Commitment to Community

Winchester Co-operative Bank continues its support of the YMCA Power Scholars Academy in Woburn. The Power Scholars Academy was established to assist students in Grades K-2 for whom an academic achievement gap has been identified. The North Suburban YMCA has partnered with BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life) to help fill the gap by offering a unique learning experience with a proven track record of success. WCB is proud to continue this support with a donation of $5,000.00 toward this summers program.

Pictured (left to right): Joanne M. Reese, SVP WCB; Coley Carden, VP, WCB; Joe Connelly, Ex. Director Woburn YMCA; Mark Kellett, President, WCB.

During this past winter, WCB made a donation to support a program to renovate and expand the Woburn Public Library. The project makes significant progress toward making the facility a 21st century library, with improved access, space and programs.

Winchester Cooperative Bank was pleased to be able to assist in this dramatic renovation and expansion program by donating $10,000.00 to the Woburn Public Library Foundation. This is in line with one of WCB’s goals of making educational tools available to the area, and recognizes that their contribution offers an opportunity to enhance the educational background of all local residents. It is with great pleasure that WCB takes another step in promoting better education for all throughout the entire Greater Woburn area.

Pictured: Joanne M. Reese, SVP of Winchester Co-op; Meghan Needham, Trustee of Woburn Library Foundation; Chris Irving, VP of Winchester Co-op; Claire Murphy, Ex. Director Woburn Library Foundation; and Mark Kellett, President of WCB.

On Thursday, January 24, 2019, Winchester Co-operative Bank (WCB) concluded its 125th Anniversary Celebration of Community with a donation to the Wright-Locke Farm’s All Seasons Barn Campaign. WCB is pleased to be part of this worthwhile project and is excited for the numerous opportunities it will provide to the community.

The accompanying photo shows those at the presentation of the check.

Pictured (left to right): Archie McIntyre, Executive Director Wright-Locke Farm, Joanne Reese, SVP, Winchester Co-operative Bank, Amy Rindskopf, Event Manager, Wright-Locke Farm, Lia O’Donnell, President of Wright- Locke Farm Conservation Board and Mark H. Kellett, President & CEO of Winchester Co-operative Bank.

Winchester Co-Operative Bank staff gets into the spirit of Halloween.

On Wednesday, October 31, 2018, the retail staff at WCB wore costumes to work in observance of Halloween. The costumes represented a wide variety of characters, including Lucy and Ethel, from the scene at the chocolate factory in “I Love Lucy”. The employees really brought a smile to the faces of the customers who came in. Many customers commented on how good the costumes were, talked about what shows they were from and reminisced about when the shows were popular. It is always nice to have someone make you smile, and the employees of WCB did their best to do just that.

Pictured (left to right): Jan Fitzgerald, Jeanne Gagnon, Colleen Henehan,Christine Greene, Diane Delaney, Carrie Magee.

The Winchester Co-operative Bank is pleased to announce their recent donation of $25,000.00 to the Winchester Housing Authority. The donation is earmarked for capital improvements at the Wesley Street and Palmer Street locations. It will go a long way to improve and enhance the living conditions of the elderly and disabled residents in those units, while also serving as a significant energy and cost savings for the Winchester Housing Authority.

WCB makes this contribution during their 125th Anniversary Year. The Bank continues its “Celebrating Community for 125 years” campaign aimed at enhancing our community while enriching the lives of its residents. The accompanying photo shows those at the presentation of the funds to the Winchester Housing Authority.

Pictured (left to right): Mark Fisher, Executive Vice President; Joanne Reese, Senior Vice President; John Hurd, Executive Director for Winchester Housing Authority; Coley Carden, Vice President.

Winchester Cooperative Bank continues its support of the Rush Out And Read (ROAR) Program through the Winchester Public Library. On June 7, 2018, several children who have participated in and benefitted from this year’s program, as well as those who work with ROAR through the library, came to WCB to accept the bank’s donation and celebrate its success.

WCB is pleased to continue support of this program, inspiring the youth of today to better literacy and furthering their knowledge through reading.

Joining the ROAR students are: Stephanie Wolflink (Head of Children’s Services, Library); Theresa Maturevich (Assistant Director, Library); Joanne Reese – Senior Vice President, WCB; Dennis Kronenberg (ROAR coordinator); Mark Kellett – President and CEO, WCB.

Winchester Co-operative Bank continues its 125th Anniversary Celebration of Community with a donation targeting education. The YMCA Power Scholars Academy in Woburn was established in 2017 to assist students in Grades K-2 for whom an academic achievement gap has been identified. When School is out for the summer many youth experience learning loss due to limited or no access to books or classroom instruction. The North Suburban YMCA has partnered with BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life) to help fill that gap by offering a unique learning experience with a proven track record of success. WCB is proud to help sponsor this program designed to help children in the community reach their full potential.

