BAMSI Receives $10,000 Grant for Enriching Early Childhood Development

Grant provided by Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation will support the renovation and expansion of BAMSI Early Intervention playground in Brockton

[Brockton], September 25, 2019 – Brockton Area Multi-Services, Inc. (BAMSI), a human services agency dedicated to helping people with different abilities live their best lives, announced today that it has received a $10,000 Grant for Good from Eastern Bank, America’s oldest and largest mutual bank. BAMSI Early Intervention will use the grant money to support the renovation and expansion of their playground to include equipment for children of all abilities and allow for greater accessibility for children using wheelchairs and walkers.

BAMSI is among 50 organizations that provide leading early childhood development programs across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island and are each receiving a $10,000 Eastern Bank Grant for Good. These grants are focused on providing support in four critical areas: achieving early learning quality standards, strengthening parent engagement, supporting professional development for educators, and upgrading early learning facilities and supplies.
Grants were awarded to organizations like BAMSI Early Intervention that focus on strengthening socio-emotional and cognitive skills development among children in the communities it serves.

“There is no such thing as a disabled child, it is usually the environment that is disabling,” said Barbara Sanna-Collins, OTR/L, Program Director and a fierce advocate of BAMSI Early Intervention. “We could not be more excited to have Eastern Bank take the lead on helping us make our playground more accessible to every child who comes to our program. We don’t want any child standing on the sidelines when it comes to play.”

With this generous contribution from Eastern Bank to BAMSI’s ‘PlayAbility’ campaign, children who attend BAMSI Early Intervention in Brockton will have an outdoor space that goes beyond minimum accessibility. The installation of custom and inclusive structures allows children of all abilities to interact less restrictively with each other, doing what all kids love to do: play. The new playground design provides a wide-range of activities and multi-sensory experiences fostering social skills development and encouraging movement, touch, sight, and sound.

“Providing every child with an equal opportunity for a bright future is a basic right,” said Bob Rivers, Chair and CEO of Eastern Bank. “By supporting organizations that assist parents and caregivers and prepare children to be ready to learn and succeed, we are helping to create the foundation children need to thrive. On behalf of everyone at Eastern, we congratulate the grant recipients and thank them for their dedication to the children in our communities.”

According to recent research, gaps in access to early childhood development programs, the quality of services offered, and lack of parent engagement contribute to disparities in opportunities for youth with diverse abilities to succeed throughout life. Children during the first three years of life who are exposed to environments that are engaging, safe, and stable are likely to enter school along with their peers and with greater opportunity for success.

About Brockton Area Multi-Services, Inc. (BAMSI)
Founded in 1975, BAMSI is a non-profit human service agency providing services to adults and children with developmental disabilities, mental and behavioral health challenges and public health needs. BAMSI’s mission is to empower people and enrich their lives through compassionate support and diverse services, one individual, one family at a time. BAMSI Early Intervention (EI) is a public health program that provides therapeutic support to infants and toddlers who have developmental delays or are at risk for delays. Services are available for children from birth to age 3 and are provided in the center, family home or other locations where the child and family feel comfortable. The BAMSI mission aligns with EI’s mission which states: Early Intervention is a viable system that builds upon support and resources for family members and caregivers to enhance the development and learning of infants and toddlers through individualized, developmentally appropriate intervention embedded in everyday activities. For more information, visit www.bamsi.org, or follow us on social media.

About Eastern Bank
Founded in 1818, Boston-based Eastern Bank is America’s oldest and largest mutual bank, with over $11 billion in assets and more than 115 locations serving communities in eastern Massachusetts, southern and coastal New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Eastern Bank provides exceptional access to fairly priced banking, investment and insurance products and services for consumers and businesses of all sizes. Eastern Bank, which includes Eastern Wealth Management and Eastern Insurance, is known for its outspoken advocacy and community support that has exceeded more than $140 million in charitable giving since 1999. An inclusive company, Eastern employs 1,900+ deeply committed professionals who value relationships with their customers, colleagues, and communities. Join us for good at www.easternbank.com and follow Eastern on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Media Contact
Lucille Cassis, Vice President of Marketing & Philanthropy: 508-484-7162.

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  BAMSI Early Intervention kids help kick-off the ‘Play-A-bility’ Fundraising Campaign in the current playground, which will be getting a facelift thanks to the generosity of Eastern Bank. From (l-r) BAMSI: Laura Saccone, Office Supervisor, Early Intervention (EI); Barbara Sanna-Collins, Program Director, EI; Beverly Williams, Executive VP, Operations; Eastern Bank: John M. Berksza, SVP, Sales; David R. Sawyer, CFP, SVP Wealth Management; Johanna Stone, VP Community Development Lending; BAMSI: Anthony Simonelli, President & CEO; Vanessa Tierney, Chief Operations Officer; (kneeling) Kathy Mendzela, EI Case Manager.

Eastern Bank and BAMSI officials help kick-off the ‘Play-A-bility’ Campaign at Early Intervention, Brockton: (l-r) Johanna Stone, VP Community Development Lending; David R. Sawyer, CFP, SVP Wealth Management; John M. Berksza, SVP, Sales; Anthony Simonelli, BAMSI President & CEO; Vanessa Tierney, BAMSI Chief Operations Officer