For several years now, I have been writing blogs and press releases to support the fundraising efforts of the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction. This nonprofit in New Hampshire, where I also live part-time, raises money to disperse annual grants to organizations that support children and families in need.

When Sarah Gray found herself sitting on the board of the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction, voting on an allocation of funds for the same services she benefited from as a child, she realized she had come full circle in life.

The co-owner of Body Covers grew up in a single-parent household, endured a traumatic childhood and was on the receiving end of many of the kinds of nonprofit services the Children’s Auction supports. Sarah’s success story is a testimony to tenacity, the power of community and organizational impact.

Despite her rough childhood, Sarah went to college, studied graphic arts, married her husband, Aaron, and worked alongside him after they purchased Body Covers, a small screen printing business the couple has grown into a community powerhouse. 

Sarah loves her job. Meeting business owners in the Lakes Region and using her creativity to develop their marketing projects gives her pleasure. 

Body Covers offers everything from custom clothing to logo design, and its expansion of quality services has allowed them to grow from two employees 20 years ago to 11 now. Their work can be seen on custom-designed T-shirts around the region at business and fundraising events; on jerseys and signage at sports games; and on employee apparel at local restaurants. 

“We see ourselves as stylists for the area,” Sarah says, adding with a chuckle, “We try to make this area look as good as we can.” 

Sarah first contributed to the Children’s Auction years ago by donating items like T-shirts. As she began to learn more about where the money raised was going, she was inspired to get more involved. 

It was part of Sarah and Aaron’s dream to support local nonprofits and leave the area better than they found it. “It’s important you act like you live somewhere and care about what goes on around you,” she said. 

Sarah’s was one of the original teams participating in the Pub Mania fundraiser that supports the Auction. She wasn’t interested in taking part in serious athletic events that raised money, but sitting at the bar at Patrick’s for an hour was just her crew’s speed. 

Impressed by her enthusiasm and dedication, Allan Beetle, co-owner of Patrick’s, told Sarah her energy was needed on the Children’s Auction board. She “answered the call” and was a board member for four or five years before joining the Auction’s Distribution Committee when her term on the board ended. The Distribution Committee receives all nonprofit requests for funds and makes recommendations on disbursements to the full board. Sarah finds this work to be incredibly interesting and has been an integral member of the committee for four years.

Sarah says Allan opened her eyes to the area’s great needs. She planned the Auction’s first luncheon for volunteers and has decorated the Auction site several times—twice alone, which took about 40 hours to make the set and building eye-catching and festive. Body Covers is also a year-round drop-off location for auction items.

The Children’s Auction, though not the only recipient of Body Covers’ generosity, receives the majority of its community contributions because of the maximum impact; the Body Covers crew’s chooses the Auction to support, attends Auction events together and takes part in Pub Mania as its Christmas celebration. Sarah loves how many good people she has connected with through her work and through the Auction. 

“We live in a very generous place,” she says. “The Auction is a good place to put your energy, your funds and your elbow grease.” 

Sarah isn’t afraid of hard work, and her elbow grease is essential to the well-oiled machine the Auction has become. 

“I’ve met every career goal I ever wanted. I never dreamed I’d be this big,” she says. She is grateful to her amazing crew, which makes it possible for her and Aaron to continue to give as much as they do while still operating a booming business. 

Donating to causes is like an addiction—a good one, Sarah says. Her husband often jokes that she is giving away the farm, but Sarah says, “It’s just what you do.” 

The post Sarah Gray Transformed Her Childhood Grief Into Community Gifts appeared first on Beetle Press.

I have been partnering with the Florence Bank marketing team for many years as a PR specialist. I develop and craft press releases to send to the media and also provide occasional blogs that appear on the bank’s website.

This recent blog, which was also distributed as a press release, takes a look at the bank’s New Brand Campaign Celebrating Valley Residents Who Inspire.

