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Pioneer Celebrates Giving Tuesday by Donating $100,000 to 20 Capital Region Nonprofit Organizations ‘Helping Kids be Kids’

  

Since its formation in 2018, Pioneer’s Charitable Foundation has invested $1.9M to assist well over 400 local agencies that are improving the health and welfare of children

 

Albany, NY – Pioneer Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBFS) (“Pioneer”), a leading financial institution in New York’s Capital Region, today joined the national celebration of Giving Tuesday by presenting $100,000 in donations to 20 local nonprofit organizations that deliver programs and services to help area children in need. The Pioneer Charitable Foundation has now provided $1.9 million in financial support to well over 400 Capital Region nonprofits since its formation in 2018, aligned with its mission of “Helping Kids be Kids.” 

 

During a check-presentation ceremony at Pioneer’s headquarters in Albany, NY, donations of $5,000 each were made to local nonprofits that supply housing, nutrition, or health care, and educational, social and recreational programs, that improve the health and welfare of vulnerable area children. 

 

“We are both grateful for, and humbled by, the critical work of these nonprofit agencies in helping children and families in need across the Capital Region,” said Pioneer President and CEO Tom Amell. “Giving Tuesday offers an opportunity to lend additional support to their vital efforts, and to highlight the work of the Pioneer Charitable Foundation and our caring and committed employees, for whom community service is both a passion and a priority every day of the year.” 

 

Four local nonprofits received funding from “Pioneers with Purpose” grants, which are fully supported by employee donations made throughout the year. Agencies are nominated by Pioneer employees, and a volunteer employee committee selects the recipients. They include Brunswick Cares Community Food Pantry in Rensselaer County, which provides supplemental food assistance to children, individuals and families in need; CAPTAIN Community Human Services in Saratoga County, which supports and empowers people of all ages to reach their goals of personal growth and self-sufficiency; Connect Center for Youth in Albany County, a 501(c)3 youth-oriented community center located in Cohoes; and Schenectady Community Action Program in Schenectady County, which promotes the physical, social, emotional, cognitive and language development of young children. 

 

“On behalf of the award recipients, I would like to thank Pioneer for recognizing the value of the work we do each day, and for generously providing financial resources that are so desperately needed,” said Robert Clarke, Board Member and Treasurer of Brunswick Cares Community Food Pantry. “To us, this is more than a job; it is truly a calling. Our mission is focused on giving support and hope to those who often have nowhere else to turn, and we are grateful for partners like Pioneer who are helping to make that possible.”  

 

Additionally, funding for 10 nonprofit organizations that address the needs of children was secured through the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York’s Small Business Recovery Grants program, which assists agencies that have faced economic challenges due to the rate environment, inflation, supply-chain constraints, and/or rising energy costs. Recipients include: Community Action of Greene County (Greene County); Crossroads Center for Children (Albany County); Focus Churches Community Food Kitchens (Albany County); Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region (Capital Region); Hope 7 (Rensselaer County); Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless (Capital Region); Pride Center of the Capital Region (Capital Region); South End Children’s Café (Albany County); Student First Project (Saratoga County); and Things of my Very Own (Schenectady County). 

 

And, the Pioneer Charitable Foundation provided grants to support six Capital Region agencies that offer food insecurity programs to assist local children and families. Those nonprofits include: Albany Community Action Partnership (Albany County); Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless (Capital Region); Friends of Hudson Youth (Greene County); StreetSoldiers Rensselaer (Rensselaer County); LifeWorks Community Action (Saratoga County); and Schenectady County Food Council (Schenectady County). 

 

Along with financial support, Pioneer employees routinely donate their time – hundreds of hours annually – to further the Pioneer Charitable Foundation’s reach and impact. That includes hosting and participating in numerous events and activities, from community projects and quarterly giving drives to signature events like Pioneer’s Grand Carnival and Mini-Golf Tournament.

 

In addition, Pioneer underwrites all operational costs for the Pioneer Charitable Foundation, so 100% of money raised helps local children, families and organizations in need.

 

“Our employees take pride in being part of this community, and just as importantly, in lending their time, talent and treasure to lift up our fellow citizens in need of a helping hand,” said Susan Hollister, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer and Co-Chair of the Pioneer Charitable Foundation. “We’re privileged to support the work of the nonprofits being recognized today, which are playing a significant role in ‘Helping Kids be Kids.’” 

 

To learn more about the Pioneer Charitable Foundation, and/or make a secure online donation, visit www.pioneerny.com/community.

   

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About Pioneer

As a leading financial institution in New York’s Capital Region, Pioneer has more than $1.8 billion in assets and operates 22 branches locally. Recognized as a “Best Places to Work” by the Albany Business Review for 12 years running, Pioneer delivers a world-class working environment for its employees and is continually evolving to meet the needs of its customers by offering new products, services and leading technologies. Pioneer is committed to giving back to the communities in which it serves through the Pioneer Bank Charitable Foundation, which provides resources to nonprofit organizations that help improve the quality of life for children in the Capital Region. For more information on Pioneer, please visit www.pioneerny.com. 

 

Contact:

Schuyler Bull, Vice President, Director of Marketing and Communications, Pioneer

(518) 730-3325 | [email protected]

 

Steve Janack, Principal, The Janack Group

(518) 810-8050 | [email protected]