Saint Vincent's Summer Celebration Draws Crowd For Inaugural Kick-Off Event

Saint Vincent’s Inaugural Kick-Off To Summer Celebration held on Friday, June 26th under a tent on the deck of the Battleship Massachusetts at Battleship Cove in Fall River was well-attended by nearly 200 people.  Sponsored by Mechanics Cooperative Bank, the evening cocktail reception overlooking Fall River’s waterfront raised much-needed funds for Saint Vincent’s Life Skills Program.

Jack Weldon, Executive Director of Saint Vincent’s, presented Joseph T. Baptista, Jr., Mechanics Cooperative Bank's President and CEO with the Friend of Children and Families Award on behalf of all the children and youth served at Saint Vincent’s.  The award recognized Mechanics Cooperative Bank as a community-minded organization that “transforms lives by doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way” and furthers Saint Vincent’s Mission of “Giving Children and Families in Need What They Need Most.”

Over $24,000 was raised from the Kick-Off To Summer Celebration which directly benefits the youth in Saint Vincent’s Life Skills Program.  These young adults who are aging-out of care and transitioning to independent living are provided with the skills and tools necessary to complete their education, obtain employment, and live as productive adults within society.

An exclusive Silent Auction with approximately 50 items including four tickets to a Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees baseball game at Fenway Park, destination packages to Maine, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket among others, wine, jewelry, golf, and two roundtrip tickets to anywhere in the continental United States that Southwest Airlines operates were among the featured items.  The 15-piece Compaq Big Band provided the music for dancing.

Mechanics Cooperative Bank was the Presenting Sponsor of the Kick-Off To Summer Celebration.  Sustaining Sponsors included Dominion, Lafrance Hospitality Company, and Long Built Homes.  The Participating Sponsors included Advanced Alarm Systems, Bristol County District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter, Citizen’s-Union Savings Bank, East Commerce Solutions, Fall River Ford, Jarabek Family Charitable Foundation/Oliveira Insurance Agency, Mr. and Mrs. Edward M. Lambert, Jr., St. Anne’s Credit Union, and Swansea Veterinary Center/Fall River Animal Hospital.  For more information about Saint Vincent’s and the Kick-Off To Summer Celebration, please contact Melissa Dick at (508) 235-3228.

About Mechanics Cooperative Bank

With total assets of $340 million, Mechanics Cooperative Bank offers a wide variety of personal and business deposit and loan products, including its “Mortgage in a Minute” online mortgage service.  And as a Massachusetts co-operative bank, 100% of customers’ deposits are fully insured.

Established in 1877, Mechanics Cooperative Bank is Massachusetts’ second-oldest co-operative bank. Following the recent merger with Lafayette Federal Savings Bank, the bank now has eight conveniently located branch offices in Taunton, North Dighton, Bridgewater, Fall River, Somerset, Swansea, and Westport.

Based in the “Silver City” of Taunton, the name Mechanics was derived since silver mining was the primary industry and silversmiths were referred to as mechanics. For more information, call 888-MECHANICS (632-4264) or visit www.Mechanics-Coop.com.

Pictured in the photo are (L to R): Mechanics Cooperative Bank President/CEO Joseph T. Baptista, Jr., Saint Vincent's Executive Director Jack Weldon, and Mechanics Cooperative Bank Sr. Vice President and Chairperson of Saint Vincent's Kick-Off To Summer Celebration Deborah A. Grimes.