Samantha Bertini is a ninth grader at Ludlow High School. A seasoned wrestler, she weighs in at 97 pounds and is a few inches shy of five feet, yet she frequently champions even in the boy’s division and was the recent title winner in the 40th annual Bay State Games Wrestling Competition.

Samantha excels because she has access to broad athletic opportunity and knows how to overcome barriers with dedication.

Likewise, Emma Boyer-Martinez, a 7-year-old poised to enter a second-grade classroom at E. N. White School in Holyoke in the fall, lives with disabilities that make some activities more difficult for her. She loves horses and riding and takes part in therapeutic lessons that help her build strength and balance, pushing past the fears she sometimes has about falling from on high.

Both Samantha and Emma are featured in our new brand commercial, which we hope raises awareness about access and inclusion and also inspires and encourages community members to overcome barriers and offer an assist to those who might need one.

Over a dozen Valley residents are featured in the spot, including a man who relies on a wheelchair and caretakers to access opportunity, and seniors and people of different ethnicities. Also featured in the commercial are several local nonprofits, such as the Therapeutic Riding Center in Holyoke, where Emma takes lessons, and All Out Adventures in Northampton, which promotes community health and independence for people with disabilities through outdoor recreation.

“I think the ad will resonate,” says Emma’s mother, Lisette Martinez, of Holyoke. “The theme is something a lot of people can relate to, and I think it’s a great theme to focus on. There’s not just one way to be a strong person. What an important message.”

Our President and CEO Kevin Day says bank staff homed in on the idea for the ad after seeing so many people in the Valley staying strong, pushing through adversity, and overcoming challenges, particularly in the past few years.

“In this year’s brand campaign, we decided to celebrate the overcomers—those who inspire us by their achievements, despite the challenges they face every day,” he says. “The campaign highlights that spirit and reinforces the idea that access and inclusion are essential in a community, and that even when life can be hard, we can be inspired to rise above.”

In addition to releasing the new 30-second television commercial, we will also launch companion radio spots, billboards, and social media. And in keeping with our brand, the new ad features custom music drawing on elements from the original Florence Bank Always score and also incorporates a fresh new style.

“The song is upbeat and happy, just like the people in the Valley,” says Monica Curhan, our Vice President / Marketing Director. “Even though life isn’t always easy, we can still experience joy and find something to sing about.”

James Soffen of Ludlow, Samantha’s stepfather, said Samantha has been wrestling since kindergarten and currently trains at five area gyms, including Team Link Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Ludlow, where Samantha’s section of the ad was filmed.

He said Samantha is drawn to learning and “being able to do things that most people can’t.” Taking part in the ad offered an opportunity for her to showcase her drive and ability to overcome the odds.

“I appreciate the theme of the commercial and think it’s great for the community to see what other people are capable of, and, hopefully, it will help others in their personal struggles,” James adds.

Lisette says her daughter Emma rides with three other children at the equestrian center, and there are volunteers who help offer the mix of physical and occupational therapy.

Emma says, “It’s fun to learn something new, and there’s only a little bit of scariness. One time, I almost fell off my horse, and then I caught myself.” She loves interacting with the horses and agrees with her mother that the lessons help her build confidence.

All Out Adventures is also about building self-assurance, in part by creating access to outdoor activities for people with disabilities and their family members and friends. Karen Foster, executive director, said the nonprofit helps people go cycling, kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddle boarding, snowshoeing, hiking, ice skating, and cross-country skiing.

“One of our goals as an organization is to break down barriers to participation and recreation, and one barrier is that people don’t think it’s possible for them because most advertising and imagery we see of people taking part in outdoor recreation features younger and able-bodied people,” Karen says.

She appreciates that the Florence Bank ad portrays roughly a dozen of the organization’s participants, cycling through the Frank Newhall Look Memorial Park. “That helps to change the perception of what’s possible,” she says. “Celebrating inclusion is so powerful and so important, and I’m really invested in that.”

