President and CEO Matt Garrity to Co-Chair 2026 Annual Campaign

FLORENCE—Florence Bank recently announced a gift of $73,520 to the United Way of the Franklin and Hampshire Region. Florence Bank provided direct support of $50,000 and its team members pledged an additional $23,520 as part of the bank’s annual workplace campaign. The combined gift will be used to support the annual Diaper Drive, food insecurity efforts, the Ski United event and several event sponsorships.

“Once again, our team members stepped up and showed how much they care about helping their fellow neighbors,” said Matt Garrity, president and CEO of Florence Bank. “I’m humbled by their generosity and proud of their dedication to help those less fortunate.”

In addition to financial support, Florence Bank will help lead the United Way’s 2026 Annual Campaign, which kicked off on October 9. Garrity will serve as campaign co-chair along with Eric Mills, vice president of sales and marketing at Mayhew Tools in Turners Falls. 

“I’m excited to be out in the community, supporting the United Way and asking organizations and individuals to join us in supporting such a great organization,” Garrity said. “The need in the community is real, and supporting our neighbors is integral to Florence Bank’s mission, vision and values.”

Holly Martineau, United Way’s director of development, said the financial goal is to increase giving as much over the $1.2 million raised in 2025 as possible, and to encourage organizations and individuals to Double Down— doubling their gifts from last year.

“Our efforts this year are to have as many people double down as possible,” Martineau added. “We’re trying to do as much as we can as an organization to support our partners in the community who do so much for individuals in need. Our partners are being asked to do so much more with much less. The social safety net is diminishing every day.”

Geoff Naunheim, executive director of United Way, said he hopes that Florence Bank’s commitment will encourage other organizations and individuals to consider increasing—or doubling—their pledges.

“It’s early in the campaign, but we’re already seeing an increase in employee giving,” said Naunheim. “People know it’s a hard time. They’re helping us support a healthier, more resilient community.”

Florence Bank has a long history of supporting United Way, and these current team members are taking part in various efforts: Christina “Chris” Mullen, loan servicing manager / assistant vice president, and Ryan Hess, commercial team leader / vice president, are United Way Campaign Committee members, and Mullen also writes 50 to 100 thank you letters to donors each month on behalf of United Way; Jenna Rahilly, chief human resources and strategy officer / senior vice president, sits on the Community Investment Committee; and Kim Baker, commercial loan operations and compliance specialist / vice president, helped found Ski United.

Martineau said, “The partnership with Florence Bank is invaluable to us. It’s one of our greatest gifts in the community. They’re involved with us in so many different ways. Every nonprofit in the Valley would say they feel supported by Florence Bank, and we are so grateful that we are able to partner in this way.”

In 2025, 54 partner nonprofits in the Pioneer Valley were supported with United Way grants. For a list visit uw-fh.org/, click on Our Impact / Community Investment.

To donate through the website, click Donate on the Home page or mail a check to P.O. Box 123, Northampton, MA 01061; make checks payable to United Way of the Franklin and Hampshire Region.

Pledges made will be payable by June 30, 2026.

About Florence Bank

Florence Bank is a mutual savings bank chartered in 1873. Currently, the bank serves the Pioneer Valley through 12 full-service branch locations in Florence, Northampton, Easthampton, Williamsburg, Amherst, Hadley, Belchertown, Granby, Chicopee, West Springfield and Springfield. A Holyoke branch will open in the spring of 2026. Additionally, Florence Bank offers 23 ATMs and a wide range of financial services, including investment management through Florence Financial Group to consumers and businesses.

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