Independent Banker - March 2021 - 73

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student bankers whose parents
participated in the program.
" The kids signed up because their
parents thought so well of it, " says
Jennifer Orlando, vice president
and marketing officer. " We've had
comments from students over the
years saying that it's the best decision
they made in high school. "
In fact, Mindy Nicastro, a Cape
Ann Savings Bank commercial loans
officer, is a program alumnus.
" It's the best program ever! "
Nicastro says. " It gave me
opportunities that I wouldn't have
otherwise had. It was especially
important for somebody who didn't
go to formal secondary education,
and I believe it has led to my
career success. "
The interest in practical finance
has grown at the high school. A few
years ago, for example, Robin Pine,
a Gloucester High School educator,
held a Credit Fair event in the school
hallways. Students visited various
tables to learn about deposits,
lending, credit and other topics.
" I was amazed at the enthusiasm of
the students [and] at how excited they
could be about rather dry topics, "
Gillis says.
Doing more on education
Recently, Cape Ann Savings Bank
increased its commitment by
offering three $1,500 scholarships
annually to graduating seniors of the
Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea
and Rockport high schools. Students
who successfully complete the bank
program are given preference for the
scholarships, which are named in
memory of former bank employee
Sandra Tucker, who spearheaded the
program's founding.
The high school's program is just
one example of Cape Ann Savings
Bank's involvement in supporting
public education.
" We are a community bank, and the
schools are the heart of the community. "
-ROBERT GILLIS JR., CAPE ANN SAVINGS BANK
" We are a community bank, and
the schools are the heart of the
community, " Gillis says. " The many
different educational programs that
we support financially and with our
time cover the span from preschool
through college. "
For example, the community bank
participates in the Massachusetts
Saving Makes Cents program.
Students in third, fourth or fifth
grade open a savings account with a
$5 deposit, which the bank matches.
From that, students save small
amounts-even coins-which a Cape
Ann Savings Bank employee collects
on weekly visits.
Staff from the bank also volunteer
in the First R Reading program,
visiting schools once a month to read
aloud to children in kindergarten and
first grade. " We volunteer where we
can, " Orlando says. " We are very, very
involved in educational events. " 
Judith Sears is a writer in Colorado.
Flourishing through education
Cape Ann Savings Bank in Gloucester, Mass., recently
demonstrated its commitment to education with a generous
$60,000 donation to the Gloucester Education Foundation (GEF),
a 501(c)(3) program that provides wide-ranging support to the
Gloucester Public School District, from startup funding for a
computer science program to a 3D printing lab.
The community bank has been a steady GEF supporter. Every
March, for example, bank employees volunteer to run the
concession stand at the group's annual citywide fundraiser.
When GEF announced a capital campaign to raise $3 million,
Cape Ann Savings Bank quickly got behind the effort. GEF's goal
was to build an endowment large enough for the foundation to
provide greater support to the schools in the long term.
In explaining the community bank's generosity, president and
CEO Robert Gillis Jr. says his team sees education as crucial to a
flourishing community.
" It really comes down to this, " he says. " Our children are our
future, and it's our responsibility to give them every opportunity
to succeed. "
independentbanker.org Q 73
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Independent Banker - March 2021

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