The post New Brand Campaign Celebrates Valley Residents Who Inspire Us appeared first on Beetle Press.

I have been partnering with the Florence Bank marketing team for many years as a PR specialist. I develop and craft press releases to send to the media and also provide occasional blogs that appear on the bank’s website.

This recent blog takes a look at the bank’s Longtime Partnership with Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity.

Florence Bank recently renewed a $30,000 pledge to Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity, and in another celebration in the longtime partnership between the two organizations, a leader at the bank has joined the nonprofit’s board of directors.

Jim Hickey, vice president / director of marketing operations at the bank and a resident of South Deerfield, began a three-year term on the 15-member board last night.

“Florence is a very community-spirited bank, and we are a very community-spirited organization. Our missions align,” says Amy Landry, the director of resource development at Habitat for eight years. “Clearly, they have been a wonderful community partner for us.”

The gift and new board participation are signs that the decades-long relationship between Florence Bank and the local Habitat organization continues to deepen. The range of involvement is wide.

For instance, Florence Bank recently agreed to serve as the applicant partner with Pioneer Valley Habitat to secure a $96,000 grant from Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston provided to entities offering low-income and affordable housing; the funds would offer $32,000 per build on three current projects.

Bank staff also volunteer on construction sites around the county, doing everything from swinging hammers to painting and landscaping; this year, the bank sent teams that helped complete two homes in Pelham.

Florence Bank has been a sponsor for Pioneer Valley Habitat events, and the nonprofit last year was a first-time recipient of a Customers’ Choice Community Grant. The nonprofit even holds accounts with Florence Bank.

“The bank has been a partner in so many dimensions,” Amy says. “Florence has checked all the boxes from sponsoring to contributing financially to volunteering. That makes the bank a special friend to us.”

The relationship between the two organizations began almost two decades ago, when the bank began donating to Pioneer Valley Habitat. The bank has increased its support over time and has pledged $10,000 per year since 2015 to support local projects.

“They see the importance of giving at a certain level to have an impact,” Amy says, noting that the bank’s multi-year pledges offer reliable leadership revenue to the organization.

Some years, bank funds support construction costs on that year’s home builds; one year, the gift covered costs associated with volunteer appreciation and retention efforts, and another, the pledge was used as a matching challenge that boosted fundraising efforts.

Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit with a mission to build affordable housing for families who may not qualify for traditional bank mortgages. Pioneer Valley Habitat operates with four staff members, and Amy says the organization is largely volunteer-driven.

In past years, the organization built two houses per year, and this year for the first time, it will build four—three in Northampton that Florence Bank is sponsoring and one in Conway.

As the cost of construction rises in the region and beyond, Amy says the gulf between those who can afford to buy a home and those who can’t is growing, making Habitat’s work even more critical.

“To the extent that we can support people who are ready to be owners of affordable homes, Florence Bank is a partner with us in that. That’s a big influence,” says Amy. “They’re helping us one family at a time—three families this year.”

She noted that homeowners who move into Pioneer Valley Habitat housing become tax-paying residents who build roots and have an impact themselves. “Transformation happens across the Habitat community. It’s about neighbors helping neighbors, and it’s nice when you can think of a bank as a neighbor.”

The post Longtime Partnership with Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity Deepens appeared first on Beetle Press.

For several years now, I have been writing blogs and press releases to support the fundraising efforts of the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction. This nonprofit in New Hampshire, where I also live part-time, raises money to disperse annual grants to organizations that support children and families in need.

Kate Lilly is fueled by empathy and emotion. 

She’s the kind of person who can be brought to tears by a powerful commercial, and she supports the Auction because she feels the weight of children in need on her heart. She wants to help. 

The assist Kate offers our organization isn’t flashy or easy for others to witness, though. Kate very quietly puts her graphic design and brand development skills to work behind the scenes, producing materials Auction leaders use to raise awareness—everything from the logo to the website to brochures, advertisements, and videos the Auction releases.

