The Northfield Savings Bank (NSB) Foundation today announced its new multi-year grant recipient is ReSOURCE (formerly known as ReCycle North), a Vermont-based nonprofit organization with locations in Burlington and Barre. The NSB Foundation awarded ReSOURCE a grant totaling $450,000 to be paid over the next three years. The Foundation celebrated the launch of this new partnership with an event hosted at ReSOURCEâ s Burlington location.
Before selecting ReSOURCE as its grant recipient, the NSB Foundation conducted a community needs assessment and thoroughly examined areas in need of support. The Foundation carefully considered possible recipients in order to ensure significant results could be achieved given the amount of time and money to be invested.
Tim Burke, Board Chair of the NSB Foundation, remarked on the process for selecting a grant recipient. â Through our assessment, the Foundation identified several areas of potential focus ranging from workforce development to aging in place,’said Burke. â After narrowing our focus and interviewing nonprofits that could be potential candidates, we determined ReSOURCE would be the ideal recipient.They met our requirements and also demonstrated proficiencies in leadership, sustainability, collaboration, innovation and outcomes evaluation.â
ReSOURCE is a mission-based organization which aims to meet community and individual needs through education and job skills training, environmental stewardship and economic opportunities. The $450,000 grant from the NSB Foundation will aid the nonprofit organization in achieving long-term, sustainable results.Over the next four years, the Foundation partnership with ReSOURCE will help to improve the quality of life for Vermonters by focusing on a series of key initiatives. These include:
·Expanding the YouthBuild job skills training for disadvantaged youth
·Weatherizing homes for low and moderate income Vermonters
·Constructing and/or renovating affordable housing
·Reducing landfill waste by repurposing waste products into saleable products
Tom Longstreth, Executive Director at ReSOURCE, spoke next at the event. â We are incredibly honored the Northfield Savings Bank Foundation has demonstrated their confidence in ReSOURCE by awarding us this grant,’ Longstreth remarked. â Through this partnership we will be able to deliver even greater service to people in our community.â
Also at Wednesdayâ s event were students from YouthBuild, a program of ReSOURCE that provides job skills training for disadvantaged youth. They spoke about their classroom experience working toward their GED or high school diploma, as well as their worksite experience learning construction and energy efficiency job skills.
Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger was in attendance and spoke briefly at the event applauding the collaboration between a local business and nonprofit organization. Wednesdayâ s event kicks off the partnership between the NSB Foundation and ReSOURCE, which will continue through 2015.
About the NSB Foundation
The NSB Foundation was established by the Northfield Savings Bank in 2000 to perpetuate and expand its charitable contributions in Vermont communities, particularly within its service area of central Vermont and Chittenden County.From 2000 to 2006, the NSB Foundation distributed several large grants each year.In 2006, the NSB Foundation implemented a multi-year, single-issue funding model in the belief a more lasting benefit could be realized by supporting a single worthy cause for an extended period of time.While the NSB Foundation no longer utilizes an open application process, smaller grant requests continue to be considered by Northfield Savings Bank.To learn more, visitwww.nsbvt.com.
About Northfield Savings Bank
Northfield Savings Bank was founded in Northfield, VT in 1867 by a schoolmaster and haberdasher who believed a local community bank was needed. More than seven generations later, NSB continues this community-minded tradition, and has grown to become the second largest bank headquartered in Vermont with assets of over $685 million. Also known for its role as a corporate citizen, NSB proudly donates 10% of profits to Vermont community organizations. Donations exceeded $570,000 in 2011, which included a special $100,000 donation for Tropical Storm Irene disaster relief. Northfield Savings Bank operates 13 branches throughout central Vermont and Chittenden County. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.www.nsbvt.com
About ReSOURCE
ReSOURCEâ s mission is to meet community and individual needs through: (1) education and job skills training, (2) environmental stewardship, and (3) economic opportunities. To learn more about ReSOURCE, visitwww.resourcevt.org.
NORTHFIELD, VT (April 18, 2012)