Bangor Savings - Proud to Support
Young Professionals of the L/A Area
October 11, 2006
Lewiston, Maine - The Young Professionals of the Lewiston-Auburn Area (YPLAA, pronounced y-play) last night announced a partnership with Bangor Savings Bank, receiving an initial commitment of $10,000, and marking YPLAA's first major sponsorship. The partnership was announced as part of YPLAA's third-ever networking event at Martindale Country Club in Auburn. The event's theme, "Something Green," asked attendees to bring cash and canned goods for the Good Shepherd Food Bank, resulting in a $5,000 donation and over 7,000 pounds of food, including a surprise tractor-trailer load delivered by Tracey's Express.
Bangor Savings Bank Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer Yellow Light Breen presented a check for $10,000 to Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce President Chip Morrison, marking the start of what he said would be long-term support for YPLAA. There were over 75 people in attendance, almost all young Lewiston-Auburn area professionals under 40 years old, and all enthusiastic about YPLAA's mission to establish a vibrant, connected young professional community in Lewiston-Auburn.
YPLAA is the newest division of the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce, and was created to give young Lewiston-Auburn area professionals a forum for networking and civic involvement. The group selected Good Shepherd Food Bank as the first organization to receive support from YPLAA, and last night Bangor Savings Bank followed suit, donating $5,000 toward the evening's overall collection.
YPLAA is a fledgling organization, but if early membership numbers are any indication, young people in Lewiston-Auburn are excited about its possibilities. According to Cady, YPLAA's membership has grown to more than 200 individuals in just six months.
"The young professionals in our area have been waiting for an organization like YPLAA for a long time," commented YPLAA Steering Committee Chair Kristen Cady. "The Chamber stepped up to the plate to provide a place where young professionals could network, build relationships and grow professionally as well as personally. Now, with the generous partnership of Bangor Savings Bank, we are poised to provide even more opportunities for young people in the Lewiston-Auburn area."
Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce President Chip Morrison believes Bangor Savings Bank's involvement will help YPLAA further benefit young professionals in and around Lewiston and Auburn, through increased visibility, events, and additional support for organizations like the Good Shepherd Food-Bank and others.
"Bangor Savings is reaching well beyond the Bangor area in an effort to make the entire state of Maine a better place, and to enrich the future of Maine's most valuable asset: our young people," stated Morrison. "The diversity of YPLAA's membership will benefit the entire Chamber membership, and the community at large. The rapid emergence of YPLAA gives the Lewiston Auburn area a new energy and ability to shape our future."
Bangor Savings Bank has recently targeted community support to promote economic growth statewide and to help create new opportunities, especially for young people.
According to Yellow Light Breen, "Our support for YPLAA represents our broader goal to invest in economic growth and young professional development statewide. We would like to help transform Maine into the best place in America for young people to live, work and thrive."
About YPLAA - The Young Professionals of the Lewiston Auburn Area work to establish a vibrant connected young professional community. We seek to develop our members, position them for new career opportunities, and engage them civically to make our area a better place. Any persons age 18-40 who live and/or work in the Lewiston-Auburn area are encouraged to participate.
Bangor Savings Bank, with more than $1.9 billion in assets, offers retail banking and investment management services to Maine consumers as well as comprehensive commercial, corporate, and small business banking services to Maine businesses. The Bank also provides securities brokerage, insurance, and payroll administration services for businesses and consumers through its other wholly owned subsidiaries, Bangor Securities, Inc., Bangor Insurance Services, Inc., and Advanced Payroll Plus. The Bank, founded in 1852, is in its 154th year of service to the people of Maine, and operates from 45 locations throughout Maine and on the web at www.bangor.com.