“I like to be behind the curtain,” she says.

The owner of Lilly Designs, Kate loves creating, tweaking, and maintaining organizational brands. She’s the person who creates the look and feel of the marketing materials put out by businesses like Patrick’s Pub, Gunstock, MB Tractor & Equipment, Fratello’s Italian Grille and Homestead Restaurant & Tavern, JMG Marketing, The Downtown Gym, Lakes Region Community Services, and the Meredith Chamber of Commerce.

She is the overseer of these organization brands and makes sure that all uses of the logos and other corporate materials are appropriate and consistent. 

“I love the flexibility of running my own business,” she says. “I like to work, so I’m constantly working, but it’s my brand, and I’m representing myself while I also represent other brands. I love my work so much, and I have fun doing it.”

Getting to where Kate is in her career, in business for herself, took time.

She lived in the Lakes Region until she was 10 years old and then moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1992 with her family. She went to college at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and also lived in California for a time.

Sometime around 2009, Kate returned to the Lakes Region and began working for what was then known as The Meadowbrook, now the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford, serving as an assistant to RJ Harding and then moving to the Partnership department, creating graphically appealing proposals for future sponsors and partners of the venue.

“RJ enforced my solid work ethic and helped me advance my design skills. I credit him with a lot of my business development,” she says. “He taught me how to work hard and provide a quality product.”

Around 2015, Allan Beetle, co-owner of Patrick’s Pub, approached a leader at Meadowbrook and got permission to offer Kate freelance design work. Allan was kicking off a new event at the restaurant and wanted Kate’s help branding it. “My initial projects with Allan gave me the encouragement I needed to kick off being self-employed.” Kate says. About a year later, Kate left Meadowbrook—on great terms—and started Lilly Designs.

While working at Meadowbrook, Kate got involved with the Auction, taking an hour-long shift each year to answer the phones. Because RJ and his wife, Bridget, were so deeply involved in the Auction, Kate had an up-close-and-personal view of their volunteerism as well as the inner workings of the Auction. “It was present in my life from the moment I moved back here,” she says.

When Kate began working on her own, Allan got her involved with re-branding the former Pub Mania event, which raised funds for the Auction, and, as the years passed, she began helping the Auction directly. She creates marketing materials the organization needs to communicate important messages, edits and maintains the website, and is the core creator of the branding of The Challenge, the event that replaced Pub Mania during and after the pandemic. 

Kate is also a member of The Lakers fundraising team as part of The Challenge. 

Kate does discounted work for other area nonprofits, including the Belknap County Conservation District, New Hampshire Society of Genealogists, New Hampshire Association of Conservation Districts, Meredith Veterans Memorial Project, and the Meredith Library Fund.

“My time is what I want to give back to this community,” she says. “There are so many cheerleaders for the community, and it feels great to be among them.

“I live a modest, frugal life,” she adds. “My husband, Cody, is also a small business owner, and while I can’t give thousands of dollars a year, I can give thousands of dollars’ worth of my time. Allowing that money to stay within the organization to be spent elsewhere. Being a part of this community is uplifting, and the people here are uplifting. I feel very grateful that I’m able to give and be a part of something larger than myself.” 

Kate and Cody live in Gilford with their two beloved dogs and two cherished cats.

The post She Gives Quietly, From the Heart appeared first on Beetle Press.

I have been partnering with the Florence Bank marketing team for many years as a PR specialist. I develop and craft press releases to send to the media and also provide occasional blogs that appear on the bank’s website.

This recent blog takes a look at Gaining Perspective on the Mortgage Process.

When you’re shopping for a home, the fun part is looking at all the different real estate listings and trying each one on for size in your mind.

The hard part, of course, is making all the choices involved in selecting a mortgage product.

That’s why we wanted to help you gain some perspective on the process, so you have a handle on the terms and phrases you might hear and know where you’re headed before you make the leap.

