ARTICLE
Grants include $100,000 for Cape Cod Hospital’s new Patient Tower March 10, 2020 (Hyannis, MA) - The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod Charitable Foundation Trust is pleased to announce $133,750 in grants to local organizations for the first quarter of the year. Lisa Oliver, President & CEO of The Coop and Chair of The Coop Foundation Board of Trustees, awarded grants to the following organizations at a reception held at the bank’s headquarters on Friday. “It’s my distinct honor to award grants to these deserving organizations,” said Oliver. “In their own way, each provides vital resources that collectively we all benefit from. The new Patient Tower at Cape Cod Hospital, for example, is going to dramatically improve our healthcare system on the Cape. It’s an exciting development for our region.” The Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation was awarded $100,000 for the new Patient Tower at Cape Cod Hospital. Over the past several years, the hospital has seen disturbing numbers of higher cancer rates on the Cape than in the rest of the state. In response, the Foundation is embarking on construction of a six-story Patient Tower that will redefine cancer care on the Cape and reduce the need to travel to Boston for state-of-the-art healthcare. The Tower will house two floors of cancer care, a new Intensive Care Unit adding 16 additional beds, cardiac services, acute care, and an Education Center and Harbor View Terrace for training and conference areas. Community Connections, with locations in Yarmouth and Mashpee, received a grant of $5,000 towards expansion of their Life Skills Program. Since 1985, Community Connections has been providing life-enriching services that promote optimal independence for people with disabilities. They help them to live as independently as possible through Day Habilitation, Life Skills, Employment Opportunities, Elder Services, Transportation, and transition from school to adult life. The Life Skills programming includes budgeting, meal planning, computer skills, and health and fitness, among other skills. Falmouth Volunteers In Public Schools (VIPS) received a grant of $3,750 to create and launch “The Student Toolkit for Success.” Falmouth VIPS began in 1982 as a way to increase interaction between the public schools and the community of Falmouth. Starting with only eight volunteers at Falmouth High School, today VIPS has 1,000 volunteers in all seven schools in Falmouth. The Student Toolkit for Success will build on several of their current successful programs, and add newly created programs that will engage students and instill awareness and understanding of concepts and skills that will be useful, practical, and relevant to their lives. The Family Pantry of Cape Cod/Cape Cod Community College Family Pantry was awarded $10,000 to grow the food pantry at Cape Cod Community College. The Family Pantry of Cape Cod has been serving the people of the Lower Cape since 1989. Today, the Pantry has more than 700 volunteers, operates a mobile pantry serving the Lower Cape (Healthy Meals in Motion), and, in 2013, opened a satellite pantry on the campus of Cape Cod Community College. Last year, the 4C’s pantry distributed over 17,000 pounds of food and saw a 65% increase in the number of clients. The Pantry is utilized by students, staff, faculty, and parents of children at the on-site day care center – providing nutritious food catered to the mobile nature of clients, and essential health care items. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod & the Islands was awarded $10,000 as part of a multi-year grant pledged by The Coop Foundation in 2019. BBBS is the only one-to-one youth serving mentoring organization in the area, and has been in operation on Cape Cod for forty-five years. They currently serve more than 300 kids in the community. The grant will help them continue to expand their programming and recruit much needed mentors. Whelden Memorial Library received $5,000 out of an $8,000 matching grant to make vital repairs to the building. A local treasure in the West Barnstable community, the library provides residents with a safe gathering place for community groups, in-person resources and assistance, access to online resources and CLAMS catalogue, educational events, and a variety of classes. After sustaining significant water damage from winter storms last year, the library is embarking on a campaign to make necessary updates to maintain the integrity of the building and continue to offer vital services to the community. The Coop Foundation is matching funds raised in the community to help restore the building and partnering with the Library to raise the remaining funds necessary for completing the repairs. Launched in December of 2018, The Coop Foundation awards grants to 501(c)(3) organizations that enhance quality of life through programs and initiatives that meet the fundamental needs of people in the communities the bank serves. The Foundation’s mission is to cultivate vibrant and thriving communities and seeks to partner with organizations working in the fields of economic development and self-sufficiency, community vitality and sustainability, thriving youth and families, education and learning, and health and human care. For more information on the Foundation and how to apply for a grant, visit mycapecodbank.com/charitable-giving. About The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod Charitable Foundation Trust The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod Charitable Foundation Trust is a 501(c)3 registered nonprofit in the state of Massachusetts with a mission to cultivate vibrant and thriving communities. Established in 2018, the Foundation awarded over $100,000 in its first year. The Coop Foundation solidifies and formalizes The Coop’s commitment as a mutual bank to give back to the community, earmarking funds for philanthropy that won’t decrease according to the bottom line, but increase as the assets of the Trust grows. The Coop Foundation serves as an extension of the Bank’s current community giving program by enhancing and expanding it. For more information, please visit mycapecodbank.com/charitable-giving.