North Shore Bank recently presented Aspire Developmental Services with a check for $1,160, the proceeds donated by bank employees as part of their weekly “Jeans Day” program. Pictured from left, Tina Bohondoney, North Shore Bank Assistant Vice President, and Lori Russell, acting Executive Director of Aspire Developmental Services. Courtesy Photo
PEABODY — North Shore Bank employees raised more than $1,000 for Aspire Developmental Services of Lynn by wearing jeans.
“This contribution from the Peabody-based bank employees will play a major role in bringing our new corporate office building closer to reality,” said Lori Russell, acting executive director of Aspire in a statement.
For $5 each Friday, bank employees can opt to wear denim in place of their usual dark suits and dresses. The purpose of the weekly Jeans Day program is to raise money for local non-profit organizations.
The program has raised more than $22,000 for local nonprofits.
The money collected throughout July was donated to Aspire, which has a mission to provide early intervention service to children who have, or at risk for, developmental delays.
The organization, founded in 1951 as the Cerebral Palsy Council of the North Shore, was recommended as a recipient by Tina Bohondoney, a North Shore Bank assistant vice president and commercial lender.
Bohondoney, who is also a member of Aspire’s board of directors, said the agency purchased the former O’Keefe School building at 176 Franklin Street to increase its capacity.
The new facility will provide 15,000 square feet, or three times as much space, allowing play group opportunities for children receiving early intervention services to double. Capacity for childcare and preschool students will also increase.
“The new building will allow us to serve more families in more modern and appropriate space,” said Russell. “We will also be able to provide parent-child groups and parent training workshops.
The cost of the project was estimated to be $4.3 million and about half was funded by a state grant, bank financing and the sale of their existing property, Bohondoney said.
“When we embarked on a capital campaign to cover the rest, I thought our North Shore Bank Jeans Day program would be the perfect vehicle to raise some money for the organization’s cost,” Bohondoney said in a statement.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.
