England. The Foundation places special emphasis on programs designed to promote economic self-sufficiency, education and improved conditions for low-income families and neighborhoods. The funding priorities of the Foundation include community development, youth development, and affordable housing.