Florence Bank, a mutually-owned savings bank serving the Pioneer Valley through 9 branch locations, recently contributed $25,000 for use over a five-year period to the Sisters of Providence Health Systems to assist in the expansion of the Sister of Caritas Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center.
Sisters of Providence Health System, located at 271 Carew Street in Springfield, is a not-for-profit entity providing a range of special benefits to the community, such as programs to manage care for persons with chronic diseases, health education and disease prevention initiatives, outreach for the elderly, and care for persons who are poor or uninsured.
Mercy Medical Center is conducting a capital campaign to support the $15 million expansion of the Sister Caritas Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center. Specifically, the funds will be used to consolidate all cancer services into a single unified space and meet the increased demand for outpatient cancer services. In the past two years, the number of patients receiving chemotherapy at the Sister Caritas Cancer Center has increased by more than 200 percent. By 2022, the need for outpatient cancer services is expected to grow by 26 percent.
Gifts to the Capital Campaign will support the addition of new treatment spaces, including 32 new infusion bays, whose design will increase privacy for patients, as well as for family members and friends. The campaign will also support the consolidation of all cancer services, enhancing communications between oncology staff and facilitating ease of access to existing services for patients.
"Florence Bank has steadily supported our programs for years. We are grateful for their ongoing generosity and commitment to the people we serve. This significant pledge to the Capital Campaign will help further our efforts to create a unified area for patients to receive their cancer treatment in a truly collaborative clinical environment," said Diane Dukette, Vice President, Fund Development, Sisters of Providence Health System.
Florence Bank, a longtime supporter of the Sisters of Providence Health Systems, is known throughout the region for its many charitable contributions, including their annual $100,000 Customer’s Choice Community Grants program.
John F. Heaps, Jr., President and CEO of Florence Bank, said, “The Sisters of Providence Health Systems are known throughout the region for their remarkable work and dedication to providing much needed services to those in need; we are happy to do what we can to help them achieve their goals and are particularly pleased that our contribution will go toward expansion of the Sister of Caritas Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center.”
About Florence Bank
Florence Bank is a mutually-owned savings bank chartered in 1873. Currently, the Bank serves the Pioneer Valley through 9 full-service branch locations in Florence, Northampton, Easthampton, Williamsburg, Amherst, Hadley, Belchertown and Granby as well as through 27 ATMs and a loan production office in West Springfield. Florence Bank offers a wide range of financial services including investment management through FSB Financial Group (FSBFG) to consumers and businesses. John F. Heaps Jr. is the Bank’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Main headquarters are at 85 Main Street, Florence, MA 01062. For additional information about the Bank or its services please visitwww.florencebank.com or call 413-586-1300.
