We are pleased to announce a new grant from the Northfield Savings Bank Foundation (NSBF), the charitable arm of the Northfield Savings Bank. A two-year $100,000 grant to Vermont Afterschool will provide funding for our Youth Leadership Initiative, an impactful project that puts young people at the center of decision-making in our communities through the creation of local youth councils.
These youth councils will be charged with soliciting and funding youth-proposed ideas for how to make their communities better for young people. The initiative aims to help our communities see youth as a resource; increase opportunities for innovation and inclusion; support economic vitality; and build a stronger democracy.
“Young people enhance our communities and make for a better Vermont,” said Holly Morehouse, Executive Director of Vermont Afterschool. “The grant from the Northfield Savings Bank Foundation for the Youth Leadership Project recognizes youth as problem-solvers who are eager to be engaged. Especially with the current challenges under COVID-19 around isolation and disconnection, we are grateful for this opportunity to give young people opportunities to be part of Vermont’s path forward, to build agency, and to find creative ways to make their communities stronger. We greatly appreciate the support from the Foundation and look forward to seeing the growth over the next two years in youth leadership, youth-driven initiatives, and authentic youth engagement across these communities.”
The project will create up to five youth councils based in Chittenden, Washington, and Orange Counties where the Northfield Savings Bank has branch locations.
NSBF also awarded a two-year $200,000 grant to the Community College of Vermont to help the college expand Flex , an online course program that allows students to take classes at their own pace. The model helps busy adults fit courses into their schedules, giving them valuable skills that could further their careers.
“These partnerships are important investments in our communities: an investment to boost job prospects for Vermont’s unemployed and underemployed, and an investment to help elevate the voices of local youth,” said Yael Friedman, President and Chair of the NSBF Board of Directors. “The Northfield Savings Bank Foundation is proud to support these initiatives, which will make a difference for individuals now and into the future.”
About NSB and NSBF
The Northfield Savings Bank Foundation (NSBF) was established in 2000 through Northfield Savings Bank (NSB) as part of NSB’s long-standing commitment to donate 10 percent of its yearly earnings to the local community. The Foundation supports Vermont-based efforts focused around improving residents’ well-being and self-sufficiency in areas such as financial literacy, education and at-risk youth.
Northfield Savings Bank contributed more than $650,000 in 2019 through NSBF and NSB’s Community Giving program as part of its pledge to give back to the areas it serves. Over more than 150 years, assets have grown to over $1 billion, and NSB is the largest independent bank headquartered in Vermont. NSB is a full-service bank offering a full range of community banking, commercial banking and mortgage banking services to consumer and commercial customers. Investment services are available through Northfield Investment Services*. Northfield Savings Bank operates 13 branches throughout central Vermont and Chittenden County stretching from Bethel to Greater Burlington. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. www.nsbvt.com
