For Immediate Release: October 15, 2018 

Contact: Holly Morehouse, Executive Director, Vermont Afterschool
802-448-3464, hollymorehouse@vermontafterschool.org
 

Vermont Afterschool Receives $100,000 Northfield Savings Bank Foundation Grant To Build Youth Resiliency  

The Northfield Savings Bank Foundation (NSBF), the charitable arm of Northfield Savings Bank (NSB), recently awarded Vermont Afterschool a two-year, $100,000 grant to support a new Youth Resiliency Project. This grant will allow Vermont Afterschool, a statewide nonprofit, to focus on supporting afterschool and out-of-school time programs and professionals in helping children and youth to build resiliency and social emotional learning skills.
 
Vermont Afterschool has been leading the afterschool field in Vermont in trauma-informed practices and social emotional learning for the past few years. The Youth Resiliency Project focuses on the time outside the school day because afterschool providers are often the ones interacting with parents and families on a daily basis, connecting with challenges faced by families, and helping to bridge the gap between school and home. With their strong emphasis on team work, healthy relationships, adult role models, self-efficacy, and positive youth development, afterschool programs also offer a perfect environment to focus on social emotional learning.

“This support comes at a key time for our field,” stated Vermont Afterschool’s Social Emotional Learning Coordinator Sara Forward. “We are seeing a greater need for trauma-informed care, and this grant will allow us to train more afterschool program staff in that area and create a broader network of professionals who understand how to help youth where they are.”

This work will impact children, youth, and afterschool professionals within Northfield Savings Bank’s service areas of Central Vermont and Chittenden County. The NSBF supports Vermont-based efforts focused around issues such as financial literacy, education and at-risk youth.
 
“NSB Foundation is proud to undertake this partnership, which will help afterschool professionals provide a level of care vital to healthy social and emotional development among Vermont’s young,” said Thomas Leavitt, President and CEO of Northfield Savings Bank. “The Foundation recognizes the critical role of quality programming outside of school and the impact it has on the lives of students and families.” 

Through the partnership, Vermont Afterschool will:

• Raise the level of awareness and competency across the region so that more afterschool and summer programs are trauma-informed and understand the value of building protective factors in youth;
• Create a Social Emotional Learning Leadership Institute that will allow participants to strengthen practice and also support the development and growth of peer experts across the field; and
• Establish networks of support for afterschool program sites so that they are surrounded by partners and colleagues who have received common training and coaching and who can help them build and sustain their practice going forward.

Vermont Afterschool’s Executive Director Holly Morehouse says she is thrilled about the funding partnership with the Northfield Savings Bank Foundation. “The amazing thing about this grant is that it gives us the opportunity to reach many more afterschool programs and providers with a high level of training and support than we would otherwise be able to impact, “ says Morehouse. “We greatly appreciate the Northfield Savings Bank Foundation for not only recognizing the value of quality afterschool programming, but also providing funding to support the type of in-depth training and coaching that is needed to make lasting and meaningful change in the field.”
 
A growing body of evidence reveals that quality afterschool social and emotional learning has far-reaching, positive effects on students. Children and youth with strong social and emotional skills are more likely to earn a high school diploma, attain a college degree, and have a full-time job. Studies also show that regular participation in these programs results in increased empathy and self-confidence, improved grades and test scores, positive behaviors, and an increased attachment to school.

About Vermont Afterschool
Vermont Afterschool is a statewide nonprofit whose mission is to support organizations in providing quality afterschool, summer, and expanded learning experiences so that Vermont’s children and youth have the opportunities, skills, and resources they need to become healthy, productive members of society. 
Visit www.vermontafterschool.org for further information.

About NSB and NSBF 
The Northfield Savings Bank Foundation (NSBF) was established in 2000 through Northfield Savings Bank (NSB) as part of NSB’s long-standing commitment to donate 10 percent of its yearly earnings to the local community. 
The Foundation supports Vermont-based efforts focused around improving residents’ well-being and self-sufficiency in areas such as financial literacy, education and at-risk youth. When considering an area of need or partnership, NSBF is deliberate, focused and thorough in its assessment to ensure significant results can be achieved given the amount of time and money to be invested.

Northfield Savings Bank donates 10 percent of its annual earnings to Vermont non-profits as part of its long-standing commitment to give back to the communities it serves. Founded in Northfield, VT in 1867, NSB is a full-service bank offering a full range of community banking, commercial banking and mortgage banking services to consumer and commercial customers. Investment services are available through Northfield Investment Services*. Northfield Savings Bank operates 13 branches throughout central Vermont and Chittenden County stretching from Bethel to Greater Burlington. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. www.nsbvt.com 

* Securities, advisory services and insurance products are offered by, and investment Consultants are registered with, INFINEX INVESTMENTS, INC., member FINRA/SIPC, and a Registered Investment Advisor.  Investment Consultants are employees of Northfield Savings Bank, a financial institution, and registered with INFINEX INVESTMENTS, INC., a registered broker dealer.  Northfield Investment Services is a trade name of Northfield Savings Bank.  Northfield Savings Bank is not a broker dealer. Infinex and Northfield Savings Bank are independent entities.
Investment products are: not a deposit, not FDIC insured, not insured by any federal government agency, not guaranteed by the bank, and may go down in value.