Penn Community Bank announced that it has been honored as a 2021 Faces of Philanthropy award winner by the Philadelphia Business Journal. The award recognizes the bank’s work with the United Way of Bucks County on the Bucks County COVID-19 Recovery Fund as a “difference-making partnership” between a local business and a nonprofit organization.”
“At Penn Community Bank, we believe in the power of Greater Good Banking. That means more than just being a financial services provider. It means stepping up when our communities need it the most,” said Jeane M. Vidoni, president and CEO of Penn Community Bank. “Working with the United Way of Bucks County and seeding funds to establish the Bucks County COVID-19 Relief Fund was an extension of that foundational belief. I’m proud to receive this recognition and spotlight the power of partnerships between businesses and our nonprofit neighbors.”
“We’re proud to be a 2021 Faces of Philanthropy honoree for the region. We are particularly grateful to be named for our partnerships with Penn Community Bank. Through words and actions, Penn Community Bank consistently shows a deep commitment to the greater good,” said Marissa Christie, president and CEO of United Way of Bucks County. “We are fortunate to have Penn Community Bank as a key collaborator. It means a lot to work with a business that shares our values and our commitment to community.”
“One of the biggest takeaways of the past 12 months is the importance of partnerships. As the pandemic took hold, businesses and nonprofits teamed on creative ways to give back to communities across the Philadelphia area. For some, it was a continuation of existing partnerships. For others, the initiatives centered around new efforts,” said Philadelphia Business Journal editor in chief Ryan Sharrow. “The Philadelphia Business Journal is proud to recognize 31 of those difference-making partnerships as our 2021 Faces of Philanthropy honorees.”
In March 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic swept through Pennsylvania, Penn Community Bank’s leaders knew the pandemic and measures put into place to slow its spread would have dire consequences for communities. It coordinated with United Way of Bucks County to create the Bucks County COVID-19 Recovery Fund, seeded with $25,000 from each organization. Once established, the fund solicited donations from local businesses and donated funds were given as grants to United Way’s member agencies to help them deliver COVID-19-related services to clients. The fund has no administrative expenses; all money raised goes directly to help people with short-term and long-term financial recovery.
The fund has provided more than 80 grants totaling more than $480,000 to more than 40 organizations. These grants have helped more than 40,000 county residents, including 13,000 children and 6,000 seniors.