Pictured (left to right) Coley Carden, VP, WCB; Bobbi Williams, Ex. Director Woburn YMCA; Mark Kellett, President, WCB; Aline Dallaire, Program Executive for Dept. of Child Development; Joanne M. Reese, SVP, WCB.

Winchester Co-operative Bank (WCB) is honored to participate in and sponsor events at this year’s Winchester Town Day as the Bank celebrates our 125th year of service to the local community. The day starts with the Winchester Town Day Road Race to benefit the Winchester Foundation for Educational Excellence (WFEE). WCB is proud to sponsor this year’s Road Race in support of WFEE’s efforts to foster innovation and excellence in the Winchester Public Schools. After the race please stop by the Bank to get your 125th Anniversary T-shirt which you are welcome to wear when visiting the Petting Zoo on the common later in the day. WCB is pleased to once again sponsor this traditional family activity.

Pictured (left to right) Mark Kellett, President, WCB; Ceci Cordeiro, Co-President of the WFEE; Heidi Driscoll, Co-President of the WFEE; and Joanne Reese, Senior Vice President, WCB.

During the 2017 holiday season, Winchester Co-operative Bank partnered with the Watertown Police Department and the Whooley Foundation, a non-profit founded in the memory of John Whooley, a Watertown Police Officer, to serve as a drop-off location for gifts to be donated to children in the surrounding communities. The Whooley Foundation mission is to ensure no child in the surrounding communities goes without the joy of opening a present during the holidays.
WCB was pleased to serve as one of the drop-off locations for the second year in a row and this year, almost 500 unwrapped gifts for children were collected. The expectations of children during the holiday season are high, and one of the greatest joys is to see a child’s face when they open a gift. WCB is pleased to be part of this worthwhile project and to be able to experience the true spirit of the season through the eyes of a child.

Pictured (left to right): Detective David Collins, Watertown PD; Christopher Irving, WCB VP – Operations; Mark Fisher, WCB Sr. VP and Chief Lending Officer; Mark Comeiro, Watertown Veterans Agent; Michel Lawn, Chief - Watertown Police Department.

On Thursday, March 22, 2018, the Winchester Cooperative Bank had a team of employees volunteer to help this most noble cause. The event, hosted by the Winchester Rotary Club, saw WCB employees, along with others from our community, package over 12,000 meals bound for Africa. Those who participated said that it was quite rewarding to be involved in such an effort; another example of our employees always willing to lend a hand to help others.

Winchester Co-operative Bank (WCB) kicks off its 125th Anniversary Celebration of Community with recognition of a local, community-focused charity. For over forty years Minuteman Senior Services has helped meet the challenges of aging, disability and caregiving, through a variety of programs and services. As both Minuteman and WCB strive to serve our community, WCB is pleased to help support this mission.

Pictured (left to right): Mark Kellett, President of WCB; Patti Dubielak, Director of Marketing for Minuteman; Kelly Magee Wright, Executive Director for Minuteman; Kara Clark, SVP/CFO for WCB; Joanne M. Reese, SVP for WCB.

WCB once again supported the “Buy-A-Bed” campaign for the Mission of Deeds. Every year, the Mission of Deeds in Reading asks participation of surrounding towns to provide beds for needy families. There are many families in our area who face difficult circumstances. Providing them a bed at a difficult time offers both help and hope when they need it the most.
Our participation in the “Buy-A-Bed” Campaign this year was a great success. In fact, it was our highest collection for this program to date! Donations from customers and staff totaled $1,386.38. The Bank has generously matched this amount, for a grand total of $2,772.76.
Winchester Cooperative would like to thank the customers, staff and so many others of our community for their support of this worthwhile project and for reminding all of us of the true meaning of charity.

Pictured (left to right): Winchester Co-Operative Bank President Mark Kellett; Paula Gross; WCB Senior V.P. Joanne Reese.

Winchester Cooperative Bank donated $5,000 to Megan’s House to support young women in recovery.  Megan’s House is a comprehensive residential substance abuse treatment home for young women between the ages of 18 and 26 who struggle with addiction and other co-occurring disorders. 

Pictured (left to right): Winchester Co-Operative Bank V.P. of Commercial Lending Laurie Leahy; Megan's House Foundation Executive Director Kathleen McDonald; President Tim Grover; WCB Senior V.P. Joanne Reese; and WCB President Mark Kellett.

Pictured: Deborah Ruhe, Executive Director of Just-A-Start; Coley Carden, WCB Vice President.

Pictured: Pam Hallett, Executive Director of Housing Corporation of Arlington; Coley Carden, WCB Vice President.

Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria brought substantial destruction to Texas, Florida and the Islands; the toll of lives lost, hurting communities, and destruction of homes and businesses is widespread and still unfolding. The recovery is going to be long and hard. WCB sent generous monetary gifts to The American Red Cross, Salvation Army and Save the Children in order to aid in relief efforts.