Here are five key things to know:

You should shop around to find the best rate.

These days, mortgage rates are looking dramatically better than they were back in the early 1980s, when they hit a historic high of 18.45 percent. Scary. And probably makes you breathe a sigh of relief that you are home shopping today.

Toby Daniels, vice president / Hadley branch manager, says the rate conversation is generally an easy one at Florence Bank. “We typically have one of the best rates in the area. We want to be below market to be very competitive,” he says. “That’s the majority of my rate conversations—quick and easy.”

Fortunately, we’ve come a long way since 1981, but rates will always rise and fall. And they can change in a flash. Don’t let a rate change take you by surprise and limit your options.

You can choose a fixed rate versus an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM).

A fixed-rate mortgage is just as it sounds; the rate you have when you sign your mortgage is the same one you’ll have 10, 20 or 30 years later, when you make your last payment.

With an ARM, the rate is fixed for a set time—five years at Florence Bank—and then it rises or falls with the market. ARMs are, therefore, a riskier product for homebuyers. There is typically a six percent cap on how high the rate can rise or fall during the lifetime of the loan, though, and annually, it can’t rise or fall by more than two percent.

Toby says because ARMs carry some risk, most people want a mortgage with a fixed rate. They can be secured for 10, 20 or 30 years, with the latter being the most common.

Susan Seaver, our vice president / mortgage loan officer, says an ARM could be worth the risk for select homebuyers, such as those who know they will move within five years or people who have an inkling that they may be poised to receive a financial gift or inheritance. “With some scenarios, an ARM works well,” she says.

You will likely also pay pricing adjustments—or “points”.

When a mortgage officer offers you a mortgage rate, you should know that the rate you will actually secure could be higher, depending on your credit score, the amount of your down payment, whether you are buying or refinancing and what type of property you are purchasing—single-family home or multi-family or a condo. Borrowers often pay loan-level pricing adjustments in the form of higher mortgage rates or additional closing costs.

“When customers see a rate advertised, like 4.75 at 30-year fixed, that’s a base rate,” Susan explains.
Pricing adjustments, called “points,” can get added after all factors are considered. A buyer making a twenty percent down payment with a credit score of 740 who is buying a single-family home might pay only a half point, while those with less to put down and a lower credit score, could pay more in points.
Those factors affect the rate in the same way that a driver’s record affects the cost of his or her car insurance, Susan explains.

Depending on the amount of your down payment, you may have to pay private mortgage insurance.

Private mortgage insurance, called PMI, is another additional cost that mortgage holders will take on if they cannot put at least 20 percent down on their home. The PMI protects the lender in the case of a loan default; it does not protect the buyer, necessarily.

The actual calculation for PMI is based on the buyer’s credit score, the number of buyers and the amount of money applied as a down payment, whether it be five percent or 15. With a mortgage of $200,000 and buyers with good credit, PMI could be roughly $70 a month.

“It has to be factored into the budget,” Susan says, adding, “The cost of PMI can be significant if one or both buyers have a low credit score.”

Closing costs must be paid in cash.

One new and dire fact of home mortgages is the rising cost of closings. While once a mortgage closing procedure could add $3,000 to $5,000 onto the cost of buying a home, attorney fees and other related costs now add more like $8,000 to $11,000.

And homebuyers are often unprepared for the fact that these costs can only rarely be added into a mortgage, as they once were. “They need to come prepared with cash to pay,” Toby says.

Learn more.

Homebuyers looking for a mortgage for the first time would benefit from homebuyer counseling, and there are many programs available at local agencies such as Wayfinders.

These organizations offer workshops in which a series of speakers cover topics that range from securing a mortgage to the home inspection to home insurance and closing costs.

If you want to start your search for a home and still have questions, please stop into a branch or call our Customer Service Center at 413-586-1300 to speak to a Mortgage Specialist today.

We are always here to help.

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