Success Stories

In many communities, public libraries still serve as critical centers of learning and activity for local residents. In Easthampton, the Easthampton Public Library is no different.

So, when the library outgrew its primary location at 9 Park St. and needed space to expand programming, bankESB was proud to step up big—donating use of its bank-owned building at 52 Main St.

According to Library Director Katya Schapiro, the library plans to renovate the space to serve as an annex that will host a mix of community meeting and event space, classrooms for computer classes and other educational opportunities for patrons, and an accessible children’s room. The property offers ample off-street parking and is conveniently located in the downtown area to allow walkable access for downtown residents.

“The library staff and patrons are eagerly looking forward to the expanded programming and gathering opportunities that the new annex space will provide, as well as the opportunities for future expansion,” said Schapiro. “We’re very grateful for this gift from bankESB and excited to make the most of this incredible opportunity.”

bankESB president and CEO Matthew S. Sosik says when he and the bankESB board of directors heard of the library’s need for additional space downtown, it was a “no-brainer” for bankESB to support the library in its mission to further unlock the potential of the Easthampton community and its residents.

“We’ve been an integral part of downtown Easthampton for over 150 years, so it’s literally our own backyard,” Sosik said. “We view this as an opportunity to continue making a meaningful difference in the community we call home and for those who live and work here.”

Renovations will begin this fall and should be completed in early 2025.

Did you know that more than 10% of households experience food insecurity?

At bankESB, our annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors fundraising drive is all about trying to make a difference by raising money for local food pantries that help our neighbors in need gain access to healthy food.

Each fall, we invite bank customers, employees, and members of the community to donate money throughout the month of November. All donations (up to $2,500 per donor) are matched dollar for dollar by bankESB and the total divided among participating food pantries across the Western Massachusetts in communities we serve.

In just the first two years of our drive, we’ve raised more than $74,000, Next year, we hope to add to that total and make an even bigger impact!

bankESB President and CEO Matthew S. Sosik says he’s proud of this annual giving tradition. “Neighbors Helping Neighbors is a great example of how we can enhance everyone’s quality of life if we work to solve our biggest problems—together.”

Access to quality medical care is something we all count on.

That’s why bankESB recently made a $500,000 challenge grant to Transforming Emergency Care: Campaign for the Cooley Dickinson Emergency Department, a $26 million expansion, reconfiguration, and renovation effort to allow the hospital to meet the growing emergency medicine needs of everyone in the community, from infants to older adults. And this past summer, the hospital announced that our challenge grant had far exceeded original expectations, raising a total of more than $1.9 million!

“Every great community needs a great hospital. And Cooley Dickinson continues to do an amazing job treating our friends, family, and neighbors who live and work in our communities,” said bankESB President and CEO Matthew S. Sosik. “bankESB is pleased to do its part in supporting Cooley Dickinson and its efforts to transform its Emergency Department into one that can unlock its full potential.”

According to Cooley Dickinson, its Emergency Department is 40% undersized to meet the community’s needs. The number of patients visiting the department has doubled—from 17,000 in the 1970s to nearly 34,000 in recent years. Renovations are expected to break ground in 2024.

“The Emergency Department is in essence our front door and often patients and their families who come in for care are at their most vulnerable,” notes Dr. Lynnette Watkins, President and COO of Cooley Dickinson Hospital. “It’s important for us to provide a safe, warm, welcoming environment to every patient, and this campaign will help ensure that we can.”

“We rely on great community partners, like bankESB, who give so generously in support of the care that we provide every day,” added Lynnette.

With this donation, the bank will have given more than $1 million to Cooley Dickinson over the past decade to help support the hospital’s expanded care, including a new unified cancer center, The Breast Center, and other initiatives.

For bankESB, giving back to the community is all about enhancing quality of life.

In Western Massachusetts, one organization that is advancing the common good by focusing on the building blocks for a good life—education, financial stability, health, and basic needs—is United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region.

So, it’s no surprise that bankESB continues to be a pacesetter organization in the United Way’s annual workplace campaign, and why the bank and its employees have contributed nearly $600,000 to United Way organizations in Western Massachusetts in the last 10 years alone.

Unlike other fundraising campaigns, the United Way offers contributors the opportunity to not only donate but to direct the funds to a specific cause or organization that is most meaningful to them. In turn, the United Way serves those in the community through both its own programs and services as well as those of its partner agencies. Through its Community Investment program, United Way awards more than $700,000 in multi-year grants annually to local health and social services programs that focus on children, youth, and their families; health and safety; and economic security.

“United Way certainly helps to improve the quality of life for our friends and neighbors,” said bankESB President and CEO Matthew S. Sosik. “bankESB and our employees are proud to support the organization because, together, we can help people in our communities unlock their full potential.”

At bankESB, we take a lot of pride in supporting organizations that make a real difference in our communities.

That’s why we’ve been a staunch supporter, avid partner, and cheerleader of the work of Riverside Industries for nearly two decades, providing more than $300,000 in direct donations and sponsorships, offering countless employee volunteer hours for Riverside events, and supplying a PPP lifeline during the Covid-19 pandemic.

For more than 55 years, Riverside Industries has been serving people with disabilities living in cities and towns throughout Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. Their nearly 130 employees work directly with or support clients’ ability to achieve daily independence, from securing and maintaining jobs to undertaking daily activities like voting and going to the store to purchase daily items they need to live.

Riverside serves clients as young as 14 through its Next Steps Program as well as clients in their 60s and 70s until they reach retirement age. Approximately half of Riverside’s clients live with their families while the remainder live in private or state-operated residential homes.

“Riverside Industries is grateful for the unwavering support we receive from our local community. bankESB continues to lead the way through their philanthropic partnership with our agency. bankESB and Matt Sosik, President and CEO, have been involved in Riverside in numerous capacities for nearly two decades. He and bankESB have been strong advocates for us in so many ways,” said Lynn Ireland, Riverside President and CEO. “We are blessed to enjoy this very important relationship with bankESB.”

It’s not often you get to preserve a piece of history and support the arts at the same time. But that’s exactly what bankESB’s pledge of $150,000 to CitySpace is doing.

CitySpace is the nonprofit arts organization tasked with overseeing the restoration and management of the Easthampton Old Town Hall into a center for the arts for the city of Easthampton and western Massachusetts.

In 2006, CitySpace embarked on an effort to create affordable space for arts organizations under one roof in Easthampton’s Main Street historic district. Now, CitySpace is raising funds to convert the unused second-floor hall into a flexible, accessible 350-seat performing arts and community space for performances, concerts, and community events. Renovations also will include a new box office, elevator, entryway, theatrical lighting, and sound and projection systems.

bankESB President and CEO Matthew S. Sosik hopes the bank’s support encourages others in the local business community to support the project and help CitySpace bring it closer to fruition.

“The Old Town Hall is an iconic building in downtown Easthampton, and CitySpace’s efforts will help ensure it remains an important and vibrant part of the arts culture and economic development within our community,” Matt said. “We’re pleased to make this considerable commitment toward its preservation and welcome others to support CitySpace’s efforts in helping realize Old Town Hall’s full potential.”

“We are honored by the immense gratitude of Old Town Hall’s neighbor, bankESB, for their leading generosity and vision for the future of our community,” said CitySpace President Burns Maxey. “Their confidence in this project fortifies the path for CitySpace to revive Old Town Hall as an arts hub and economic driver for Easthampton and the region.”