KeyBank Shares Community Cheer – Donates $30,000 Locally, Part Of The $340,000 National Commitment Through “KeyBankAssists 3.0”
HARTFORD, CT – December 17, 2020 – KeyBank has wrapped up its latest community effort, #KeyBankAssists 3.0, where it distributed more than $340,000 to small businesses, non-profits, and families across its national footprint, as part of the $18 million philanthropic commitment KeyBank has made for COVID-19 response.
In Connecticut and western Massachusetts, KeyBank teamed with WNBA player and former UConn Husky Katie Lou Samuelson to make a $12,500 donation to FoodShare Inc. and Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, as well as donating gift cards to customers of various small businesses in the greater Hartford and Springfield area during the first two weeks of December. In addition, a grant of $5,000 was made to Samuelson’s charity of choice, Bring Change to Mind, a nonprofit that focuses on mental health. In total, the bank donated more than $30,000 to support the Connecticut and western Massachusetts communities through the KeyBank Assists campaign.
KeyBank focused on small businesses that were either women-, minority- or veteran-owned businesses, selecting the following companies as KeyBank Assists partners:
- Lucky Taco in Manchester CT
- Berkins on Oak in Hartford and Berkins Blend Café in Glastonbury CT
- Bumpy’s Natural and Organic Foods in Springfield MA
- INI Sips Premium Coffee & Tea in New Britain CT
- Victorian Rose Florist in Hebron CT
KeyBank purchased gift cards for these small businesses and then asked the business owners to surprise customers with them as a way to provide additional support to both the business and local families.
“Our goal was to help positively impact all parts of the community, and it was fun to support a diverse group of businesses across the areas we serve and surprise and delight their customers,” said KeyBank Connecticut and Massachusetts Market President, James Barger.
Two earlier endeavors, #KeyBankAssists 2.0 in July and the first round of #KeyBankAssists in April, provided $275,000 and $295,000 respectively in assistance to small businesses, non-profits, essential workers, first responders and families across KeyBank’s national footprint.
“The spread of COVID-19 is impacting everyone, and especially those in already vulnerable situations. KeyBank is proud to join with other businesses and groups as we stand together to help protect and support all members of our community during this crisis,” Barger said.
On a national level, Soledad O’Brien served as a voice to drive awareness of #KeyBank Assists 3.0, as part of her ongoing commitment to help support communities as we move forward during the COVID-19 pandemic.
More information about how KeyBank is helping communities get through COVID-19, including KeyBank Foundation’s $18 million philanthropic commitment, is available at key.com/coronavirus.
Photo caption: Veteran-owned INI Sips Premium Coffee & Tea in New Britain used some of its KeyBank Assists gift cards to thank community first responders, including the New Britain Police (pictured above), EMS and Fire Departments, The Friendship Center, CMHA, and the Hospital of Central Connecticut.
About KeyBank (NYSE: KEY)
KeyCorp’s roots trace back 190 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $170.5 billion at September 30, 2020. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of more than 1,000 branches and approximately 1,400 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC